Election Day in Canada
There's a federal election here in Canada today and John and I just got back from voting. My parents voted in the advanced polls last week because my father is working in a Hamilton polling station today. I learned from the best at a young age the importance of casting my vote. I encourage any other Canadian reading this post today to go out and vote, too.
Update: I liked this column in today's Toronto Star on the issue of voting. It's Canada-centric, but true for everyone: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1088334064928&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795&tacodalogin=no
It seems like this election is a lot like the American election in 2000, it's going to come right down to the wire between the Liberals and the Conservatives and every vote is going to count. And being that all polls are projecting a minority government the results of the Bloc Quebecois party and the New Democratic Party will be equally interesting, as they will be holding the balance of power in a new government. Word has it there may not be a result until late tonight after the final polls in British Columbia close. At the same time, for the first time ever, the media will start announcing the east coast results before the polls on the west coast are closed. I guess in an era of the Internet there isn't much point in holding off the results anyone can find on their home computer.
I tend to be an election night addict, for any campaign that has captured my imagination at all. I was in-front of the TV to follow the Ontario provincial results last November, I'll avidly watch the results tonight and I'll be equally keen during the American election in November. Looks like tonight may be a long night, but the political drama will unfold in interesting ways as the polls close in each province (Will the Bloc take all of Quebec? Will Ontario stay Liberal or swing Conservative? Will my riding stay Liberal? Will the NDP beat the Liberals in my parent's riding? And, ultimately, who is going to be my Prime Minister tomorrow morning?). I imagine it will be a more entertaining evening of TV than I could find in most reality shows.
Seems a good post to mention that I saw Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" on Saturday in a packed theatre. Astonishing how successful this movie is proving to be (a documentary as the top box office draw of a summer weekend?), but I guess controversy will do that. I agreed with Moore's politics before going in and the movie is powerful and disturbing. It left me badly shaken, and for that reason it's well worth seeing. Love Moore or hate him, there is no denying his power as a film-maker. Interesting, too, that his swing through Canada a few weeks ago showed him to be as knowledgeable on the Canadian election campaign and as outspoken on the implications of the results as the American campaign. Not surprising, though, as Moore has always had a soft spot for Canada.
QUESTION: Do you follow election campaigns in your country closely? Do you follow them through TV, radio, newspapers, magasines, the Internet? Do you watch the election results on TV as they unfold? Americans, will you watch any of the coverage of the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer? Are you actively engaged in the campaign between Bush and Kerry yet?
Update: I liked this column in today's Toronto Star on the issue of voting. It's Canada-centric, but true for everyone: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1088334064928&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795&tacodalogin=no
It seems like this election is a lot like the American election in 2000, it's going to come right down to the wire between the Liberals and the Conservatives and every vote is going to count. And being that all polls are projecting a minority government the results of the Bloc Quebecois party and the New Democratic Party will be equally interesting, as they will be holding the balance of power in a new government. Word has it there may not be a result until late tonight after the final polls in British Columbia close. At the same time, for the first time ever, the media will start announcing the east coast results before the polls on the west coast are closed. I guess in an era of the Internet there isn't much point in holding off the results anyone can find on their home computer.
I tend to be an election night addict, for any campaign that has captured my imagination at all. I was in-front of the TV to follow the Ontario provincial results last November, I'll avidly watch the results tonight and I'll be equally keen during the American election in November. Looks like tonight may be a long night, but the political drama will unfold in interesting ways as the polls close in each province (Will the Bloc take all of Quebec? Will Ontario stay Liberal or swing Conservative? Will my riding stay Liberal? Will the NDP beat the Liberals in my parent's riding? And, ultimately, who is going to be my Prime Minister tomorrow morning?). I imagine it will be a more entertaining evening of TV than I could find in most reality shows.
Seems a good post to mention that I saw Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" on Saturday in a packed theatre. Astonishing how successful this movie is proving to be (a documentary as the top box office draw of a summer weekend?), but I guess controversy will do that. I agreed with Moore's politics before going in and the movie is powerful and disturbing. It left me badly shaken, and for that reason it's well worth seeing. Love Moore or hate him, there is no denying his power as a film-maker. Interesting, too, that his swing through Canada a few weeks ago showed him to be as knowledgeable on the Canadian election campaign and as outspoken on the implications of the results as the American campaign. Not surprising, though, as Moore has always had a soft spot for Canada.
QUESTION: Do you follow election campaigns in your country closely? Do you follow them through TV, radio, newspapers, magasines, the Internet? Do you watch the election results on TV as they unfold? Americans, will you watch any of the coverage of the Republican and Democratic conventions this summer? Are you actively engaged in the campaign between Bush and Kerry yet?