Harper wins larger minority

[Snrrub]

Well, the election results are in. Here are the results:

(Party: seats, change from 2006)

Conservatives: 143, +19
Liberals: 76, -27
Bloc: 50, -1
NDP: 37, +8
Green: 0, unchanged

The real story here is the disintegration of the Liberal party. Ontario can no longer be considered a Liberal stronghold. In fact, the only stronghold the Liberals still have is Toronto, but the conservatives have even started to encroach on the outer edges. Additionally, the Liberal party was deep in debt after their leadership race, and now have even less public financing due to their loss of popular vote. In fact, this seems to be one of Harper's key strategies during the campaign - forcing the liberals into bankruptcy. The lack of liberal funds was obvious during the campaign; they aired about one TV commercial for every ten of the conservatives.

What does everyone think of the results? Personally, I was hoping for a Conservative majority. I'm pleased that the Greens still don't have a seat - May didn't come close to defeating Peter MacKay despite the Liberal agreement to not run a candidate in that riding.

edit: The +/- seat changes in the data above may not be completely accurate. The prior bi-elections as well as some candidates switching parties may be screwing up these numbers.

[kestra]

It's gotta suck for the NDP and Jack Layton, STILL behind the BQ.
I was hoping the Greens would get a couple seats. Looks like they have more work to do.

[Jozep]

More of the same. I'm glad Harper doesn't have a majority, because although I do think they are probably the best choice to handle the economic side of things, I worry about their desire to cut gov't services and 'crack down on crime' by jailing everyone who smokes a joint.

Nothing would make me happier than to see the Liberals implode and become even more irrelevant. After the sheer arrogance and disregard for Canadians they displayed during the Chretien years, they deserved to be kicked. Poor Dion gets the blame for it, he's a decent guy but not PM material. The Libs basically gave him the job to be a scapegoat. They'll have a new leader in 6 months, they will move back to the center/ center right, and form the next government most likely, though.

I was pleased to see the NDP take a riding here in good old Conservative Alberta. Wasn't my riding, sadly, but yay anyway. However, they need to re-invent themselves as less anti-business or they'll never get anywhere near forming a government. You can be a socialist (eeeek!) without being a pinko commie, after all.

The Greens won't be going away, they are going to have to keep working and eventually they will make a breakthrough, I think.

If I could vote for the BQ, I totally would. Duceppe rocks. I wish they'd form the Bloc Albertois just so I could vote for him.

Worst thing about the election? 59% voter turnout. Very sad.

[Gesslar]

How long ago was it that the conservatives almost lost federal party status by being demolished by the Liberals?

These things swing back and forth.

I think the particular way in which we look at elections is flawed. Ostensibly, we are voting for our own particular riding, however, what actually happens is that we are instead voting for which party we want to take the federal seat. This is where our minds are.

I know several people, myself included, who think a particular party is more suited to a smaller government (town, riding) and another to a larger one (federal). When those conflict, you have to decide who wins out, and I feel honestly that people pick who they want to see federally as opposed to which party actually would be doing the most service (the least disservice?) to their particular local constituents.

Thankfully, we can already vote for 3 levels (town/provincial/federal) but the federal one at this time seems to be a combination that could and I'm sure does pose conflicts with who may one party in power federally and another party representing the interests of their constituency as a sort of check on that power. But, there is only one selection on the ballot.

[Snrrub]

Originally posted by karahd
How long ago was it that the conservatives almost lost federal party status by being demolished by the Liberals?

These things swing back and forth.

When the Progressive Conservatives were annihilated by the liberals in 1993, they stayed annihilated. In the year 2000 election, they still only managed to get 12 seats. The current strength of the Conservative Party of Canada is primarily from the Reform/Canadian Alliance part of the CA/PC merger.