News & Politics - Canadian Elections Discussion Thread #1 - Page 2

**Talkative One** · 09-18-2008, 10:04 AM

Anybody know how I can let them now that I have a changed of address with how they still have my old one

Laurababora · 09-18-2008, 10:09 AM

Elections Canada On-Line | General Information

Here it kind of talks about calling Elections Canada if your address on your voting card is incorrect or if you don't get a voting card. I'm assuming that you could call them to tell them you changed addresses as well.

**Talkative One** · 09-18-2008, 10:10 AM

Thanks

I want to vote to be about of the election and being apart of the decision. I voted in the last federal election

Laurababora · 09-18-2008, 10:14 AM

It's good to see more people wanting to vote. Our voter turnout always seems to be pretty low. Low to the point where there has been discussion over voting online to make it more accessable to people. What do you guys think about that idea? Do you think that it'll make more people vote?

**Talkative One** · 09-18-2008, 10:16 AM

Thats an interesting thought about voting online. I think it could work

**sunnykerr** · 09-18-2008, 06:58 PM

I'm not sure how you'd prevent fraud if it was all online, though. Hanging chads, anyone? Computerized voting is a nice idea, but it opens up a Pandora's box of possibilities.

And congrats to all the first-time voters!!!!

Re: the ADQ.

Okay, I actually had to look them up because, even though they're our official opposition party here in Quebec, this is the first time they've had more than, like, five MNAs. So their policies have been a little fluid, historically.

And what I've found's been rather confuzzling.

They seem to be a bit like the Republican party down south, only without the big-business base. Essentially, they're the embodiment of what Liberalism (the political ideology) is all about. They believe in small government, in free-market economy, and in autonomous decision-making. In other words, they aren't sovereignist, but they believe in building up Quebec's autonomy from Canada.

So that would put them pretty much at the far right of the political spectrum in Quebec.

Which is good to know.

**Talkative One** · 09-19-2008, 05:35 AM

Has the debate gone by yet? I'm not sure exactly who I'm voting for, 75% sure but want to see what their parties views are

*Ledi* · 09-19-2008, 08:04 AM

I can't vote this time around, because I have yet to apply for my citizenship. I should have done it a while ago. So sad.

I'm making my boyfriend vote, though. He moved back to Canada (from the US) only 2 1/2 years ago, so he's never voted. It's exciting!

Laurababora · 09-19-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnykerr (View Post)

I'm not sure how you'd prevent fraud if it was all online, though. Hanging chads, anyone? Computerized voting is a nice idea, but it opens up a Pandora's box of possibilities.

And congrats to all the first-time voters!!!!

Re: the ADQ.

Okay, I actually had to look them up because, even though they're our official opposition party here in Quebec, this is the first time they've had more than, like, five MNAs. So their policies have been a little fluid, historically.

And what I've found's been rather confuzzling.

They seem to be a bit like the Republican party down south, only without the big-business base. Essentially, they're the embodiment of what Liberalism (the political ideology) is all about. They believe in small government, in free-market economy, and in autonomous decision-making. In other words, they aren't sovereignist, but they believe in building up Quebec's autonomy from Canada.

So that would put them pretty much at the far right of the political spectrum in Quebec.

Which is good to know.

Yeah. I'm also unsure of how they'd get around fraud too. Like you said it would just create more and more problems. So I have no problem getting off my butt and going to vote.

Thanks for the info on the ADQ. From what you've said it seems like they're a mix of Liberal and Conservative? And when you said 5 MNAs what do you mean by that?

It's generally been either the PQ or the Liberals in power in Quebec correct?

Not sure when the debate is but I don't think it has past yet.

Ledi, sorry to hear you can't vote

**Talkative One** · 09-19-2008, 10:43 AM

Hope not because I want to watch it

Laurababora · 09-19-2008, 10:48 AM

Me too. It'll be interesting to see how Dion handles the debate, since it will be his first as Liberal leader.

**Talkative One** · 09-19-2008, 10:54 AM

Yes it will be interesting

Plus its way to see what the leaders think about certain issues

**sunnykerr** · 09-22-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurababora (View Post)

Thanks for the info on the ADQ. From what you've said it seems like they're a mix of Liberal and Conservative? And when you said 5 MNAs what do you mean by that?

It's generally been either the PQ or the Liberals in power in Quebec correct?

A mix of Liberal and Conservative sounds like an apt description of the ADQ. It's weird because, when they appeared on the scene, I was quite a fan of theirs. Mind you, again, this was when they had no shot in hell at any form of power, so like I always it was easy to like them.

Their two main issues were access to education and job development. As a university student, these were issues that I clearly had a vested interest in.

MNAs are Members of the National Assembly, our provincial legislature. I guess I showed my ignorance in assuming it was the same name in all provinces. Sorry about that.

The last election saw the ADQ win the status of Official opposition. Otherwise, you're quite right, it's pretty much always been the PQ and the PLQ (Liberals) in Quebec. At least, during my lifetime. And possibly that of my parents as well, but I wouldn't feel as confident asserting that.

Laurababora · 09-22-2008, 10:18 AM

So are you still a fan of theirs then?

I don't think we (Ontario) have MNAs. I believe our MPPs are similar though. And you know, I think I have the same ignorance because I kind of assumed that all provinces had MPPs. I forgot that Quebec has their civil law so their provincial legislature might be different.

As long as I've been interested in politics I've only known the PQ or the Liberals to be in power in Quebec. Plus I didn't really know much about the other parties in Quebec to be quite honest.

Has anyone here ever done any canvasing? I did for the first time today. It was exciting and also nerve racking! It also makes me want to be more involved in the political process, lol.

**sunnykerr** · 09-22-2008, 07:12 PM

I'm not really a fan of a ADQ any longer, no. I don't have any strong negative feelings towards them either, really. It's just an ideological difference. I believe in big government. I don't believe market forces should rule without regulations controlling them. I believe social problems are the business of government.

I'm not saying big government's perfect. I'm not saying there aren't a million ways in which it could be improved upon. I'm certainly not saying that it works all the time. But I do think it's got a better shot of getting it right than leaving it up to business interests.

But that's my way of seeing things. I don't have an issue with people who see things differently.

As for canvassing, I've never done any myself. I did polling, though. You know, asking people coming out after they've voted to tell you who they voted for so you can predict the results for that riding.

It did not make me want to do it again.