I will not be voting Conservative in the upcoming Canadian elections.

[Richard]

After the "conservative" party of Canada adopted a pro-abortion positition, agreed with the whole gay marriage thing, changed their opinion of Kyoto from against to in favor, and don't really care about lowering taxes, they lost me as a voter.

The party is no longer conservative.  It is now just another liberal party.

I will be voting Freedom Party, if there is a candidate in my riding.  If there isn't, I will vote NDP as a strategic vote to get a minority government in power.  It is the best I can do to prevent the government from actually doing anything.

[Frodo]

or you could always move down here, and save yourself the trouble on deciding between what you see as the lesser of two evils. 

[Peter]

It's an interesting anomaly of late how the so-called "Conservative" parties have generally come out tentatively and even markedly for gay marriage and civil unions.

The British Conservative Party voted for it before the Parliament last year, with only about a quarter of the Parliamentary Party voting against it, and MPs such as Francis Maude actively hammering for it to be passed.

[AuH2O]

Forgive them, they know not what they do.

[Hatman 🍁]

After the "conservative" party of Canada adopted a pro-abortion positition, agreed with the whole gay marriage thing, changed their opinion of Kyoto from against to in favor, and don't really care about lowering taxes, they lost me as a voter.

The party is no longer conservative.  It is now just another liberal party.

I will be voting Freedom Party, if there is a candidate in my riding.  If there isn't, I will vote NDP as a strategic vote to get a minority government in power.  It is the best I can do to prevent the government from actually doing anything.

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

[Hatman 🍁]

It's an interesting anomaly of late how the so-called "Conservative" parties have generally come out tentatively and even markedly for gay marriage and civil unions.

The British Conservative Party voted for it before the Parliament last year, with only about a quarter of the Parliamentary Party voting against it, and MPs such as Francis Maude actively hammering for it to be passed.

Only a small handful of tories support same-sex marriage.

[Peter]

Only a small handful of tories support same-sex marriage.

I'm sorry, given the propensity to get confused, I'd ask that you denote which nation's Conservatives you refer to when you do.

Assuming you mean the British Conservative Party, I'd say that the Conservative front bench voted for the Civil Unions bill last year, along with a number of backbenchers. Lets be honest: Civil Unions are gay marriage in all but name; Other than a slight problem regarding pensions, which was actually an oversight on the part of Parliament, they entail identical rights and privileges.

There's also some legal concern over formally calling in marriage in  the UK because there is a danger that the state church, the Church of England, may be forced to hand out marriages to gay couples against its will. Given that I don't want to force that sort of situation upon any religious organisation, I'll happily accept the comprimise.

[Hatman 🍁]

Only a small handful of tories support same-sex marriage.

I'm sorry, given the propensity to get confused, I'd ask that you denote which nation's Conservatives you refer to when you do.

Assuming you mean the British Conservative Party, I'd say that the Conservative front bench voted for the Civil Unions bill last year, along with a number of backbenchers. Lets be honest: Civil Unions are gay marriage in all but name; Other than a slight problem regarding pensions, which was actually an oversight on the part of Parliament, they entail identical rights and privileges.

There's also some legal concern over formally calling in marriage in  the UK because there is a danger that the state church, the Church of England, may be forced to hand out marriages to gay couples against its will. Given that I don't want to force that sort of situation upon any religious organisation, I'll happily accept the comprimise.

I was actually referring to the Canadian tories, who Richius thinks all support Same-sex marriage. This couldn't be further from the truth.  Richius has to understand though, that the tories have to become very moderate, or at least appear to be in order to win an election- or at least a majority.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

So the Tories have learned that to win elections you have to be fairly close to the mainstream?

[minionofmidas]

Richius as an NDP voter...I'm shocked and delighted. What riding are you going to vote in?

[Hatman 🍁]

So the Tories have learned that to win elections you have to be fairly close to the mainstream?

In my opinion, they haven't learned that yet. Not until they pick Belinda Stronach as their leader.

[opebo]

I'm shocked they let a South African vote in Canada.  How long have you been there Richius?

[Richard]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

[Richard]

Only a small handful of tories support same-sex marriage.

I'm sorry, given the propensity to get confused, I'd ask that you denote which nation's Conservatives you refer to when you do.

