Could a Liberal-NDP-Bloc Alliance be a good thing for languages?

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
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You are correct, CM.

So if independents get nothing, why should parties. I'm not in favout of independents getting anything beyond maybe a website paid for them for the duration of the campaign. Same with party members.

But as for the 1.95, though I would rather nobody gets it, if push comes to shove and somebody must get it, then I'd say independent candidates and not parties should get fist dibs considering that independents are generally at a disadvantage over parties already.

But to make it simpler, my prefered option would be just scrap the 1.95 altogether. A website is all the candidate needs. Heck, if he has no computer, he can just use one at the local library!

Any educated voter could just as easily go to his website and e-mail him any question they want to ask. How much more money does anyone really need more than that. Same with parties, and like I said parties get even more of an advantage owing to sponsorship, etc.
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
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If it does thats good for you and if it doesn't what then ?

People always assume the worse but what happens when the best happens ?

By the way I couldn't care less for a coalition, but I don't want another election..

Any gov't that includes in any way the BQ is completely beyond the Pale, IMHO.

Any party that enters into a coalition with the BQ should be sent to the political wilderness for a long, long time.

People babble on about only 37% voting for a Harper government........

How many voted for a gov't that includes Separatists???????

AND, it seems nobody whines about the Liberals' two MAJORITIES with less than 40% of the vote......

I shake my head......
 

Zzarchov

House Member
Aug 28, 2006
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Oh give me a break!

Gov't subsidies for political parties have existed for about three years....before that we were a dictatorship?

Give it a rest.

Just STFU and write a cheque to the political party of your choice.....I'm getting tired of carrying the useless pricks.:roll:


How about a simpler solution? Everyone gets a number of votes equal to their networth!

The system was put in place because without it there is increasing inbalance in representation.

What is your problem with parties getting money based on the number of people who support them. Who are you to tell me that I can't give my $1.97 to the part of my choice?

Writing a cheque for $1.97 isn't really cost effective. If you don't like it, don't vote for a party if you don't want to give them $1.97.

People decided we were ok with giving $1.97 to the party we support, what gives the minority the right to overrule the majority?
 

Risus

Genius
May 24, 2006
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Toronto
With all the talk of a Liberal-NDP- Bloc alliance, I was thinking of how this could affect language policy.

Of course neither the Liberals nor the NDP would really want to work with the Bloc, but seeing that even together they still form a minority, they'd essentially have no choice but to have the Bloc on their side.

One thing the Bloc has been asking for is that the federal governemnt in the province of Quebec would be officially monolingually French-speaking.

Could this not be a good thing in that it would likewise precipitate support for all federal institutions outside Quebec to be officially monolingually English-speaking, thus saving money on both sides with respect to official bilingualism? Considering that the Bloc cares only for Quebec, it couldn't care less what happens outside of Quebec. In fact, it's likely the Bloc would even support this since it would reinfoce French monolingualism in Quebec and possibly pressure French speakers from outside of Quebec to move back to Quebec.

Should this idea (i.e. official French monolingualism in Quebec and official English monolingualism in English Canada) be something worth supporting?

In fact, could the Conservative party itself not save itself from takeover by creating an alliance with the Bloc and offering French only in Quebec and English only elsewhere?

I'm sure Trudeau would roll in his grave at this, but Duplesis, the Bloc, and the Conservatives would be ecstatic I'm sure. Strange times make for strange bedfellows I suppose.

What are your ideas on this?
Canada is already bilingual, where is bilingualism in Quebec?????????
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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If it does thats good for you and if it doesn't what then ?

People always assume the worse but what happens when the best happens ?

By the way I couldn't care less for a coalition, but I don't want another election..

I certainly don't want another election nor do I want to see a change in Gov't without "THE PEOPLE" having a say in it.
 

Francis2004

Subjective Poster
Nov 18, 2008
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Lower Mainland, BC
Are you sure about this? To my knowledge only parties get this 1.95. If you vote for an independent, he gets nothing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

My mistake and you are correct..

