maplesyrup

DAC....thanks for the heads up. I have made the corrections.

Dubious Democracy We grow up with a lot of myths about our country - quite enlightening.

Heard of CSIS, CIA, RCMP? Time to meet TARC This is tricky business holding this inquiry.

I doubt that.

Federal Maher Arar inquiry set to get underway Will this inquiry get to the truth?

August1991....good suggestion and good link. New Zealand's electoral system Most provinces in Canada are exploring ways to find a more FAIR voting system. Why is Ottawa stonewalling? I understand we are only one of two systems left in the world that uses this antiquated first-past-the-post system. Fair Vote Canada is an excellent site to learn about PR. http://www.fairvotecanada.org/ What's it going to take to get a PR system in Ottawa?

Let's contrast the recent performance of the New Democrats and the Conservatives: Canada-----------New Democrats-----Conservatives Popular Vote 2000--------------8.5%-------------------37.7% 2004--------------15.7%------------------29.6% Change-----------up 7.2%---------------down 8.1% % change------up 84.7%-----------down 21.5% Seats 2000--------------13seats----------------78 seats 2004--------------19 seats---------------99 seats Change-----------up 6 seats-------------up 21 seats % change-------up 46.2%----------up 26.9% People can make up their own minds about Jack Layton's performance compared to one produced by Stephen Harper.

Conservatives will now have a chance to show Canadians what they have in common. How's that you say? By arranging a policy convention. Then Canadians will have an opportunity to see the kind of people, and their ideas, that are involved with this new party, and learn about their so-called hidden agenda. Then Canadians can see for themselves if Conservatives pass the muster. Doesn't this make sense?

How quickly we forget. Paul Martin's people, at his coronation when he took over as leader of the Liberals were talking about winning 220-250 seats. What a downfall - should he resign? Probably. Will he resign - don't make me laugh! If there ever was a guy obsessed with power it is Martin.

Popular vote numbers tell the tale

Seat Count Analysis Seat Count Canada Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 172, 135, down 37 seats Con: 78, 99, up 21 seats New Dem: 13, 19, up 6 seats Seat Count British Columbia Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 5, 8, up 3 Con: 27, 22, down 5 New Dem: 2, 5, up 3 Seat Count Alberta Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 2, 2, no change Con: 24, 26, up 2 Seat Count Saskatchewan Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 2, 1 down 1 Con: 11, 13, up 2 New Dem: 2, 0, down 2 Seat Count Manitoba Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 5, 3, down 2 Con: 5, 7, up 2 New Dem: 4, 4, no change Seat Count Ontario Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 100, 75, down 25 Con: 2, 24, up 22 New Dem: 1, 7, up 6 Seat Count Quebec Party/2000/2004/Change Bloc: 38, 54, up 16 Lib: 36, 21, down 15 Con: 1, 0, down 1 New Dem: Seat Count New Brunswick Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 6, 7, up 1 Con: 3, 2, down 1 New Dem: 1, 1, no change Seat Count Nova Scotia Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 4, 6, up 2 Con: 4, 3, down 1 New Dem: 3, 2, down 1 Seat Count Prince Edward Island Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 4, 4, no change Con: New Dem: Seat Count Newfoundland and Labrador Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 5, 5, no change Con: 2, 2, no change New Dem: Seat Count Nunavut Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 1, 1, no change Con: New Dem: Seat Count Western Arctic Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 1, 1, no change Con: New Dem: Seat Count Yukon Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 1, 1, no change Con: New Dem: Please let me know if I have made any errors. Thanks.

