A majority!!!!!!

[mossrose]

I am not sure of the time frame, but I expect Harper will be sworn in not too long from now. When I find out, I will let you know.

There's not usually a long time frame between the election and the carrying on of Parliament.

I heard Stephen Harper say in his speech last night that Parliament would resume today. Perhaps since he was already PM there is no official ceremony to install him. I am ignorant of this part of the whole thing.....

[mossrose]

I remember in the GWB years, liberals always loved to say how if he got reelected they were going to move to Canada.

So with this change, does it mean that next time it'll be conservatives trying to flood across the Canadian border?

More than likely it will be the Libs flocking south. The conservatives elected a majority Conservative government, so no need for us to leave.

:smugmossy:

Drat.

AND, there won't be another federal election for at least 4 whole years! As one of the conservative MP's said last night, "Now we don't have to keep saying that this is our 20th 2-month term", commenting on the fact that every time they turned around, one of the opposition parties threatened a vote of non-confidence, which results in an election.

Which is exactly what happened this time. But one thing that did pass during the last 7 years is a mandated election date. That was not paid attention to by any of the opposition, who kept threatening anyway.

Go, Stephen Harper!!!

[Darth Executor]

I should mention that the NDP and the Libs have basically traded places. The NDP normally had about 30 seats, and the Libs 100 or more, sometimes really close to the Conservatives. Such a switch is weird.

AND, the Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff, has lost his own riding. I think to an NDP, but am not sure........I keep missing that particular bit of info on the telly.

No, it was to a conservative. I personally had the pleasure of voting one of the liberals out.

[mossrose]

No, it was to a conservative. I personally had the pleasure of voting one of the liberals out.

I did see that news later on.

You go, Darthy!

[Cow Poke]

Now, Moss, since you've done such an excellent job educating me on politics Canadienne, can you elaborate a little on your political conservatives?
Specifically, how does Christianity play into "conservative", or is it only fiscal conservatism.

[mossrose]

Now, Moss, since you've done such an excellent job educating me on politics Canadienne, can you elaborate a little on your political conservatives?
Specifically, how does Christianity play into "conservative", or is it only fiscal conservatism.

It is difficult in Canada to be a Christian in politics. I believe Stephen Harper is one, as is Stockwell Day ( who is not in politics anymore, but he was for quite a few years). Problem is, of course, that unbelievers think "religion" should be left at the door and should not have a place in how a person votes within Parliament or how they should speak in public.

Fiscal conservatism is a huge part of it all, but there are certain ethics and values that go along with it, I believe. A large portion of those who voted conservative yesterday are from ethnic groups that share the same values as Christians. Religious beliefs may be opposite ends of the spectrum, but the conservative values of family and respecting of all life and care with the taxpayers money, etc., smudges some of those lines drawn in the sand regarding religion.

Stephen Harper ran on a platform of "steady, common sense government, working to continue improving the economy", and that somehow resonated with certain groups. The Conservative party is also the most diverse of them all regarding ethnic groups and women, in spite of the Libs and NDP's accusing them of being biased. My own MP is a Sihk. Does a great job in Ottawa for us, and he was re-elected yesterday.

I don't know if this answers you, CP. It's hard to put into words a concept, really. Stephen Harper claims a faith in Jesus Christ, but he doesn't push it in public or use his faith to change things. It is just a quiet, gracious faith.

[Cow Poke]

It is difficult in Canada to be a Christian in politics. I believe Stephen Harper is one, as is Stockwell Day ( who is not in politics anymore, but he was for quite a few years). Problem is, of course, that unbelievers think "religion" should be left at the door and should not have a place in how a person votes within Parliament or how they should speak in public.

Fiscal conservatism is a huge part of it all, but there are certain ethics and values that go along with it, I believe. A large portion of those who voted conservative yesterday are from ethnic groups that share the same values as Christians. Religious beliefs may be opposite ends of the spectrum, but the conservative values of family and respecting of all life and care with the taxpayers money, etc., smudges some of those lines drawn in the sand regarding religion.

