Canada Election 2006

[T-U-P]

After a six week campaign, the 39th national parliament of Canada was formed on Monday. Apparently, the conservatives won a minority government. Although this somewhat symbolizes a shift towards the right for Canada, I personally believe they will not make major changes to laws at this point. Because they’re a minority, they need at least 1 other party to support them when passing a bill. There are no natural allies for the conservatives in the parliament. Therefore they would not risk trying to pass a bill, which might result in another non-confidence motion. The most likely thing for them to do as of now is to reduce the 1% tax they have promised during the campaign because that deduction is highly visible to ordinary civilians. This will “fool” some of them and they’ll think the conservatives are actually not that right-wing. It is at this point they will most likely to call another election, so the public would vote for them and form a majority government, as a result granting them almost unlimited power over the passage of a bill. This is just my prediction however. I also believe that the public elected the conservatives not because Canadians all of sudden shifted right, but instead, they want to teach the liberals a lesson (the liberals did not do what they said during the campaign after the last election). There will definitely a closer relationship between US and Canada and Canada might join the US missile defense system (although not that likely because the conservatives are still a minority). I don’t think Canada will join any future wars with US (e.g. possibly Iran) because the other parties will not allow that to happen.

Interesting events:
For the first time for 30 years West Vancouver (highly conservative) elected a liberal candidate.
For the first time in 13 years the conservative won an election
The conservatives won every single seat in Alberta
The conservatives finally broke thru the Quebec barrier and won 10 seats.

stats:
http://enr.elections.ca/National_e.aspx

[Gollevainen]

So there isent working class party, labour or Sosial-democrats style in canada?
Is there politically active or directed labour movment, trade unions? just curios, as there seems not to be one in US, and i just wonder wheter its case so in Canada also. this factor I think, its the most visible difference between europe and american 'western' countryes...

[Obcession]

There are labour unions, but if I'm not mistaken, most of them influence the government by lobbyists, not parties. Although there is a social-democrat party, the New Democrat Party, or NDP.
Good analysis TUP, but do you know when can a vote of non-confidence be used? I'm not so clear on that.

[darth sidious]

the labour union in canada sucks they are always on strike :mad:

especialy the schools the have done that twice already

BUt TPU the analysis you had sounds like the plot from stars war where Palptine takes power after the vote of no confidence :D :D

[Gollevainen]

the labour union in canada sucks they are always on strike

No labour union sucks becouse it's in strike. No one goes strike without a good reason and the strike-liberty is the best way to fight against unjustice in payment issues and working conditions. It keeps capitalism in line;)

[tphuang]

All I got to say is
"don't blame me, I voted for the liberals"

Seriously though, it's a travesty for Canada that the Conservatives got voted to power. As for our social democratic party, I guess that would be NDP, but they have never been too strong. Traditionally, the liberals are supposed to be in the center, but then due to the Canadian culture, they are slightly to the left. So, I guess you have a party that is slightly left vs a party that is right.

[darth sidious]

the bus dirver wants $50 an hour !!!!!!!!! they got two raise already yet they want more!!!!!

greed is the source of all sins my friend

not to mention that the strike hurt the poor more then the rich

the march of teachers on Victoria this year is also questionable

[Gollevainen]

the bus dirver wants $50 an hour !!!!!!!!! they got two raise already yet they want more!!!!!

???????????????? Thats ridicilous and frankly i'm not bying it...you must had your numbers mixed. Can you provide links to prove this?

greed is the source of all sins my friend
not to mention that the strike hurt the poor more then the rich
the march of teachers on Victoria this year is also questionable

Yeas, the greed is, but I wouldn't go telling workers greedy, it's otherway around. And strikes helps the workers, usually the poorer ones of the all social classes. It's easy to say what you say, but wait untill youself are entering workin life or linger with sosial benefits...it changes the ring in every bell quite fast....;)

[PiSigma]

i'm in alberta.. guess who i voted for??? hehehe..

actually i didn't vote this year.. i had lectures/seminars/labs from 9am-8pm, so by the time i'm out the polls are already closed... but if i had a chance, i would have voted libertals... stephen harper = george w bush.

[sumdud]

This election certainly is very significant for the Chinese community.

But I don't know much Canadian politics, so I won't comment much.
All I know is, this election was very significant for Canada. No conservatives for 13 years and now...BOOM!!!

But as TUP said to me once, I wouldn't want Bush to start another thing that can be characterized as Mars(The Greek/Roman God.)-like now.

the bus dirver wants $50 an hour !!!!!!!!! they got two raise already yet they want more!!!!!
I have not hear of something like this, but I certainly will not surprised if this is true. The labour unions in Canada have lots of power in terms of men and workforce(May I say leeches?) They are just abusing their power for more money. And they won't stop because they are able to do so.

