maplesyrup

Just like in Quebec, where the unpopularity of the Charest government is contributing to the Bloc strength, the unpopularity of the Campbell governemnt in BC is contributing to the unpopularity of the right in BC. That is one of the reasons the NDP has rebounded in the polls. BC provincially is quite polarized with about 40% left, and 40% right, and then a 20% swing vote. The RCMP raids on the BC Legislature will become a big issue one it is brought out into the open, and could be very damaging for both provincial and federal liberals.

speaking of BC, I think Liberal Heidi Fry might be doable in Vancouver Centre for the NDP. The seats are starting to add up in BC for the NDP: Svend Robinson Libby Davies Ian Waddell Vancouver Centre victoria area I wonder when we will hear the actual details of the RCMP raid on the BC Legislature.

Spring has already started in parts of BC. BC should get to vote first, otherwise we might have to interupt our Monday afternoon latte.

August1991 It is impossible to realistically forecast any results, because there are still way too many variables, such as: Election date: may be 1 & 1/2 years away from it. Economy. Who is going to lead Conservatives? Who will leave the Conservatives once leader is chosen? Scandal. Public Accounts Committeee Interim Report. Budget. Election Platforms and strategy. Strategic voting. Performance of leaders. Don't forget most recent polling showed PM Martin had 57% approval rating. No one else was even close. We can't even forecast whether or not it will be close yet.

This seems like an ideal solution. Has Mr Kingsley considered it?

Actually none of us know at the moment how the election is going to turn out. however if it is very close, the country will have to wait until the BC results are in, to see who wins. Is there a news blackout because of the time zones?

No one in their right mind condones 9/11. But there are reasons for these barbaric acts And we (all countries) need to start properly addressing the reasons via the UN. US foreign policy under Bush is a dismal failure. :angry:

Canada will have to get a bigger house of Commons to accommodate all those extra seats being forecast.

ETA Basque separatists deny responsibility It was 911 days after 9/11.

When is Olivia Chow going to get going in this federal election campaign?

Nova Scotia Premier Hann has entered the CPC membership issue problems. Wants it cleared up.

I prefer to live in the present, not the past. The current polls put the Conservatives, disappointing as it may be to you, in last place in BC. There are valid reasons for the resurence of the NDP in BC, such as: 1 - the unpopularity of the right-wing governemnt in BC 2 - the increase across Canada of NDP fortunes with Jack Layton Things are very different now in BC.

The reason political party memberships, leading up to leadership conventions, is such an important issue for Canadians, is because this is basically how our Prime Ministers get chosen. My preference is that the political parties clean up their act themselves, but if they aren't going to do it, then Canadians are going to be left with no choice but to get Canadas C. E. O. Mr Kingsley to step in.

It's intersting to see how some issues are playing out. Stronach initially comes up with the policies that are palatable for most Canadians, and then Stephen Harper jumps aboad. For example same-sex marriage. I remember initially Belinda when she first announced as a candidate, she said she supported same-sex marriage rights, but then she backed down a bit, and said she would allow a free vote in Parliament. At that time both Harper and Clement positions were they were opposed to same-sex marriage. Harper realizing this was in a no win position on this issue, now states that he will allow a free vote as well. We are so different from the US. According to a media report today Harper has the race in the bag. It is a done deal, so to speak.

Just heard something on the radio about massive increases in membership numbers in BC for the Liberals. Apparently they have balooned out of sight. There is supposed to be an article about it in the Vancouver Sun on Friday. What with the issues surrounding the Conservative party memberships today, this is now two major political parties in Canada, in two days, that have had membership controversies. It is time for Canada's Chief Electoral Officer to step in and start regulating some proper procedures, such as mmebers paying individually for memberships, no voting on any party issues, unless you have been a member for one year, etc. Now that Canadians are funding political parties, maybe it's even time for the Chief Electoral Officer to be mandated to taking over the operations of membership, and riding nominations for all federal political parties in Canada.

Looks like former NB Premier Frank McKenna is going to be running after all. Liberals with their 49% lead in the polls in the Atlantic region, should do very well there. Bradshaw for the bounce? http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/...Story/National/

This is really quite wishful thinking. For example: The Conservatives in BC are last, not first, of the three main parties, according to the last poll: CPC 27% last Lib 33% first NDP 29% second

I think you are jumping the gun a bit on things in Quebec. It is still too early to tell. We have a bit of time yet before the election. The problem for Canadians right now, is that although they are upset with the Liberals, they don't find the alternatives very palatable. I think the next election will be fight between the perceived forces of intolerance versus the perceived forces of corruption. Take your pick.

I think Quebec holds the key to Liberal fortunes in the upcoming election. If the Liberals are not able to close the gap with the Bloc in Quebec the Liberals will have lots of trouble getting another majority government.

It is the correct link, not sure what the problem is. The article is in today's Montreal Gazette. Alliance Quebec is an organization that was set up to defend anglophone rights in Quebec. It has always been somewhat of a controversial organization, some felt they were not aggressive enough, others felt they were too aggressive. so maybe they were doing something right.

What can Alliance Quebec be thinking to have appointed a unilingual anglophone to head up their Quebec English rights organization? The Protestant Schol Board of Greater Montreal has until recently been primarily responsible for teaching anglophones in Quebec. Why they chose not to ensure that their students beaome bilingual is beyond me. It seems there are a few of these dinosaurs still around.

There are a few issues that Martin has to address first. 1 - a whitewashed interim report from the Public Accounts Committeee is required, which he will be able to do, as Liberals are the majority on the committee, I beleive. 2 - a budget needs to be tabled 3 - the new ridings need to go into effect. After these few tasks are accomplished, Martin will be racing to Adrienne's hangout to drop the writ. So 36 days is the minimum period for an election campaign, which is why those rummors of Apri 4 dropping of the writ and May 10 for the actual election got going. Apparently elections have to be held on a Monday as well, with one or two exceptions.

The liberals have been very effective at painting the opposition in a negative light. During the height of Quebec nationalism I remember the message always was vote Liberal or the country is going to fall apart. It was great strategy for the Liberals and it worked. What are they going to do this time?

In some ways I'm surprised that PM Martin hasn't already called the election. We must be on the eve of it.

Ian Waddell is running again in the Vancouver area. he should win for the NDP there. 2000 election results Vancouver Kingsway (LIB 3,520) xSophia Leung LIB 16,117 Alice Wong CA 11,075 Victor Wong NDP 5,924 Kanman Wong PC 1,805 Connie Fogal CAP 1,200 Phillip Petrik GRN 1,009 Elwyn Patterson COM 168 Donna Petersen ML 125