Stephen Harper vs Stephane Dion, Ultra mega political showdown! (Canada Fed Election)

[Cops]

This was such a close election. I really think the Conservatives will lose a majority of their seats in Ontario, they only held seats by a few hundred votes in some cases. I'm still living within the Liberal stronghold so hopefully the surrounding communities get the fuck out and vote next time, seeing as the GTA is predominately liberal minded people.

[Noah]

I am genuinely interested in Canadian politics on Cannabis. I've been considering to take a trip to Canada, mostly because of your laws on Cannabis. I'd appreciate someone explaining how this election will affect the laws on Cannabis.

[Epinephrine]

This was such a close election. I really think the Conservatives will lose a majority of their seats in Ontario, they only held seats by a few hundred votes in some cases. I'm still living within the Liberal stronghold so hopefully the surrounding communities get the fuck out and vote next time, seeing as the GTA is predominately liberal minded people.

It was the other way around Cops... ridings which were staunchly Liberal turned Conservative by small margins (and in my riding by a HUGE margin ...Peter Kent). The Liberal hold on Ontario is losing it's grip. From 99/100 seats in Chretien's time to 51 now.

I actually hope that some Toronto ridings would have gone Conservative. Why is this? Because maybe finally, the Liberals would start promising Ontario some real things and Toronto some real things instead of every government screwing us over and over with "equalization".

[Kolar]

I'm happy Khan got his ass kicked, more so that it will send a signal to others who want to up and jump parties without standing for reelection. I think Crombie will be more open to working with MCcAllion and for the city in general.

The Conservatives would do well to focus first on the economy (they're gonna find more compromises with the Liberals then any other party), second pushing through real electoral reform (read: not the Senate), and third restoring some sense of trust in average citizens by NOT calling or threatening to call an election to push through some heavy idealogical bullshit.

And maybe respect the election laws by not calling/forcing an election (what the law intended to do). I think it's more important then ever with a minority Government, not Governing with even 50 percent of the vote or seats, that no one party has the ability to force an election because of partisan politics or opportune timing/conditions for one or the other.

They shouldn't look at this as a win, with the lowest turn out in history the Conservative/Reform "get out the vote" ground work will always out do all other campaigns and many ridings won in Ontario were a result of vote splitting between the Liberals, NDP and Greens. If this Government doesn't last at least 2 years I am abstaining from voting. 300 million dollars is too much money to be spending on this. Actually, no party deserves the $1.95 my vote gives them at that point.

[Capital Knockers]

I am genuinely interested in Canadian politics on Cannabis. I've been considering to take a trip to Canada, mostly because of your laws on Cannabis. I'd appreciate someone explaining how this election will affect the laws on Cannabis.

Believe it or not, I'm not entirely sure of the exact law - but thats the great thing, I never have had to be. Cops around here, at least where I live, don't waste their time if you're smoking a joint with caution, in a non-crowded area, not drawing heat. At most they ask you to put it away or take it. I know they've tried de-criminalizing small amounts, under a quarter (7 grams), would be fine to have. Anything more you get fined or charged, whatever. It's almost gone through under the Liberals a few times, Harper on the other hand - idiotically wants to make our drug laws more like the States. Even though that would be a huge step backwards, and only would be done to gain favor from the States. He really strikes me as the kind of guy who's got a really big hidden agenda, and well all politicians have one, I really don't like some of the things on his.

Really, here's the generally rule on smoking pot in Canada. Find a good person to get it through (like me) and don't be sketch, don't have alot with you. Don't smoke around kids, or in broad daylight down a busy street (unless your me, cept kids, never smoke around kids) and really just dont wave the joint around. Most stoners obviously have their spots they goto, all hidden around the city and suburbs, and as long as people don't draw alot of heat, the cops let us be. Of course if some stupid kids go and cause damage in areas and such, yeah they'd have to bust some punks. Honestly I've talked to a Police Officer drunk, stoner, tweaked, everything on me you can imagine - just tell them what they want to hear, do what they want you to do before they have to ask, and don't act like and idiot and they usually move on.

