Conservative Majority

[Scotty]

And what parts of the nanny state will he be eliminating? Be specific here.

You don't have to toss slogans around any more. The Tories have won.

I would expect that money going to unnecessary programs, particularly 'cultural' programs would be considered to be of a lower level of importance. The CBC will probably be losing some money and told to do more advertising - if not privatized. Services which are seen as a duplication of provincial efforts, particularly in areas of provincial responsibility, could also face the axe, or severe pruning.

[ToadBrother]

I would expect that money going to unnecessary programs, particularly 'cultural' programs would be considered to be of a lower level of importance. The CBC will probably be losing some money and told to do more advertising - if not privatized. Services which are seen as a duplication of provincial efforts, particularly in areas of provincial responsibility, could also face the axe, or severe pruning.

I think the Tories will back away from outright privatizing the CBC, but I agree that it will likely see its funding shrink.

But let's remember here, that the Tories found their own support among immigrant communities, so I think you'll find there will still be some sort of "cultural" funding.

The fact of the matter is that the wider the Tory base, the less likely they will feel the need to concentrate on the old Reform wing.

[Shakeyhands]

There is no constitutional right to parole, let alone mandatory parole after 2/3rds of your sentence.

Do you understand why we have parole? At all?

[Scotty]

The fact of the matter is that the wider the Tory base, the less likely they will feel the need to concentrate on the old Reform wing.

Maybe, but don't forget Harper is a founding member of that Reform wing, and he didn't get into politics to see the new Conservative party become the same soulless political machine the old P.C.s turned into. The Tories, like the NDP, have an ideological reason for existing - and that's conservatism.

[Scotty]

Do you understand why we have parole? At all?

It started out as a reward for good behavior, and an acknowledgement that a prisoner had made great strides at rehabilitating himself. It became a budget saving measure.

[noahbody]

But mandatory sentences have been proved to be counterproductive.

That's really not true. To this point, from a statistical point of view, they haven't shown to be an effective measure in lowering the crime rate. At the same time, saying they can't play an important role is a little short-sighted. They can be an effective tool against gun crimes and help police to in get gang members off the streets. For example, if you commit a serious crime in possession of a gun, you get 5 years. Putting gang members back on the streets though a revolving door is not only a danger to society, but to our police officers.

[Black Dog]

Well... crime is down...

Oh for a facepalm emoticon....

[Battletoads]

Many of Canadian prisons are overcrowded, so I have no issue with building prisons. But mandatory sentences have been proved to be counterproductive. And in many situations a prison sentence at all is in fact harmful to society. Yes, our system does tend to bend over backwards to make absolutely sure that the criminal is "proven" guilty. But in spite of that, some innocent persons are still jailed.

Mrs. RNG volunteers at a woman's prison here. Almost all the "clients" she mentors come from abusive homes. And she says that prisons are more and more becoming housing for people with mental problems.

The US tough on crime initiative, zero tolerance policy on drugs and minimum sentencing has placed 1% of the population behind bars. How's that working out for them?

The right is mostly dominated by the social conservative nuts (mostly Christians). These are the types that look down of intellectual people capable of using logic.

[dlkenny]

Your rights and freedoms.

I hope all the idiots who voted for Harper will enjoy life living in a religious police state.

Do you seriously believe that? Do you think Harper is that much of a moron to not realize that his political future rests solely on him not bringing religion into politics? He has a mandate to make government work, that's what Canadians gave him. They did not give him a mandate to reopen issues like gay marriage, abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, etc. Those issues are far too divisive for any politician to touch and would be akin to political suicide. As for his law and order stuff, I personally believe that there is a time and a place for everything and to lock up gun smugglers, cocaine dealers, and gang leaders is a pretty good idea. To be sure there needs to be some balance there with social programs being introduced to provide intervention and help (instead of incarceration) for people with addictions and mental health issues. Contrary to what the CPC haters want us to believe there are not going to be armed soldiers in the streets, and it's not going to become a country of Sharia or Canon law.

