Stephane Dion's deal with Elizabeth May in Nova Central

jbg · March 20, 2007

Lower mainland area? Vancouver Island?

That would sound a lot more likely to me.

jdobbin · April 12, 2007

Liberals announce they won't run candidate against May.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

Stephane Dion has decided not to run a Liberal candidate against Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in the next federal election.
Sources say Dion, who shares May's environmental idealism, is poised to make the announcement as early as Friday.

His decision will shorten the lengthy odds that May will be able to win the Greens' first seat in the House of Commons but she still faces an uphill battle.

I think it is a smart move by Dion for a riding he won't win anyway.

Martin Chriton · April 12, 2007

How many other ridings is Dion going to concede to the CPC?

Canadian Blue · April 12, 2007

It could also backfire on Dion, and the result could be people within the Liberal Party, and on the outside of the Liberals viewing him as weak.

jdobbin · April 12, 2007

How many other ridings is Dion going to concede to the CPC?

This particular riding as had a Conservative MP since 1968 with the rare exception of Roseanne Skoke in 1993-1997. She was a social conservative Liberal.

I'd say that Dion is smart. He saves some money on that riding, earns Green gratitude, pokes a finger in the eye of the NDP and hopefully gives May enough momentum and support to take on MacKay.

searchingforaformerclearity · April 12, 2007

I'd like to think she'll beat MacKay but I just can't see it happening.

Canuck E Stan · April 12, 2007

How many other ridings is Dion going to concede to the CPC?

This particular riding as had a Conservative MP since 1968 with the rare exception of Roseanne Skoke in 1993-1997. She was an social conservative Liberal.

I'd say that Dion is smart. He saves some money on that riding, earns Green gratitude, pokes a finger in the eye of the NDP and hopefully gives May enough momentum and support to take on MacKay.

Dion playing Wheelie Dealie with the Greens and the (everyday.... and thinking of voting) Liberal voter will say that's good. Dion acknowledges the Greens.

If Dion think's she's good we'll do the same and vote for the Greens too....... in our riding.

End result,Harper gets his majority.

Very smart indeed.

Michael Bluth · April 12, 2007

Dion playing Wheelie Dealie with the Greens and the (everyday.... and thinking of voting) Liberal voter will say that's good. Dion acknowledges the Greens.
If Dion think's she's good we'll do the same and vote for the Greens too....... in our riding.

End result,Harper gets his majority.

Very smart indeed.

Helping May in this riding does not help the Liberals.

The Liberals fighting hard might actually have a chance in this riding with May running.

But Dion is basically telling the people of the riding he can't run somebody good enough to win. Poor, poor andidate.

Canadian Blue · April 13, 2007

This doesn't really do the Liberals much good, unless they decided to form some sort of informal coalition between the two parties. Is this what Green supporters want, if the message is vote for Dion, if anything the Green Party will be hurt in the next election and have fewer supporters. I'd also imagine that some would go back to the NDP.

Canuck E Stan · April 13, 2007

Helping May in this riding does not help the Liberals.
The Liberals fighting hard might actually have a chance in this riding with May running.

But Dion is basically telling the people of the riding he can't run somebody good enough to win. Poor, poor andidate.

CBC-Liberals agree not to run candidate against Green leader

The leaders have agreed not to run a candidate in each other's riding. They will make an announcement about their deal on Friday in Halifax.

Dion is afraid the Green's will win in his riding?

He said the move could cause Dion a lot of trouble within his caucus. He said Dion already spoke to some caucus members who said they weren't happy with the decision.

Yesterday Belinda,who tomorrow?

Dion is known to share May's views on the environment.

Great,what next Liberals join the Greens, or the Greens joining the Liberals?

I'm sure a lot a Liberals and Greens are going to be Happy,happy,joy,joy, over this latest joining of forces.

scribblet · April 13, 2007

I guess Dion is manipulating the system but it might backfire on him.

Michael Bluth · April 13, 2007

I guess Dion is manipulating the system but it might backfire on him.

One very astute point made by the Star.

This pact between the Liberals and Greens pretty much assures that May will not participate in the debates.

There is no way the Liberals will be able to overcome the NDP, BQ and Conservative opposition on that one.

Martin Chriton · April 13, 2007

How many other ridings is Dion going to concede to the CPC?

This particular riding as had a Conservative MP since 1968 with the rare exception of Roseanne Skoke in 1993-1997. She was an social conservative Liberal.

I'd say that Dion is smart. He saves some money on that riding, earns Green gratitude, pokes a finger in the eye of the NDP and hopefully gives May enough momentum and support to take on MacKay.

Well if money is the issue I suggest not running candidates in Alberta as well. The Liberals have a better chance at that seat than one in Alberta.

Alberta Results:

http://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/elections/2006-ALTA.html

Central Nova Results:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Nova

geoffrey · April 13, 2007

Do people in Central Nova not talk to people in West Nova? Is there a big wall between the two Novas? Interestingly, the Liberals won by only 1% in West Nova. Either they are ignorant of the wee bit of insult they'll do to the West constitutants by shunning their neighbour, or they are going to rally all the Central Nova volunteers into West Nova.

