Map of Canadian Provinces under a U.S. political system

[Platypus]

in the House of Reps, we have Preferential (basically IRV, slight differences); in the Senate we have proportional preferential representation by state.

[Frodo]

in the House of Reps, we have Preferential (basically IRV, slight differences); in the Senate we have proportional preferential representation by state.

god, i'm loving Australia already despite its rightwing leadership.... 

[Gabu]

who draws these ridings?  here in the United States, for the most part, it is done by state legislators with the approval of the governor -essentially, the entire process is controlled by the two major parties: Republican and Democratic, and gerrymandering to favor one party over the other is rife.  how is it done in Canada?  and, for that matter, Australia and Britain?

I'm not sure, but I'm fairly sure it's not done in a partisan manner as it is in America; we don't have any cries of gerrymandering here that I know of.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

who draws these ridings?  here in the United States, for the most part, it is done by state legislators with the approval of the governor -essentially, the entire process is controlled by the two major parties: Republican and Democratic, and gerrymandering to favor one party over the other is rife.  how is it done in Canada?  and, for that matter, Australia and Britain?

I'm not sure, but I'm fairly sure it's not done in a partisan manner as it is in America; we don't have any cries of gerrymandering here that I know of.

It's done by Elections Canada (a non partisan committee). There is a little bit of gerrymandering (the Sask. rurban seats are the best example) because they have to listen to local concerns, but overall they do a neat job

[DanielX]

It depends. Would this be a sudden switch, or a more gradual one?

A sudden switch would, at least initially, strongly favor Democrats. Republicans would win Alberta only, maybe Sascatchewan if they were lucky.

More gradual, course of a decade or more? Republicans win Alberta, Sascatchewan, Manitoba, rural parts of BC and Ontario, and the more conservative atlantic provinces. Democrats win the rest of the atlantic, Quebec, and the urban/suburban parts of Ontario and BC. The Territories are up in the air. They might become Alaska-conservative or they might keep their left-leaning tilt.

[Gabu]

Republicans win Alberta, Sascatchewan, Manitoba, rural parts of BC and Ontario, and the more conservative atlantic provinces.

That would be none of them.

[DanielX]

Republicans win Alberta, Sascatchewan, Manitoba, rural parts of BC and Ontario, and the more conservative atlantic provinces.

That would be none of them.

Okay, 'less moon-bat liberal atlantic provinces'.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Republicans win Sascatchewan, Manitoba,

These two would be heavily Democratic and state and local level

[DanielX]

Republicans win Sascatchewan, Manitoba,

These two would be heavily Democratic and state and local level

I meant if the change were gradual, over the course of years or decades.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Republicans win Sascatchewan, Manitoba,

These two would be heavily Democratic and state and local level

I meant if the change were gradual, over the course of years or decades.

They would still be heavily Democratic at state and local level

[Bono]

Republicans win Sascatchewan, Manitoba,

These two would be heavily Democratic and state and local level

I meant if the change were gradual, over the course of years or decades.

They would still be heavily Democratic at state and local level

So, they'd be like Mississipi?

[cp]

I find the terms and context of these postings to be very odd.

First of all, Canada has no 'state level' anything. We have provincial level politics and municipal politics. The provincial parties are in no way related to the national parties of the same name. An Ontario NDP has hugely different views from a national NDP or an Albertan NDP. The best example of this is the Quebec Liberals, who have a very adversarial relationship with the national party of the same name.

Secondly, provinces mean nothing when it comes to federal affairs. Canada has no antiquated electoral college nonsense; the provinces are only important insofar as they provide a few preset boundaries when drawing federal election ridings.

Thirdly, the Americanization of Canadian politics is a specious effort at best. Canada's electoral politics are different from the U.S.' or Australia or the U.K.' For instance:

- as I said before, provinces mean nothing. To speak of a province as a single ideological unit is to ignore the physical size of the bloody things as well as their history. Northern Canada is far different than Alaska, despite their similar geographies. Saskatchewan might look like its midwestern, but it elected socialist (yes, Phillip, real live socialists) governments provincially during the 30s. Incidently, Alberta came close too; so much for the idea of it as a bastion of conservatism. Ontario and Quebec used to vascillate between Liberal and Conservative for decades until Quebec Separatism became a potent political force. Quebec itself is actually only really 'separatist' in the St.Lawrence Valley areas; the north is preoccupied by its Native population and metropolitan Montreal is a hodgepodge of liberal and non-separatist Bloc Quebecois members.  More important indicators and divisions in Canadian politics are things like:

- rural/urban
- French/English
- Immigrant/Different Immigrant/Canadian born
- Native/Non-Native

Thirdly, the idea that GWB could be elected here is pretty silly; Canadians don't respond to religious people in politics very well, as Stockwell Day proved conclusively.

Lastly, issues in the U.S. and Canada that rouse a lot of controversy are different. This is due to the different histories and the general trends. Healthcare will rile any Canadian to her full electoral rage, if provoked. Same-sex marriage is more of a media blitz than a true social divider. Most people just don't care. Quebec Separatism might be compared to Affirmative Action or School Busing. Quite controversial.

It's worth noting that Canada and the U.S. have been on different trends for years. The Religious Right in the South has yanked the U.S. to the right (for better or worse) since the 70s. In Canada, the Quebecois have pulled the political centre more leftwards

cp

[Platypus]

cp, that sounds very similar to Australia, actually. Big, open empty spaces, etc.

Basically, exclude Quebec seperatism and change aboput 20 words around and you've got Australia