Canada General Discussion: Trudeau II

[Vega]

As soon as the election campaign thread dies out, people can start using this as the venue to discuss the 42nd Parliament, the new government, etc.

[Vega]

Does someone have a link to the Macleans article about ethnic diversity in the new parliament? It had a nice visual break down, and I can't seem to find it.

[Vega]

Does someone have a link to the Macleans article about ethnic diversity in the new parliament? It had a nice visual break down, and I can't seem to find it.

This one?

http://www.macleans.ca/shape-of-the-house/

Yes, thank you.

[Vega]

Burrill: Left wing socialist

He doesn't sound that left wing, from what I've read.

[Vega]

I think the biggest problem with the Dump Mulcair movement is the lack of a strong prospective leader waiting in the wings. I mean, there is Barry Weisleder from the Socialist Caucus... but...

[Vega]

If I were him, seeing the number of ex-caucus members or current not supporting me, I would exit the party as quickly as possible if I had another interesting job opportunity.

Maybe he'd become a Conservative, he already tried being a Liberal.

The Review is tomorrow, right?

[Vega]

In theory, Mulcair could run in the Leadership election, right?

[Vega]

^True.

What are some good political websites, by the way? CBC is really low key in their coverage.

[Vega]

The NDP has a lot of problems. Hopefully this will fix some of them, but I wouldn't count on it.

We're probably going to get a useless and incompetent leader who can't debate or talk about public policy like an adult. I'm betting on Nikki Ashton.

Her policies aren't horrible, but she is one of the most annoying voices of the leftist movement in the NDP.

Nathan Cullen would be a good pick, but he probably would be seen as too similar to Mulcair.

[Vega]

Well, it's not my New Democratic Party of 2011 anymore. That was peak NDP and now we're back to full on "shoot self in the foot for the sake of it" mode. At least Horvath isn't horrible, I'll continue to support her and the provincial party, but at least I won't have to live under Premier Brown.

I hardly consider peak NDP being at the point when the Liberals are to the left of you.

[Vega]

Harper wasn't from Quebec and he won seats in Quebec. The NDP needs to focus on holding on to the more left wing ridings, like Rosemont and Laurier-Ste. Marie, in the same way the Tories are strong in the Chaudiere-Appalaches.

He did speak French though, even if it wasn't the best.

[Vega]

The Liberals have absolutely no reason to back electoral reform right now.

However, I think Parallel Voting/Mixed Member Majoritarian would be a great system. It's a good compromise and works well.

[Vega]

Yeah, I like how all the sexist things that used to be said about women and were thankfully addressed decades ago are given a pass when used to attack a man.

[Vega]

I know the Liberals will be leaning towards AV, though I really hope not. One electoral reform is done everyone is likely to pat themselves on the back and call it a day for many years.

[Vega]

PMO trying to lighten Mme Grégoire-Trudeau's workload.

I don't believe any spouses of the PM have had to juggle as much as she has since, well, the elder Trudeau.

[Vega]

My worst fear is that the only reform they go with, which is the worst possible "reform", is to adopt online voting.

May I ask why you are so opposed to the idea? Do you think it's going to be compromised or something?

[Vega]

So things got spicy on the House floor today.

As concerning as it is that Justin thinks he can manhandle MPs, it's not like he intended for that to happen.

[Vega]

Speculation is that he got drunk at the Liberal convention and was inappropriately hitting on a staffer.

That's it?

[Vega]

So, there's a giant sinkhole not too far from parliament...

I guess they'll have to hold their sessions in the other part of Rideau Hall.

[Vega]

Trudeau considering a NATO request to deploy up to 1000 troops to Eastern Europe. Believe if seen.

Forum: 49/32/10. Justin's approval steady at 57%.

Holy crap, those NDP numbers are devastating. How many seats do you think the NDP would win with 10% of the nationwide vote?

If they centralize their votes in the right places and focus on maintaining rather than gaining, they shouldn't lose more than 10 or so.

[Vega]

[
Alberta NDP convention this weekend in Calgary.  According to Twitter, a resolution will be debated about whether the ABNDP should disaffiliate from the national party.

I really hope this passes. I'm not sure how this would work though.  According to my understanding of the Federal NDP rules, the Alberta NDP would have to change its name, and then the Federal NDP might be required to set up a new provincial Alberta NDP.

Wouldn't it work similar to the BC Liberals and the Federal party?

[Vega]

The NDP will take losses in Quebec no matter if the federal leader speaks French or not, and him learning is certainly not out of the question.

[Vega]

Will we see a BC or NS election first?

BC most likely.

[Vega]

So, I volunteered at the Liberal tent at a Korean heritage festival in Burnaby South yesterday. I had a decent time, but I have to say that I completely underestimated a certain phenomenon at play in federal election politics today. An old lady—a frequent volunteer for the party—pointed it out and I scoffed because I thought it was kind of an insulting way to think of female voters, but through the day it proved to be surprisingly insightful: Women really, legitimately swoon over Justin Trudeau. And the Liberal Party knows it, so virtually all of their branding goes heavy on using his name and picture.

We gave out gigantic posters of his face, little post cards of his face, buttons with his face on them... and women would come and get so giddy and take everything. They took photos with the large sign panel of Trudeau. It's astounding to me. And sadly, I highly doubt they could have told me much of anything about his policies.

Is it a big factor? I don't know. But Trudeau has an image that will be very, very difficult to tarnish, especially now that he has the incumbency on his side. The whole thing put a very sour taste in my mouth. And although I will probably vote Liberal in the next election, I continue to be, uh... not the biggest fan of the Prime Minister. It was great to see him and his perfect family at Pride last weekend, but I can't get over some things about the guy and how his image has been constructed and received.

But I remain convinced that he could literally be the prime minister for decades.

Care to expand? Is it that he essentially went from night club bouncer to Prime Minister?

[Vega]

I think it's important to know that Justin hasn't just been camping shirtless and abusing MPs, he has gotten things done that were in the Liberal platform.