Assuming you mean the British Conservative Party, I'd say that the Conservative front bench voted for the Civil Unions bill last year, along with a number of backbenchers. Lets be honest: Civil Unions are gay marriage in all but name; Other than a slight problem regarding pensions, which was actually an oversight on the part of Parliament, they entail identical rights and privileges.

There's also some legal concern over formally calling in marriage in  the UK because there is a danger that the state church, the Church of England, may be forced to hand out marriages to gay couples against its will. Given that I don't want to force that sort of situation upon any religious organisation, I'll happily accept the comprimise.

I was actually referring to the Canadian tories, who Richius thinks all support Same-sex marriage. This couldn't be further from the truth.  Richius has to understand though, that the tories have to become very moderate, or at least appear to be in order to win an election- or at least a majority.

Perhaps.  But then they're pretty much like the Liberals, wouldn't you think?  And what use is it then to vote for them if they are Liberal Junior?

I'm shocked they let a South African vote in Canada.  How long have you been there Richius?

I'm not South African.

[Platypus]

It's an interesting anomaly of late how the so-called "Conservative" parties have generally come out tentatively and even markedly for gay marriage and civil unions.

The British Conservative Party voted for it before the Parliament last year, with only about a quarter of the Parliamentary Party voting against it, and MPs such as Francis Maude actively hammering for it to be passed.

whereas here, the Howard govenment brought a bill banning it before parliament just before the election, and the ALP unanimously supported it. Even the lesbian senator from SA was forced to vote for it. (Australia's parties are a lot more...cohesive then the UK's or especially the USA's. The ALP vote to determine their position and then they all have to follow it, for example. The liberals and nats are similar).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Not until they pick Belinda Stronach as their leader.

how old is she? She's pretty good looking for a politician.

[Hatman 🍁]

Not until they pick Belinda Stronach as their leader.

how old is she? She's pretty good looking for a politician.

She just turned 39 earlier this month. Here's another tidbit: She's dating felow MP Peter MacKay (former leader of the PC's)

[Hatman 🍁]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

What proof do you have? They're not even registered with elections Canada yet.

[Richard]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

What proof do you have? They're not even registered with elections Canada yet.

Their website?

[Hatman 🍁]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

What proof do you have? They're not even registered with elections Canada yet.

Their website?

LOL If I had a nickel for every political party who claimed on their website they were running candidates in the next election....  I wouldn't believe what they say until the register with elections Canada.

[Richard]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

What proof do you have? They're not even registered with elections Canada yet.

Their website?

LOL If I had a nickel for every political party who claimed on their website they were running candidates in the next election....  I wouldn't believe what they say until the register with elections Canada.

We have already.

[Hatman 🍁]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

What proof do you have? They're not even registered with elections Canada yet.

Their website?

LOL If I had a nickel for every political party who claimed on their website they were running candidates in the next election....  I wouldn't believe what they say until the register with elections Canada.

We have already.

Nope: http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pol&document=index&dir=par&lang=e&textonly=false

[Richard]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

What proof do you have? They're not even registered with elections Canada yet.

Their website?

LOL If I had a nickel for every political party who claimed on their website they were running candidates in the next election....  I wouldn't believe what they say until the register with elections Canada.

We have already.

Nope: http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pol&document=index&dir=par&lang=e&textonly=false

The party has been registered, but no candidates are up yet.  Therefore nothing on the website because there is no one to vote for.

[Hatman 🍁]

The Freedom Party doesn't run in federal elections.

Yes they will.

What proof do you have? They're not even registered with elections Canada yet.

Their website?

LOL If I had a nickel for every political party who claimed on their website they were running candidates in the next election....  I wouldn't believe what they say until the register with elections Canada.

We have already.

Nope: http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=pol&document=index&dir=par&lang=e&textonly=false

The party has been registered, but no candidates are up yet.  Therefore nothing on the website because there is no one to vote for.

You dont need candidates to register. Just look at the 3 parties on that list that registered last time. (Ontario Party, National Alternative, Absolutely Absurd) None of them had any candidates listed ever. Perhaps you need to read the Elections Act.

[Shira]

All conservative parties in Europe have nothing to do with gay marriage, abortions and other non-issues like these.