What should the Tories do?

[On Guard for Thee]

My friends and fellow pundits do not consider me as being naïve in any sense. They know me well so I will stay with their evaluation. I also do not think people are stupid. I believe that those who choose to vote for a particular individual, do so for whatever reason that they prioritize - that is one of the freedoms that we enjoy.

You obviously feel that the leader is the most important priority for you. I do not think you are either naïve or think that people are stupid. You are only exercising a right.

But what happens if you vote for Party A who you feel has a tremendous leader, the Party A wins, the leader dies or is incapacitated for some reason the party chooses a new leader and Prime Minister? Or the individual is caught in some kind of scandal that forces him/her to step down?

Because the Americans vote directly for their leader they have a vice-president standing by and most Americans take that choice into consideration when voting.

But you are probably correct, vote for Harper, have the Conservatives re-elected to another majority and Harper calls it quits. The party gathers and appoints someone who has cabinet experience etc.

So our New Prime Minister for the next 4 years is ....... Julian Fantino!

I dont have stats to prove this but I would venture a guess that when someone marks a ballot with a individual in mind, its often because the policies that person espouses are also those of the party and therefore the leader. So it amounts to about the same thing, although I am sure there are times when people like their local rep. more than the party they represent. Not much you can do about the rep. or the leader dying in office so hardly worth worrying over that. Also, fyi, Americans don't vote directly for their leader, they vote for electors.

[Big Guy]

Thank you for the reminder about the Electoral College. Point taken.

[Keepitsimple]

Thank you for the reminder about the Electoral College. Point taken.

Haven't heard back from you yet on my last post. Where were you trying to go with all this? Since it hasn't happened for over a century and there is a process in place in the unlikely event it does happen - what was your point?

[eyeball]

What has happened to our form of democracy when we have been mistakenly told that we are voting for a PM. We do not vote for a PM. We vote for the person in our district who is to represent us in Ottawa.

That's the quaint view but in reality...I for example haven't got a clue who the candidates in my riding are and I could care less...I'm voting strategically against a right-wing majority and who/whatever looks most likely help achieve that at the moment will get my vote.

Edited June 24, 2015 by eyeball

[Second-class Canadian]

Given that both the separate school system and official bilingualism are quite expensive among other reasons,

support, at least in principle, the establishment of a Royal Commission on Religion and Language to recommend, applying the knowledge gained from universal legal, educational, linguistic, economic, ecological, physiological, religious, and other fields, and taking into account the impact of its recommendations on unofficial religious, linguistic, and ethnic communities, the most just revisions to be made to the religious and linguistic provisions of the Constitution of Canada and its indigenous Treaties, and to Canada's international linguistic policies, so as to conform them to today's universal human rights declarations and the religious and moral sentiments of residents of Canada?

[PIK]

Stay the course and be very clear.

[Argus]

Given that both the separate school system and official bilingualism are quite expensive among other reasons,

support, at least in principle, the establishment of a Royal Commission on Religion and Language to recommend, applying the knowledge gained from universal legal, educational, linguistic, economic, ecological, physiological, religious, and other fields, and taking into account the impact of its recommendations on unofficial religious, linguistic, and ethnic communities, the most just revisions to be made to the religious and linguistic provisions of the Constitution of Canada and its indigenous Treaties, and to Canada's international linguistic policies, so as to conform them to today's universal human rights declarations and the religious and moral sentiments of residents of Canada?

Absurd. There is zero chance of the constitution being amended in this regard. There is zero chance any politician at any level would support it. There is zero chance the public would allow it.

[Second-class Canadian]

Absurd. There is zero chance of the constitution being amended in this regard. There is zero chance any politician at any level would support it. There is zero chance the public would allow it.

Why not. Studies already show that it would save at least 3 billion yearly. We're not talking pennies here. That's if thhey're serious about savings of course.

[PIK]

Because it opens up a door we do not want open.

[cybercoma]

Because it opens up a door we do not want open.

Who's we? It opens up a door YOU don't want open.

[Second-class Canadian]

Because it opens up a door we do not want open.

What door might that be? The money-saving door?

[Argus]

Why not. Studies already show that it would save at least 3 billion yearly. We're not talking pennies here. That's if thhey're serious about savings of course.

For one thing, official bilingualism was put in place to placate Francophones, particularly in Quebec. Removing it would certainly be seen as a gross insult, a sign of deteriorating influence, and lead to a major resurgence of separatism.

[Second-class Canadian]

For one thing, official bilingualism was put in place to placate Francophones, particularly in Quebec. Removing it would certainly be seen as a gross insult, a sign of deteriorating influence, and lead to a major resurgence of separatism.

I'm a French Canadian and I'd consider a friendly parting of ways with Quebec to be a small price to pay to abrogate the separate school system and official bilingualism from the Constitution. Why should we hold ourselves hostage over Quebec?

[Mighty AC]

I'm a French Canadian and I'd consider a friendly parting of ways with Quebec to be a small price to pay to abrogate the separate school system and official bilingualism from the Constitution. Why should we hold ourselves hostage over Quebec?

I'm all for the removal of Catholic education for obvious reasons. However, despite a feeble grasp of the French language, I don't understand why we should support the end of official bilingualism. I think this adds more to our culture than it detracts.