A registered party that obtains at least 2% of all valid votes cast at a general election or at least 5% of the valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which it ran a candidate in a general election is eligible for an annual allowance. (s. 435.01(1) Canada Elections Act)
Elections Canada On-Line | Electoral Law, Policy and Research

But as I was referring too the many parties that do exceed those numbers.

An Independent as such would only be having local expenses any how..

But then again how would you have a country with one main political party and the rest all being Independent running candidates?
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
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How about a simpler solution? Everyone gets a number of votes equal to their networth!

The system was put in place because without it there is increasing inbalance in representation.

What is your problem with parties getting money based on the number of people who support them. Who are you to tell me that I can't give my $1.97 to the part of my choice?

Writing a cheque for $1.97 isn't really cost effective. If you don't like it, don't vote for a party if you don't want to give them $1.97.

People decided we were ok with giving $1.97 to the party we support, what gives the minority the right to overrule the majority?

My problem with this is the following:

What if I choose to vote for a particular candidate because i like his ideas, but don't necessarily agree with his party? In this case I'm essentially being forced to support his party by voting for him. Last election I almost voted for the Green candidate. In the end I put in a blank ballot partially because of the $1.95. Of course there were other reasons, but that was one of them. After all, if I don't want to support any party financially then I have no choice but to not vote for any party member. But if all the candidates on the ballot are party members, then I have no choice but to spoil the ballot. What kind of blackmail 'democracy' is that? Rule of the majority is democratic, but not necessarily just. At that stage, democracy becomes nothing more than a weapon, a means to suppress the minority.
 

Francis2004

Subjective Poster
Nov 18, 2008
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Lower Mainland, BC
Any gov't that includes in any way the BQ is completely beyond the Pale, IMHO.

Any party that enters into a coalition with the BQ should be sent to the political wilderness for a long, long time.

People babble on about only 37% voting for a Harper government........

How many voted for a gov't that includes Separatists???????

AND, it seems nobody whines about the Liberals' two MAJORITIES with less than 40% of the vote......

I shake my head......

Colby, what is it about the Bloc you hate the most?

The fact that most of them were high ranking Conservatives that left your party or that their leader and platform was more popular then all other in the last Federal Election amongst the rest of Canadian outside Quebec?

The initial coalition that led to the Bloc was led by Lucien Bouchard, who had been federal Minister of the Environment until he was fired by then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (as pointed out in The Secret Mulroney Tapes). He was joined by several of his fellow Tories, such as Nic Leblanc, Louis Plamondon, Benoît Tremblay, Gilbert Chartrand, and François Gérin, along with several Liberals, notably Gilles Rocheleau and Jean Lapierre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloc_Quebecois


The people of Canada would love a leader like Gille Duceppe..

http://www.theglobeandmail.com: Duceppe a hit with Canadian voters outside Quebec

Now me personally as long as the leader holds his word and follows thru on delivering the basics, that is what I am looking for..

Also its not like they are stealing the votes.. They legally get them like all other parties.. Whether it is to represent one region of the country alone is irrelevant, they are no different then an independent member in the house for their views.. Now whether I agree with their view is totally different and why I am no longer in Quebec, but why would I refuse them the right to exist in a democracy..

I am just curious ?
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
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Colby, what is it about the Bloc you hate the most?

I am just curious ?



Colpy isn't here to respond, but my impression is this: Colpy is a Canadian First &
a Canadian Second! I believe he might see the Bloc as Separatists First, and Canadians second
when it's convenient. I could be wrong, and I'm making assumptions, but that would
answer your question if that was the case. I'm sure he'll be all over your question for
you when he's on-line next.

Hopefully, I'm not too far off target in my assumptions as,
if I am, he'll set me straight very quickly also...and rightfully so.
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
21,887
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Colby, what is it about the Bloc you hate the most?