Get over yourself.

[Mr.Canada]

I'm inclined to believe he'll avoid the hot button issues, I don't think he'll want to endanger his long sought after majority and moving further to the right would only threaten that rather tenuous hold he has on many Ontario ridings.

Exactly correct. Harper is going to firm up his support he's built up and govern from the centre. This was his goal 20 years ago. To destroy the LPC and make the CPC the goto vote for centrists.

As was said in the OP. The long gun registry is gone along with the vote subsidy. His crime agenda will be going ahead also. Harper knows abortion and gay marriage are suicidal. They won't even be brought up.

[Handsome Rob]

I'd advise you to read the legislation they are trying to cram through. Bill C-50, C-51, and C52.

C-50 - Exceptional circumstances defining specific conditions that must be fulfilled prior to interception, and such information must be made public. Besides the fact that the internet is such a public realm and it's so easy to collect data anyway.

C-51

-enabling police to identify all the network nodes and jurisdictions involved in the

transmission of data and trace the communications back to a suspect. Judicial

authorizations would be required to obtain transmission data, which provides

information on the routing but does not include the content of a private

communication;

-requiring a telecommunications service provider to temporarily keep data so that

it is not lost or deleted in the time it takes law enforcement agencies to return

with a search warrant or production order to obtain it;

Can you stipulate which points are scary? I'm not seeing it, not expecting Tom Clancy thriller NSA stuff either.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Handsome Rob

[ironstone]

Ok so the CPC managed to pull off a majority, I'm still stunned and perhaps even a little bit awed. I still can't believe what a nail biter it was to the bitter end! The way some of those seats were flipping back and forth in many cases with fewer than 100 vote leads. So the election is done for at least 4 years, though 5 wouldn't surprise me so now what? Now the CPC can finally make all their hopes and dreams come true! It'll be a varitable Toriopia!

My guess for immediate actions items they will tackle.

Long Gun Registery (No big loss)

Party vote subsidy (This will all but ensure the demise of the BLOC)

What else do you think? Certainly senate reform will be up there especially considering with the NDP in opposition, the parliamentary will exists to get the ball rolling. I think this is a far steeper hill to climb than either of them yet realizes however. Will the CPC go further with electoral reform now that they are enjoying their long sought after majority?

One final note, the CPC were all but shut out of Quebec, seriously they barely beat out the BLOC. Will they extend a hand to Quebec or is this the beginning of shutting Quebec out entirely? Will Mr. Harper avoid the hot button social issues or steam roll right over them? So many questions at this point.

I will say this, I was very surprised by his speech this morning, I don't think I've ever seen Harper so open and almost, dare I say it, human. He seemed more than willing to work with the opposition but those words come easily when you have a majority I suppose. Be that as it may it'll definitely be an interesting 4-5 years. I for one will be interested to see how the Tory/NDP support firms up and takes shape.

The Harper Tories,and indeed,every federal party,have always extended a hand to Quebec....and the hand has always been filled with billions in cash!Quebec has more rights than other provinces and yet they are never satisfied!I see these election results as being split between the makers(of wealth)and takers(Quebec,government unions etc).The sun will still rise 4 years from now.

[Sandy MacNab]

The Harper Haters don't have to hear of something. They just invent this crap.

That's for sure! The Harper Haters are extreme opposites - the religious right and the politically correct left. But, they are also very similar.

They both are sore losers.

They tolerate no opinions other than their own.

Their hatred is intense, irrational and childish.

Their rhetoric reflects hissy fits and tantrums.

Neither has a hope in hell of attaining major political influence - even the NDP will now be forced to pull in its horms and behave more responsibly than it did in third place.

[Bonam]

The right is mostly dominated by the social conservative nuts (mostly Christians). These are the types that look down of intellectual people capable of using logic.

That is not really at all the case in Canada.