Stephen Harper ran on a platform of "steady, common sense government, working to continue improving the economy", and that somehow resonated with certain groups. The Conservative party is also the most diverse of them all regarding ethnic groups and women, in spite of the Libs and NDP's accusing them of being biased. My own MP is a Sihk. Does a great job in Ottawa for us, and he was re-elected yesterday.

I don't know if this answers you, CP. It's hard to put into words a concept, really. Stephen Harper claims a faith in Jesus Christ, but he doesn't push it in public or use his faith to change things. It is just a quiet, gracious faith.

Actually, Moss, that's pretty well what I suspected. When I was college minister in Huntsville, TX, we had quite a few Canuck college students (eh?) and what you're saying pretty well fits in with what they shared.

Quick aside, if you don't mind...

Kelly, former policeman in Canada, was a really great student, and involved in our college ministry. He was SO "straight", and it took him a while to get used to Texasisms....

One day, he was walking out of a convenience store, having purchased some gas, a candy bar, and a coke, and the store clerk hollered out "Come BACK!" (you know, the standard "come back and see us some day" type greeting)

Kelly froze in the doorway, turned and walked back to the cash register with a really puzzled look on his face.

The clerk, now suspicious, asks "what do YOU want"... to which Kelly sincerely replied... "well, you SAID 'come back', so I thought maybe I didn't pay for something"

Sorry -- back to our regularly scheduled PoliCanuck discussion.

[mossrose]

What a great story!

[rogue06]

Actually, Moss, that's pretty well what I suspected. When I was college minister in Huntsville, TX, we had quite a few Canuck college students (eh?) and what you're saying pretty well fits in with what they shared.

Quick aside, if you don't mind...

Kelly, former policeman in Canada, was a really great student, and involved in our college ministry. He was SO "straight", and it took him a while to get used to Texasisms....

One day, he was walking out of a convenience store, having purchased some gas, a candy bar, and a coke, and the store clerk hollered out "Come BACK!" (you know, the standard "come back and see us some day" type greeting)

Kelly froze in the doorway, turned and walked back to the cash register with a really puzzled look on his face.

The clerk, now suspicious, asks "what do YOU want"... to which Kelly sincerely replied... "well, you SAID 'come back', so I thought maybe I didn't pay for something"

Sorry -- back to our regularly scheduled PoliCanuck discussion.

Southern colloquialisms cause no end of trouble for those from up north. When we lived in Florida and I was in kindergarten the teacher told my mom that I was a mess. My mother was quite offended.

[Cow Poke]

Southern colloquialisms cause no end of trouble for those from up north. When we lived in Florida and I was in kindergarten the teacher told my mom that I was a mess. My mother was quite offended.

I was having my car serviced, and needed a ride from the Student Center to the dealership. I asked Kelly, "would you mind carrying me over to the Ford Dealership when we're done here?", and I could tell he was looking me over, trying to assess my weight.

I rephrased for his benefit "would you mind GIVING ME A RIDE to the Ford Dealership when we're done here?"

[rogue06]

I was having my car serviced, and needed a ride from the Student Center to the dealership. I asked Kelly, "would you mind carrying me over to the Ford Dealership when we're done here?", and I could tell he was looking me over, trying to assess my weight.

I rephrased for his benefit "would you mind GIVING ME A RIDE to the Ford Dealership when we're done here?"

After the first question he probably assumed you meant by piggyback after you clarified.

[Cow Poke]

After the first question he probably assumed you meant by piggyback after you clarified.

I wonder if there are Canuckisms that we would have a hard time comprehending. In ENGLISH, that is.

Moss?

[rogue06]

I wonder if there are Canuckisms that we would have a hard time comprehending. In ENGLISH, that is.

Moss?

Yeah, no fair including Quebec.

[Cow Poke]

Yeah, no fair including Quebec.

Wife and I visited Toronto on our "drive all of New England" visit to Boston a couple of years ago. We decided, since we had limited time in Canada, to take one of those Bus Tours -- it was VERY good -- but the driver said he was obligated to say everything he said in English in French, as well. It was odd... He would say "on the right, you will see the CN Tower, standing at over 1800 feet", then he would say something in French for over 3 minutes! Somehow, I think we got shortchanged, but I'm not sure. Maybe it really DOES take 10 times longer to say something in French?

[Teluog]

It's all about the Canadian bacon.