Canadian Election Results
I'm pretty happy with how last night's federal election turned out, I think it's for the best at this time. Canada has a Liberal minority government with the NDP one seat away from holding the balance of power.
The Liberals got the most seats, which I was hoping for, but they lost enough seats to humble them nicely. They will have to work with the other Canadian parties to stay in power in a minority situation which, considering the free ride they've had for the last two terms, is good. I think this situation is healthy for Canada.
The Conservatives didn't get the break-through in Ontario that they wanted and therefore didn't get enough seats to win the election. I am glad about that, too, yet at the same time I think it's good that they did do well enough to re-establish a strong sense of a multiple party system in Canada again. Canada has only had one viable party, the Liberals, for too long and letting that party get arrogant and complacent, even if they are the party I support, is not a good thing. I'm glad the Conservatives gave the Liberals a scare this time, but I'm equally glad they didn't get in.
The NDP went up in number of seats and popular vote, too, which I was glad to see. Wish they had that -one more seat- to make them the balance of power in a Liberal minority government, but they will be a force to be reckoned with anyway, which is as good a scenario as they could have hoped for. I was really hoping that the NDP would win the Hamilton seat where my parents live, but I see that Jack Valenti held the seat. Sorry, Mum and Dad. I did notice, though, that the NDP did take the seat next door in Hamilton Centre. Both John and I were glad to see Ed Broadbent get in in Ottawa Centre.
Sorry to see the Bloc Quebecois doing so well, though I'm glad to see they aren't the clear balance of power in the new government everyone thought they would be. Not surprised to hear the party talking about separatism again last night despite spending the entire election campaign saying the issue of the election wasn't separatism :-/. Uh huh. Still, I don't think Quebec voted for separatism as much last night as they just wanted to send a message to the Liberals that they were unhappy with them. Hopefully if the Bloc ever starts talking about a separatist referendum again, the province will toss them on their ear.
And, yay, no more political commercials on my TV, no more partisan rants on my radio and no more red, blue, orange and green signs to block the scenery. At least until the American campaign starts to seep into our media in a few months' time.
The Liberals got the most seats, which I was hoping for, but they lost enough seats to humble them nicely. They will have to work with the other Canadian parties to stay in power in a minority situation which, considering the free ride they've had for the last two terms, is good. I think this situation is healthy for Canada.
The Conservatives didn't get the break-through in Ontario that they wanted and therefore didn't get enough seats to win the election. I am glad about that, too, yet at the same time I think it's good that they did do well enough to re-establish a strong sense of a multiple party system in Canada again. Canada has only had one viable party, the Liberals, for too long and letting that party get arrogant and complacent, even if they are the party I support, is not a good thing. I'm glad the Conservatives gave the Liberals a scare this time, but I'm equally glad they didn't get in.
The NDP went up in number of seats and popular vote, too, which I was glad to see. Wish they had that -one more seat- to make them the balance of power in a Liberal minority government, but they will be a force to be reckoned with anyway, which is as good a scenario as they could have hoped for. I was really hoping that the NDP would win the Hamilton seat where my parents live, but I see that Jack Valenti held the seat. Sorry, Mum and Dad. I did notice, though, that the NDP did take the seat next door in Hamilton Centre. Both John and I were glad to see Ed Broadbent get in in Ottawa Centre.
Sorry to see the Bloc Quebecois doing so well, though I'm glad to see they aren't the clear balance of power in the new government everyone thought they would be. Not surprised to hear the party talking about separatism again last night despite spending the entire election campaign saying the issue of the election wasn't separatism :-/. Uh huh. Still, I don't think Quebec voted for separatism as much last night as they just wanted to send a message to the Liberals that they were unhappy with them. Hopefully if the Bloc ever starts talking about a separatist referendum again, the province will toss them on their ear.
And, yay, no more political commercials on my TV, no more partisan rants on my radio and no more red, blue, orange and green signs to block the scenery. At least until the American campaign starts to seep into our media in a few months' time.