Politics= abuse+brainwash+threats

[Gollevainen]

50 $ is just too much, it's not realistic. I mean in here the average pay for lets say constructive work is from 7 to 14 €. And (don't be offended) bussdriving isen't so much "above" of constructive works in general aspect. Some high/over payed consults, engineers (;) ), designer and so on may recive 50 $/€ per hour but bussdrivers and other real workers...no way, they wont even try to get such a numbers, it's just too unrealistic....

...but if it's true, just let me know what it requires to be bussdriver in Canada;)

[darth sidious]

50 $ is just too much, it's not realistic. I mean in here the average pay for lets say constructive work is from 7 to 14 €. And (don't be offended) bussdriving isen't so much "above" of constructive works in general aspect. Some high/over payed consults, engineers (;) ), designer and so on may recive 50 $/€ per hour but bussdrivers and other real workers...no way, they wont even try to get such a numbers, it's just too unrealistic....

...but if it's true, just let me know what it requires to be bussdriver in Canada;)

no tis is not a lie !!! in canada bus driver are well paid

just ask sumdud

the strike happen a few years ago it shut down a lot of public transporation so poor people ( those that cant afford cars ) are forced to walk to work or drive in unsafe car causeing tarfic accidents !!!!!!

they already got a rise earlier that year when they threaten to strike !!!! now they want more !!!

greed my friend

the union reely dont represent the average worker rather the wish of union bosses!!!!

the union reely is abuseing its rights they have the power to force worker to strike even when they reely dont want to do so !!!!!!!

it also dominated many industry in canada so you preety much have to join once you do so you are under their control

because a strike can cause so much damanage the government is usuely cowed into giving in to demands

hopes this helps my finnish friend

[rommel]

Well, I must say that the Labor Union have a lot of power in Canada, and the NDP (Neo-democratic party) is financed largely by those union since we apply the Rand Formula.

Well, it's possible that bus driver are paid 50$ an hour. For exemple, in the Province of Quebec, the minimum wage is 7,60$ an hour. It's mainly some job where you have lot of labor force (like working in a fast food). But since you need a heavy vehicule driving license to drive bus, they're a hard to find, so it's pretty well paid. To give some exemple, a normal worker in a car assembly line are normally paid 10-15 $ an hour and construction worker are paid 25-30 an hour, electrician are paid 30-50$ an hour... The wages are high in Canada.

For the election, yes, lot's of people where just tired to see Liberal in power, that's why the Conservative won. Quebec's people will have not elected some conservative if the recent financial scandal didn't happen. But most people (Ontario and Quebec) don't like conservative. BTW, it's a minority governement. So they wouldn't be doing unpleasant thing or the Liberal and the Bloc will throw them down...

About the working union, It's mainly the public sector which is in union. But you have to know that only 30% of the working labor force are in a union in Canada. Around 85% of the public sector is in union but only a mere 25% for the private.

Private don't go in strike mainly because they offers good working condition and also because most of the private company or SMC (small or medium-sized company, the average company have 8-20 employee.)

[Gollevainen]

well to clear thngs, are we talking of US dollars or some canadian money?

[sumdud]

Canadian dollar.

And it's always possible that the people are the corrupted ones out there because they have the power.

I doubt they'd care(or just know) if they can't get their pay since they over-leeched the company. But it's going to happen unless the company does something: either give its own demands, or collapse on the workers so it'll at least have some money left.

ButI'll leave it there, this is about the election that I don't really know much of.

[Gollevainen]

Canadian dollar.

Ok...so how much its in US$ or in €???

[SampanViking]

$50 Canadian is worth about £36 Euros or $42 US by my reckoning. Not a bad rate at all:roll:

I doubt that figure is real, or some mishmash of adjusting the basic rate to allow for overtime etc.

Strange!!!! ..... very ...very ....Strange!!!!!

[sumdud]

1 USD = 1.2 Canadian dollars

I always had this impression that Canada was relatively poor compared to Canada though.....

[Gollevainen]

i would by my magic buss on 32$ on any day....man, in here bus drivers are usually immigrants or refugees or longterm unemployeers...

[PiSigma]

but engineers still get paid better than bus drivers.. so golly.. if u come to canada with your civil engg degree... come to alberta, we hire people like crazy. my girlfriend's summer job pay is $24 an hr. and she didn't even graduate yet.. (she's a civil), and my dad gets paid like $100 per hr.. he's a senior civil.

[MIGleader]

1 USD = 1.2 Canadian dollars

I always had this impression that Canada was relatively poor compared to Canada though.....

typo???