I don't know if that answers your question, but thats what it's like around here in Ottawa when it comes to Marijuana law. I know it's legal for people with MS and stuff too. I just think it's the biggest hypocricy to have smokes and booze legal and then bust someone for smoking a joint. Most law enforcement in Canada, wisely, share that opinion.

[Noah]

Yeah that explained it, thanks.

[Cops]

It was the other way around Cops... ridings which were staunchly Liberal turned Conservative by small margins (and in my riding by a HUGE margin ...Peter Kent). The Liberal hold on Ontario is losing it's grip. From 99/100 seats in Chretien's time to 51 now.

I actually hope that some Toronto ridings would have gone Conservative. Why is this? Because maybe finally, the Liberals would start promising Ontario some real things and Toronto some real things instead of every government screwing us over and over with "equalization".

Ontario is looking blue right now, but these ridings were won over a small amount of votes. I'm counting on Stephen Harper fucking up more so than he already has, and eventually people will start to vote responsibly.

Things aren't looking great for the Conservatives, they can't get a majority, even with a strong party leader. They've failed to convince Canada to believe in them, they've also spent 300-Million Dollars on a pointless election.

The Liberals are Ontario's fall back party, I have complete faith in the Liberals bouncing back in Ontario. When the next election is called the Conservatives will have fucked themselves as well as us over so bad British Columbia as well as Ontario will vote on the side of reason.

[Eric is God]

asdfghjkl Waterloo turned conservative by 73 votes.

I blame RIM.

Also, no Green seats. Does that mean they don't get to participate in the next debate ?

Don't blame me. I was in Markham on vacation and couldn't vote in the Waterloo riding. Besides, you would be surprised how many people at RIM live outside of the city.

On another note, I found it curious that my parents riding (Oak Ridges - Markham) cast more votes (~76,000) than any other in Canada and the Conservatives won by only 400 votes. Must be all the elderly in old Markham...

[Eric is God]

Ontario is looking blue right now, but these ridings were won over a small amount of votes. I'm counting on Stephen Harper fucking up more so than he already has, and eventually people will start to vote responsibly.

Things aren't looking great for the Conservatives, they can't get a majority, even with a strong party leader. They've failed to convince Canada to believe in them, they've also spent 300-Million Dollars on a pointless election.

The Liberals are Ontario's fall back party, I have complete faith in the Liberals bouncing back in Ontario. When the next election is called the Conservatives will have fucked themselves as well as us over so bad British Columbia as well as Ontario will vote on the side of reason.

In a country with 5 major parties (Green party gets enough votes to count as a 5th) it's going to be very difficult for any party to get a majority. After the Conservative party was made whole again they will always grab enough seats (along with the 40-50 the BQ always get) to deny a Liberal majority.

The difference between a majority and minority Conservative government could easily have been the timing of the stock market collapse. If Harper had called the election about a month earlier there is a good chance they would have a majority right now, but I'm glad he didn't. The worst a Conservative minority can do is cut some social spending, which can easily be reversed by the next Liberal minority. Now an NDP majority, that's a scary thought...

[Cops]

The NDP securing a majority is a scary thought, as long as they have no shot at attaining a minority or a majority I'd tell people to vote for them, especially if their riding is looking like it'll either be NDP or Conservative.

[Galleleo]

So, who won?

[Kolar]

So, who won?

The Conservatives won another minority Government. They were able to get 143 seats where you need at least 155 to attain a majority Government so they now have to rely on another party in the House of Commons to support them to pass bills. From the start they were pushing to get a majority but a few last minute insensitive and seemingly apathetic comments by Harper on the economy locked him out of Quebec and some Ontario ridings where they needed to win to get a majority. (much like McCain's how "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" comment hurt him).

The Liberals now have to rebuild with a new leader, the sooner the better. The New Democrats picked up some seats this time around but the Green leader didn't get her seat in Central Nova losing to defense minister Peter MacKay. Overall not a lot changed. I think people are tired of voting, it's our 3rd or 4th election in a couple of years so with the lowest voter turnout in history they're gonna make a minority work better or not. We'll see who's gonna get "punished" next time around for not making it work.

[project dragon]

Dion expected to resign on Monday