[Second-class Canadian]

I'm all for the removal of Catholic education for obvious reasons. However, despite a feeble grasp of the French language, I don't understand why we should support the end of official bilingualism. I think this adds more to our culture than it detracts.

There is also a separate Protestant school board in Ontario.

As for the language provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, one study calculated their cost at 2.4 billion dollars yearly. Meanwhile, schools on reserves are underfunded by 2000 to 3000 dollars yearly compared to similar schools off reserve. Given that according to Statistics Canada 2011 abut 60% of indigenous peoples on reserves over age sixteen are functionally literate in neither official language, how can we defend such subsidies towards a privileged status for English and French while schools on reserves go underfunded?

Edited July 4, 2015 by Second-class Canadian

[Mighty AC]

There is also a separate Protestant school board in Ontario.

Is there really a widespread Protestant separate school system in Ontario? From what I understand there is really only one or two locations left.

As for the language provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, one study calculated their cost at 2.4 billion dollars yearly. Meanwhile, schools on reserves are underfunded by 2000 to 3000 dollars yearly compared to similar schools off reserve. Given that according to Statistics Canada 2011 abut 60% of indigenous peoples on reserves over age sixteen are functionally literate in neither official language, how can we defend such subsidies towards a privileged status for English and French while schools on reserves go underfunded?

If the French language is part of our heritage, then it is part of our heritage. We could save a billion+ in Ontario alone by axing the ridiculous Catholic ed system alone. I imagine the savings from the rest of Canada would be at least a couple of billion. I think preferential treatment for one mythology should go before a real, existing language. Edited July 4, 2015 by Mighty AC

[Second-class Canadian]

French is part of my heritage, but it is also not threatened with extinction. It is a thriving language across France, Quebec and parts of Belgium, Switzerland, Africa, New Brunswick and South Eastern Ontario, and therefore does not need a special privileged status. Give us school vouchers and we'll establish our schools to the extent the market will allow it.

Another part of my heritage is a belief in justice. Governments should no longer be diverting funds towards isolated French speakers at the cost of underfunding schools on reserves. The indigenous languages are part of our heritage too, are they not? As a French Canadian, I want to be treated more equally with indigenous Canadians and not in any privileged manner. The same should apply to isolated English speakers in Central Quebec.

[Second-class Canadian]

"I think preferential treatment for one mythology should go before a real, existing language."

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean by this.

[Mighty AC]

"I think preferential treatment for one mythology should go before a real, existing language."

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean by this.

It refers to the Catholic school board in Ontario, mainly, but as it exists in other provinces as well. I have far less of a problem with in depth French language ed than I do religious ed. Should we settle our scores with the First Nations? Sure. But is that a separate issue? Certainly!

[Second-class Canadian]

It refers to the Catholic school board in Ontario, mainly, but as it exists in other provinces as well. I have far less of a problem with in depth French language ed than I do religious ed. Should we settle our scores with the First Nations? Sure. But is that a separate issue? Certainly!

How is it a separate issue? I'll take Quebec as an example. All non-linguistic qualifications being equal, a Quebec-Sign-Language-French bilingual, an Algonquin-French bilingual, and an English-French bilingual all have an equal chance of working for the Quebec Government, but the English-French bilingual has unfair advantage in the Federal Government.

As it turns out, Quebec has long requested that Federal institutions in Quebec operate monolingually in French. I support Quebec's request and believe the other provinces should join it in making the same request for English in their provinces. This would help put indigenous candidates on an at least somewhat more equal footing in accessing government jobs based more on merit than English and French.

[Mighty AC]

How is it a separate issue? I'll take Quebec as an example. All non-linguistic qualifications being equal, a Quebec-Sign-Language-French bilingual, an Algonquin-French bilingual, and an English-French bilingual all have an equal chance of working for the Quebec Government, but the English-French bilingual has unfair advantage in the Federal Government.

As it turns out, Quebec has long requested that Federal institutions in Quebec operate monolingually in French. I support Quebec's request and believe the other provinces should join it in making the same request for English in their provinces. This would help put indigenous candidates on an at least somewhat more equal footing in accessing government jobs based more on merit than English and French.

Language qualifications benefit the population on a percentage basis. What benefit does religion have? Why should taxpayers fund it? Why just the Catholic religion? Get what I mean?

[Second-class Canadian]

Language qualifications benefit the population on a percentage basis. What benefit does religion have? Why should taxpayers fund it? Why just the Catholic religion? Get what I mean?

No, I don't get what you mean. Yes I support eliminating the separate school system, but why should an Algonquin in Ontario trying to develop his language in an underfunded school then be expected to learn both English and French to work for the Federal Government, so have to learn three languages just because some French speaker in Ontario or an English speaker in Quebec is too lazy to learn even two languages?

[Second-class Canadian]

Then we wonder why the English and the French are so over represented in the Federal Government.

[Mighty AC]

No, I don't get what you mean. Yes I support eliminating the separate school system, but why should an Algonquin in Ontario trying to develop his language in an underfunded school then be expected to learn both English and French to work for the Federal Government, so have to learn three languages just because some French speaker in Ontario or an English speaker in Quebec is too lazy to learn even two languages?

Why should someone whose parents speak Mandarin be forced to learn English and/or French?

[Second-class Canadian]

By having French as it's sole official language, the Quebec Government not only saves money but also puts the province's English speakers on a more equal footing with everyone else. The Federal Government could learn from this.