My bus drivers get paid $14.50 an hour. Thats more than twice penssylvania minimum wage. 42$ an hour is redicoulous. Those drivers need to be fired and replaced by poor willing to work for less

[darth sidious]

typo???
My bus drivers get paid $14.50 an hour. Thats more than twice penssylvania minimum wage. 42$ an hour is redicoulous. Those drivers need to be fired and replaced by poor willing to work for less

but you need a special license to drive it !!! the poor usuely dont have that license ( not that they cant drive)

because poor people use bus more then the rich the strike is quite redicoulous

the teacher also went on strike for more money this year you dont see that happening in CAl :roll: LOL

[tphuang]

curiously enough, FOX news spent the most time reporting this news out of all the American channels. I guess they just can't resist gloating over a conservative victory over the liberals.

[Gollevainen]

but engineers still get paid better than bus drivers.. so golly.. if u come to canada with your civil engg degree... come to alberta, we hire people like crazy. my girlfriend's summer job pay is $24 an hr. and she didn't even graduate yet.. (she's a civil), and my dad gets paid like $100 per hr.. he's a senior civil.

:eek: :eek: :eek:
In here i was so exited when i got 7 € per hour under table from normal construction work...
Well maybe I shall move to canda after all

[sumdud]

but engineers still get paid better than bus drivers.. so golly.. if u come to canada with your civil engg degree... come to alberta, we hire people like crazy. my girlfriend's summer job pay is $24 an hr. and she didn't even graduate yet.. (she's a civil), and my dad gets paid like $100 per hr.. he's a senior civil.
O_O

I should major in Civil instead of Aerospace and then go from Berkeley to Calgary!!!

-------
Man.... we are really off topic now...........

What'd Harper say he'll do?

[T-U-P]

Man.... we are really off topic now...........

What'd Harper say he'll do?
the only promises i remember is to cut tax by 1% (forgot whether it's income tax or purchasing tax) and also cut the landing fee for immigrants down to $100 (or something like that, didn't pay much attention to him before).

[PiSigma]

he said cut the GST by 1% to 6%.. GST = goods and services tax. it's the money added on to everything you buy.. so if something is $100.00, you have to pay $107.00 to get it.

[sumdud]

???
I thought the sales tax is different in each county. :confused:
You guys still get the tax deduction for each purchase of over $50 right?

[tphuang]

he said cut the GST by 1% to 6%.. GST = goods and services tax. it's the money added on to everything you buy.. so if something is $100.00, you have to pay $107.00 to get it.
Steven Harper makes too many stupid promises. If we run our government like that, we'd get a 800 billion budget deficit like the Americans.

[T-U-P]

he said cut the GST by 1% to 6%.. GST = goods and services tax.
GST = goods and services tax??? really? i always thought it means government sales tax... since PST is provincial sales tax.

I thought the sales tax is different in each county.
You guys still get the tax deduction for each purchase of over $50 right?
the sales tax is different in each province, since each province has the power to put PST on top of the GST. the GST is the same in every province tho. so BC has a PST of 7% and canada has a GST of 7%, so the total sales tax in BC is 14%. PST differs from province to province.

there is no tax deduction in canada as far as i know, it's all the same doesnt matter what you buy.

[PiSigma]

move to alberta, we don't have a PST because the province is so rich. just got my ralph money!!! (ralph money is $400 that every tax paying albertan citizen gets this january, it's a refude from provincial taxes. we call it ralph money because he's the premier of our province).

[ahho]

move to alberta, we don't have a PST because the province is so rich. just got my ralph money!!! (ralph money is $400 that every tax paying albertan citizen gets this january, it's a refude from provincial taxes. we call it ralph money because he's the premier of our province).

though a bit off topic, do you guys think that it would be better to include the tax on the price displayed, isn't that a bit better since you see the correct price??

for the elction outcome i hope we don't go into deficit

[PiSigma]

they don't need to add the GST, because everyone in canada knows the GST. we albertans just get it lucky..

[FuManChu]

I've got a question here, guys, as I can't say I know much about the Canadian political system!

Now that the Conservatives are in, is there an increased chance of the "Taiwan Affairs Bill" or any similar legislation becoming law? And what are the Conservatives' policies, if any, on China & Taiwan?

From what I read it's the Liberals' fault for losing the election, though I think it's wrong to judge the new gov so early on. They have interesting policy commitments such as:

*A new child-care voucher
*Cut in sales tax (always good for the economy)
*Tougher sentences for gun crime
*A plan to cut health service waiting times

And didn't the Conservatives also talk about the need to revap Canada's military?