NDP puts Quebec in its sights

[maldon_road]

Yes, the NDP might pull a few votes away from the Liberals in Outremont, maybe even enough to let the Bloc win the by-election.

NDP puts Quebec in its sights

Afghanistan a hot topic on the doorstep

MIKE DE SOUZA, CanWest News Service

Arctic sovereignty and a push to withdraw Canada's troops from their combat mission in Afghanistan are among the issues at the top of the agenda for the New Democrats as they kick off a caucus retreat in Montreal on the eve of three federal by-elections, says NDP leader Jack Layton.

The ridings at stake are all in Quebec, including the Montreal riding of Outremont, where former provincial environment minister Thomas Mulcair is trying to steal the federal Liberal stronghold for the NDP.

While party organizers say they are hoping the exposure of the caucus retreat in Montreal will give them a boost at the polls, Layton said he was already sensing an opening during campaign stops in the riding thanks to his star candidate and increasing concerns about Canada's military mission in Afghanistan....

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news...63-f5f5c7b48097

[Higgly]

Quebeckers are socialists at heart. I'd say Jack stands a chance of gaining a few votes here, as long as he can field some good candidates. I doubt that there is a majority of Quebecois who take Steve seriously. They are pissed at the Libs for making them look bad and they are coming to see that the Bloc is full of crap. I'd say Jack might have a chance.

[M.Dancer]

Quebeckers are socialists at heart. I'd say Jack stands a chance of gaining a few votes here, as long as he can field some good candidates. I doubt that there is a majority of Quebecois who take Steve seriously. They are pissed at the Libs for making them look bad and they are coming to see that the Bloc is full of crap. I'd say Jack might have a chance.

That's nonsence. The PQ always had an internal tug of war between the left and right and Quebecers in the past have jumped whole heartedly on the Conservative bandwagon.....the recent success of the ADQ highlights this.....

....I think it's important to distinguish between Quebec's unique collective social conscioness and socialism in general.

What's even more telling is that the NDP has dropped in Quebec from 13% in may to 7% by the beginning of August. There fellow fringers, the Green Spirograph Party also experianced a similar plunge going from 9 to 6%*

http://www.sesresearch.com/library/polls/POLONT-S07-T240.pdf

Jack may gain a vote or two, but the chance of an angolphone regional party like the NDP gaining a seat in Quebec is very remote.

[Leafless]

Quebeckers are socialists at heart. I'd say Jack stands a chance of gaining a few votes here, as long as he can field some good candidates. I doubt that there is a majority of Quebecois who take Steve seriously. They are pissed at the Libs for making them look bad and they are coming to see that the Bloc is full of crap. I'd say Jack might have a chance.

Name me one national party in recent times, with an non-Quebec leader, that has ever made substantial headway in Quebec.

BTW-The Liberals are traditionally a Quebec party.

Federal politics is a 'no go' in Quebec and I cannot believe national political parties continue to treat Quebec in a fair and equal mannerism when all Quebec is after is more money and more powers to benefit Quebec's own nationalistic aspirations and the hell with federalism.

[M.Dancer]

Name me one national party in recent times, with an non-Quebec leader, that has ever made substantial headway in Quebec.

Harper..0 to 10 is substantial headway.....imagine Dion getting 10 seats in Alberta

[Leafless]

Harper..0 to 10 is substantial headway.....imagine Dion getting 10 seats in Alberta

I would say 25 seats in Quebec would be substantial. That would be about 33% of Quebec's total seats.

Actually Dion getting 10 seats in Alberta would be more than Harper getting 25 seats in Quebec. Percentage wise Dion would get 35.7% of the total federal seats in Alberta.

Edited August 27, 2007 by Leafless

[M.Dancer]

Name me one national party in recent times, with an non-Quebec leader, that has ever made substantial headway in Quebec.

BTW-The Liberals are traditionally a Quebec party.

Federal politics is a 'no go' in Quebec and I cannot believe national political parties continue to treat Quebec in a fair and equal mannerism when all Quebec is after is more money and more powers to benefit Quebec's own nationalistic aspirations and the hell with federalism.

I forgot John Turner....He won 17 seats in Quebec in 84 and 12 in 1988

[M.Dancer]

Actually Dion getting 10 seats in Alberta would be more than Harper getting 25 seats in Quebec. Percentage wise Dion would get 35.7% of the total federal seats in Alberta.

Okay, what would the odds be of Dion getting 3 seats in Alberta.....

[Leafless]

I forgot John Turner....He won 17 seats in Quebec in 84 and 12 in 1988

This is still not a substantial number and one should remember John Turner is a Liberal.

[M.Dancer]

This is still not a substantial number and one should remember John Turner is a Liberal.

So?

Name me one national party in recent times, with an non-Quebec leader, that has ever made substantial headway in Quebec.

Dief got 50 seats in 58

[Leafless]

Okay, what would the odds be of Dion getting 3 seats in Alberta.....

ZILTCH!

Any political party (discounting any other major drawback) that makes it know they are directly going to strongarm Alberta's energy sector has cooked its goose before they even hit the campaign trail.

[Leafless]

So?

Dief got 50 seats in 58

That must of been 'La Grand Fluke' because because the following election in 1962 the Conservatives not only lost to the Liberals but lost also in Quebec with a grand total of only 14 seats.

[M.Dancer]

That must of been 'La Grand Fluke' because because the following election in 1962 the Conservatives not only lost to the Liberals but lost also in Quebec with a grand total of only 14 seats.

57 Dief....8 seats in QC

58 Dief..50

62 Dief ..14

Pearson ( from Ontario)....47 seats

[fellowtraveller]

Federal politics is a 'no go' in Quebec and I cannot believe national political parties continue to treat Quebec in a fair and equal mannerism when all Quebec is after is more money and more powers to benefit Quebec's own nationalistic aspirations and the hell with federalism.

Really, are there any provinces or regions that are not wholly selfish and acting in their interests?

Thank you Chretien , Martin and especially Trudeau for this state of affairs.

Our confederation is very sick.

Okay, what would the odds be of Dion getting 3 seats in Alberta.....

I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. We are long past the point where either separatism needs to be buried, or Quebec needs to go their own way.

[M.Dancer]

That must of been 'La Grand Fluke' because because the following election in 1962 the Conservatives not only lost to the Liberals but lost also in Quebec with a grand total of only 14 seats.

Conservatives won in 62

[Leafless]

Conservatives won in 62

I mixed up the stats relating to 62-63.

Anyways in 1963, Pearson was elected PM and Libs won 47 seats in Quebec, Social Credit 20 and the Conservatives were reduced to 8 seats.

This was the beginning of the end for any none Quebec politician to make substantial gains in Quebec.

My money says you will never see another Dief streak ever again with 'out of Quebec federal politicians' playing federal politics in Quebec and currently is not only a waste of time but has created dysfunctional federal politics in Canada.