The fact that most of them were high ranking Conservatives that left your party or that their leader and platform was more popular then all other in the last Federal Election amongst the rest of Canadian outside Quebec?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloc_Quebecois


The people of Canada would love a leader like Gille Duceppe..

http://www.theglobeandmail.com: Duceppe a hit with Canadian voters outside Quebec

Now me personally as long as the leader holds his word and follows thru on delivering the basics, that is what I am looking for..

Also its not like they are stealing the votes.. They legally get them like all other parties.. Whether it is to represent one region of the country alone is irrelevant, they are no different then an independent member in the house for their views.. Now whether I agree with their view is totally different and why I am no longer in Quebec, but why would I refuse them the right to exist in a democracy..

I am just curious ?

1. The BQ is a party dedicated to the destruction of Canada as a nation.
That in itself should be enough for the other Federal parties to stay a country mile away from them. Of course, Quebecois have every right to vote for whichever party they wish,......but that does not mean that the other parties have to treat the BQ as equals. I would think that responsible people in the Commons would keep the BQ as politely ostrasized as possible.....thus making it clear to the people of Quebec that voting for a separatist party keeps them far from the levers of power.....it is counter-productive.

The bloody idiot Libs and NDP are about to put the BQ in the position of lookout on the ship of state.....a ship they would like to see wrecked on the rocks.

Unbelieveably irresponsible, and I'm being very nice.

2. The BQ is far to the left of any of the other parties. Duceppe (whom I actually like as an honest and intelligent man) is a former proclaimed Marxist (so was I, but I grew out of it before I was 20) and is still a statist to the core.

Oh the Horror!

3. NOBODY outside of Quebec, voted for a gov't that included the Separatist Party. Not one single person.

4. The Bloc was formed from people that deserted the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada under Brian Mulroney.

That was not and IS NOT, I repeat NOT, my party. I voted PC a total of ONCE in my life......I joined Reform early, and as the Canadian Alliance, destroyed and absorbed the old PC Party. I was never a PC, neither were the vast majority of members of the Conservative Party Of Canada

5. Thanks Ron, you were dead on.
 

Francis2004

Subjective Poster
Nov 18, 2008
2,846
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Lower Mainland, BC
Colpy isn't here to respond, but my impression is this: Colpy is a Canadian First &
a Canadian Second! I believe he might see the Bloc as Separatists First, and Canadians second
when it's convenient. I could be wrong, and I'm making assumptions, but that would
answer your question if that was the case. I'm sure he'll be all over your question for
you when he's on-line next.

Hopefully, I'm not too far off target in my assumptions as,
if I am, he'll set me straight very quickly also...and rightfully so.

Ron I was born in Quebec but I have been a CANADIAN FIRST PERIOD ( no second or third ).. Removing anyone else's right is above anything else NOT Canadian and why our Canadian Armed Forces are in Afghanistan fighting and giving their lives.

I don't agree with the Bloc but I respect their right to exist just as I respected the right to the Alberta / Western Separatist Party to exist. Its called democracy and the only way to stomp it out is by education, compromise and pride within our country by not by telling people what to do but working with them..
 

Francis2004

Subjective Poster
Nov 18, 2008
2,846
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48
Lower Mainland, BC
1. The BQ is a party dedicated to the destruction of Canada as a nation.
That in itself should be enough for the other Federal parties to stay a country mile away from them. Of course, Quebecois have every right to vote for whichever party they wish,......but that does not mean that the other parties have to treat the BQ as equals. I would think that responsible people in the Commons would keep the BQ as politely ostrasized as possible.....thus making it clear to the people of Quebec that voting for a separatist party keeps them far from the levers of power.....it is counter-productive.

The bloody idiot Libs and NDP are about to put the BQ in the position of lookout on the ship of state.....a ship they would like to see wrecked on the rocks.

Unbelieveably irresponsible, and I'm being very nice.

2. The BQ is far to the left of any of the other parties. Duceppe (whom I actually like as an honest and intelligent man) is a former proclaimed Marxist (so was I, but I grew out of it before I was 20) and is still a statist to the core.