[dre]

Harper wasnt my choice but I hope things go well for him and us.

[capricorn]

Now that the specter of a coalition of the opposition is stopped dead in its tracks, our Governor-General must have heaved a sigh of relief. He can now put away the dusty books on constitutional precedents and perform his usual duties. If another coalition scenario materializes in the future, it will happen under one of his successors.

[fellowtraveller]

Exactly correct. Harper is going to firm up his support he's built up and govern from the centre. This was his goal 20 years ago. To destroy the LPC and make the CPC the goto vote for centrists.

As was said in the OP. The long gun registry is gone along with the vote subsidy. His crime agenda will be going ahead also. Harper knows abortion and gay marriage are suicidal. They won't even be brought up.

Bingo. Well said.

One thing I hope Harper does is redress the serious shortfall in Commons seats in BC, AB and especially Ontario. It should be done by redrawing electoral maps and consolidating ridings where there are too few people, but the game is rigged so that his only choice would be to add a whole bunch.

Harper wasnt my choice but I hope things go well for him and us.

This kind of reasoned, mature and intelligent response simply will not be tolerated here or in Canada. Edit!!!!

[ToadBrother]

Now that the specter of a coalition of the opposition is stopped dead in its tracks, our Governor-General must have heaved a sigh of relief. He can now put away the dusty books on constitutional precedents and perform his usual duties. If another coalition scenario materializes in the future, it will happen under one of his successors.

I'd thought the same thing. The last two Governor Generals have had a relatively stressful time of it.

[Dave_ON]

Maybe, but don't forget Harper is a founding member of that Reform wing, and he didn't get into politics to see the new Conservative party become the same soulless political machine the old P.C.s turned into. The Tories, like the NDP, have an ideological reason for existing - and that's conservatism.

That may be so but he's taken it further to the centre than a great deal of his folks are comfortable with and to their benefit, they won a majority. The march to the centre is inevitable if you wish to occupy the middle ground, and that my friend is the only way he will maintain his majority. You can't depend on vote splitting on every election, it worked in their favor this time, but next time if the NDP moderate successfully and LPC disappear, there will be no splitting. I think the CPC and Mr. Harper are about to discover that a majority is a double edged sword. The temptation to make all your hopes and dreams come true could in the end turn enough soft support away that you lose your majority going forward. If Mr. Harper has demonstrated nothing else in his time as PM is that he's not stupid, impetuous at times, but certainly not stupid. He won't do anything to truly endanger his hard fought majority.

[Dave_ON]

That's for sure! The Harper Haters are extreme opposites - the religious right and the politically correct left. But, they are also very similar.

They both are sore losers.

They tolerate no opinions other than their own.

Their hatred is intense, irrational and childish.

Their rhetoric reflects hissy fits and tantrums.

Neither has a hope in hell of attaining major political influence - even the NDP will now be forced to pull in its horms and behave more responsibly than it did in third place.

So again I ask you the same question the original post states. What will Harper change? He won, now's not the time to insult the opposition, it's all on the Tories now. There is no more AdScam scape goat, no more "the opposition forced his hand" drivel. Plain and simple Tory mandate, what will it be? What will they do?

[Uncle 3 dogs]

Unfortunate that Harper can now do whatever he wants with no impediment. The (only) good news is: no election for 4 or 5 years.

[bjre]

The whole entire thing can only prove one thing that is how stupid iggy is.

[ToadBrother]

Unfortunate that Harper can now do whatever he wants with no impediment. The (only) good news is: no election for 4 or 5 years.

He can no more do anything he wants than any other PM has been able to.

[Dave_ON]

He can no more do anything he wants than any other PM has been able to.

Indeed just ask Joe Clark how well "doing anything you want" works.

[Black Dog]

Indeed just ask Joe Clark how well "doing anything you want" works.

An alternate reality Joe Clark with a majority government, perhaps, and not the minority that Joe Clark here on Earth Prime had?