Interesting.

Canuck E Stan · April 13, 2007

Was it good politics and a good deal? Or stupid and will turn into a voter loss at the next election?

The polls are now open. Place your vote.

jdobbin · April 13, 2007

Well if money is the issue I suggest not running candidates in Alberta as well. The Liberals have a better chance at that seat than one in Alberta.
Alberta Results:

http://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/elections/2006-ALTA.html

Central Nova Results:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Nova

If money does become an issue, you could be right that Alberta would be one of the areas that might be cut.

hiti · April 13, 2007

This is a poke in the eye of the NDP and if things work out alright, the left will unite.

Plus this riding is full of "Progressive" conservative that Peter McKay shafted. A very sweet way for them to get their revenge on Peter "pants on fire" McKay for selling out their party to the Reform/Alliance.

Once the election campaign starts, Dion's full platform will be revealed. Right now he is not taking any opportunity for Steve to help himself to another Liberal program.

Green party 2006 platform; http://www.greenparty.ca/en/platform2006/intro ...not bad. Better than the NDP.

jdobbin · April 13, 2007

Do people in Central Nova not talk to people in West Nova? Is there a big wall between the two Novas? Interestingly, the Liberals won by only 1% in West Nova. Either they are ignorant of the wee bit of insult they'll do to the West constitutants by shunning their neighbour, or they are going to rally all the Central Nova volunteers into West Nova.
Interesting.

The south shore area has long been won by Tories going back to 1968 as well. There is a strong conservative tradition in the area.

At the moment, I think it looks like a good strategy for Dion. I think that Central Nova is only likely to go Liberal in a massive majority. I don't see that happening. It also is a kick at the NDP who could see their vote fall in that area. If May is able to knock off MacKay, it will be one less Tory for Dion to have to worry about and one Green who already thinks Dion would be a better prime minister.

Moreover, as you say, Liberals could be spared to help in the south shore area.

ScottSA · April 13, 2007

Dion is throwing all his huff n' puff behind "the environment". Stupid move. This fad can capture the public's imagination on a slow news week, but when an election begins all Steve has to do is throw some nice-sounding rhetoric at the issue and then get on with the real issues, and the Libs will be stuck in the environment rut. Besides, it will cast more light on the politics of the Green Party, and focus attention on things Dion would rather not defend. No upside and tons of downside for the Liberals. Dion is showing why he doesn't have the smarts to be PM or even the leader of a credible opposition.

jbg · April 13, 2007

The south shore area has long been won by Tories going back to 1968 as well. There is a strong conservative tradition in the area.

Did the PCPC hold it in 1993?

Topaz · April 13, 2007

I think it would be a close race and one reason is some PC ers are still angry over what McKay did to the party with Harper . There's also the fact, alot of people in this area don't like Harper. People are also care more about the environment than about Harper or McKay. There's also the war and the longer the war goes on and Canadians come back in body bags the more people won't support the govt.

ScottSA · April 13, 2007

There's also the war and the longer the war goes on and Canadians come back in body bags the more people won't support the govt.

That's simply not true. Your understanding of public sympathy for war seems to be generated directly from CBC, who describes each death as a "terrible setback" or some other ridiculous catchphrase. Deaths happen in war. People expect deaths to happen in war. Public sympathy is not directly linked to the "number of bodybags"; it's linked to perception of the utility of the war.

jdobbin · April 13, 2007

Did the PCPC hold it in 1993?

I believe the entire province went Liberal in 1993.

jdobbin · April 13, 2007

That's simply not true. Your understanding of public sympathy for war seems to be generated directly from CBC, who describes each death as a "terrible setback" or some other ridiculous catchphrase. Deaths happen in war. People expect deaths to happen in war. Public sympathy is not directly linked to the "number of bodybags"; it's linked to perception of the utility of the war.

I think you give the CBC much too much influence. They are the number 3 news broadcast and not even in the top 20 much of the time now.

As for your statement that deaths in Afghanistan of Canadian troops have no influence on what people think of the war, polling numbers last year disagree with you.

M.Dancer · April 13, 2007

Liberals announce they won't run candidate against May.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

Stephane Dion has decided not to run a Liberal candidate against Green Party Leader Elizabeth May in the next federal election.
Sources say Dion, who shares May's environmental idealism, is poised to make the announcement as early as Friday.

His decision will shorten the lengthy odds that May will be able to win the Greens' first seat in the House of Commons but she still faces an uphill battle.

I think it is a smart move by Dion for a riding he won't win anyway.

If it were a by election, I might agree. But a national party, indeed, The Federal Liberal Party, the natural governing party, to not run in every riding, is a disgrace. And to not run so a no name party can have a by, but still lose, is idiocy.

....yet anbother reason why Dion will never be PM.