Oh the Horror!

3. NOBODY outside of Quebec, voted for a gov't that included the Separatist Party. Not one single person.

4. The Bloc was formed from people that deserted the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada under Brian Mulroney.

That was not and IS NOT, I repeat NOT, my party. I voted PC a total of ONCE in my life......I joined Reform early, and as the Canadian Alliance, destroyed and absorbed the old PC Party. I was never a PC, neither were the vast majority of members of the Conservative Party Of Canada

5. Thanks Ron, you were dead on.


Colby did you ever hear the expression "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" ?

The Bloc may not have Canada's best interest at heart but it has a Big Chunk of it at this time.. It must listen to that Chunk of Canada called Quebec, which I remind you is still part of Canada, and regardless of its original intent of Separation, let it not fool you that it must listen to its people.. If not it will suffer the faith of many other Parties..

As for your opinion of the Liberals and NDP, being that you are Conservative / Reform, I certainly will not change that will I.. Personally I voted Independent in the last election, so don't blame me..
 

Ron in Regina

"Voice of the West" Party
Apr 9, 2008
26,224
9,597
113
Regina, Saskatchewan
Ron I was born in Quebec but I have been a CANADIAN FIRST PERIOD ( no second or third ).. Removing anyone else's right is above anything else NOT Canadian and why our Canadian Armed Forces are in Afghanistan fighting and giving their lives.

I don't agree with the Bloc but I respect their right to exist just as I respected the right to the Alberta / Western Separatist Party to exist. Its called democracy and the only way to stomp it out is by education, compromise and pride within our country by not by telling people what to do but working with them..

SirFrancis2004, Good on you! I didn't say Quebec or Quebecors, but the Bloc. I
made an assumption (an educated guess). Please see the post directly above
yours (point#5).
 

s_lone

Council Member
Feb 16, 2005
2,233
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Businesses who work in English and trade in English aren't going to burden themselves with whichever version of french is indigenous to the region. It's time Quebec realized Canada doesn't revolve around it either.

With all due respect Lone Wolf, that is an incredibly ridiculous comment.

French is never indigenous to anyone who speaks and understands the language properly. You'll find different kind of accents throughout Quebec, but French is French... There are no different ''versions'' of French beyond the local and cultural differences found in ANY relatively wide-spread language.
 

VanIsle

Always thinking
Nov 12, 2008
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We are talking about how we don't want a vote at this time. Of course we don't. We should be talking about how we don't want any change at this time. An election is too expensive right now - especially one right after the other. Secondly, why would you want a coalition? Dream on anyone who thinks they will get along at any given time. Tell me - who is going to lead this "group"? The Liberals don't have a leader. Layton couldn't lead a horse to water and to speak of the block we might as well be talking about the Premiers of each province in reality. There are no Bloc reps. in any other province. I've never quite understood the reason they are included at all. In fact - the Green Party deserves more reconition then the Bloc does when it comes to representing all of Canada. Someone said that Quebec is a large part of Canada. Well it goes back to the same old same old. You are right that Quebec is a part of Canada and separatists - in Quebec or any other province should go their separate ways. That doesn't mean they get to take the land. The whole world is in a mess. Why would we make a change in government now? If nothing else, the Conservatives have at least been in control for a couple of years now and whether you like him or not, Stephen Harper is in control of the party. The other leaders - Layton in particular, is what I see as a trouble maker. So focused on himself. He cannot seem to see that he is never going to lead this country. I think he sees it that if they form a coalition, the Bloc leader is out for the position, Libs. don't have a leader and he's thinking he's a shoe in. It's all too bizarre! Now in the midst of all this turmoil the NDP is thinking of suing the Conservatives for eavesdropping. They seem to be claiming that their back room meetings to attempt to overthrow the government are all okay and natural but it's not fair ball if the government listens to the game. I say the government gets to listen in on the game.