Popular Vote Analysis Canada Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 40.8%, 36.7%, down 4.1% Con: 37.7%, 29.6%, down 8.1% New Dem: 8.5%, 15.7%, up 7.2% Bloc: 10.7%, 12.4%, up 1.7% Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis British Columbia Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 27.7%, 28.6%, up 0.9% Con: 56.7%, 36.2%, down 20.5% New Dem: 11.3%, 26.6%, up 15.3% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Alberta Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 20.9%, 22.0%, up 1.1% Con: 72.4%, 61.6%, down 10.8% New Dem: 5.4%, 9.5%, up 4.1% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Saskatchewan Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 20.7%, 27.2%, up 6.5% Con: 52.5%, 41.8%, down 10.7% New Dem: 26.2%, 23.4%, down 2.8% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Manitoba Party/2000/2004/Change Lib:32.5%, 21.4%, down 11.1% Con: 44.9%, 50.0%, up 5.1% New Dem: 20.9%, 28.6%, up 7.7% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Ontario Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 51.5%, 44.7%, down 6.8% Con: 38.0%, 31.5%, down 6.5% New Dem: 8.3%, 18.1%, up 9.8% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Quebec Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 44.2%, 37.9%, down 6.3% Con: 11.8%, 8.6%, down 3.2% New Dem: 1.8%, 4.6%, up 2.8% Bloc: 39.9%, 48.8%, up 8.9% Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis New Brunswick Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 41.7%, 44.6%, up 2.9% Con: 46.2%, 31.1%, down 15.1% New Dem: 11.7%, 20.6%, up 8. 9% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Nova Scotia Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 36.5%, 39.6%, up 3.1% Con: 38.7%, 28.0%, down 10.7% New Dem: 24.0%, 28.5%, up 4.5% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Prince Edward Island Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 47.0%, 52.5%, up 5.5% Con: 43.4%, 30.7%, down 12.7% New Dem: 9.0%, 12.5%, up 3.5% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Newfoundland and Labrador Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 44.9%, 48.0%, up 3.1% Con: 38.4%, 32.3%, down 6.1% New Dem: 13.1%, 17.5%, up 4.4% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Nunavut Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 69.0%, 51.2%,, down 7.8% Con: 8.1%, 14.5%, up 6.4% New Dem:18.3%, 15.3%, down 3.0% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Western Arctic Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 45.3%, 39.4%, down 5.9% Con: 27.7%, 17.2%, down 10.5% New Dem: 26.9%, 39.1%, up 12.2% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Popular Vote Analysis Yukon Party/2000/2004/Change Lib: 32.9%%, 45.9%, up 13% Con: 34.6%, 20.9%, down 13.7% New Dem: 32.1%, 25.4%, down 6.7% Bloc: Grn: CHP Oth: Please let me know if there are any errors. Thanks.

Some Conservatives blame Ralph Klein for the defeat of the federal Conservatives. Even one of Ralph Klein's backbenchers has quit the Albera Progressive Conservative Party and is now sitting in the Alberta Legislature calling himself the first MLA of the new Albera Alliance Party. Alberta MLA abandons Tories

No matter what the other political parties want, who is to stop the Liberals from operating in the new House exactly the way they want. Canadians do not want another election right now, so the parties that bring the government down, forcing another election, would be punished at the polls. So for example, if the Conservatives want an even bigger tax cut for the rich, Martin can say screw you to Harper. This whole scenario seems quite bizarre. Expect left turns, Layton tells Liberals

Don't fear the Bloc, fear hyper-centralization

The Conservatives have never held a policy convention. Once that happens perhaps a lot of the confusion and/or fear of the Conservatives may dissipate. Who knows.

August1991......you are right. Martin, so desparate to retain power, might pay someone $1 million dollars to cross the floor. The Canadian public would never see the well hidden transaction. Are there rules or laws to prevent something like that?

1- get Jack in the House. Done. 2 -address strategic voting issue. The NDP's share of the popular vote went from 9% in last election to 16% last night, the only Pan Canadian party to have increased their share of the popular vote. 3 -more party discipline. When Jack talked about Clarity Act during the campaign, other NDP MPs openingly criticized him.

But with current unusual dead-heat numbers, barring any recount changes, the Liberals would rather give up the Speaker than give up one vote. I doubt any opposition MP will take it on. We will be back to the polls soon (6 months to a year max) unless our GG decides to give the Cons a try.

Cons + Bloc = Libs + NDP or 100 + 54 = 135 + 19 With a dead even numbers game, like the above, which party is prepared to give up one vote? None I imagine, so the Speaker will have to come from the Liberals. Then we would have: Cons + Bloc (154) > Libs + NDP (153) This Liberal minority is not going to last long. It depends almost completely on the Bloc.

CBC just announced that Harper is mulling over resigning as leader of the Conservatives. Apparently he is going to take a few days talking to people before he decides. The Liberals were down for the count, and Harper couldn't deliver the knockout blow. There could hardly have been a more opportune time for the Conservatives with the Liberals mired in scandal. What happened? Are Harper's views too extreme for Canadians?

You talk about a union decision as if it was not democratic. For a union to make a donation to any organization there is a process for it. It is placed on the business meeting's agenda and the general membership of the union votes on it. It is a much more democratic approach that the way business operates. It is ridiculous to always try and paint everything as black and white. We live in a world of many colours and shades.

Does a president of a corporation get permission from the shareholders prior to making a political contribution?

During the campaign Michael Hardner initiated a thread in an attempt to find out candidates's viewpoints on social issues, in order to help voters make an informed decision. It was an exercise in futility. Canada needs a place for citizens to go to view MPs voting records that is in an easy to access, easy to read, easy to uderstand format. Should this be part of Election Canada's mandate or what, eh?

Why are you against an attempt to level the playing field?