Election 2006!|
Okay. So. Last election, the Liberal party got the most seats out of anyone in Parliament, but they got less than 50%, creating what we call a minority government. The Liberals have held sway over Canada for a decade, and, as happens with any political party that's been in power for that long, they accumulated a lot of little scandals that, if they happened in America, would end in "-gate". Thus, now, the whole government got a big non-confidence vote and now everybody's gotta go re-vote in January which means we all get to have annoying political commercials in the middle of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Once again, then, I have tabulated a list of all the candidates in my riding, along with their associated plusses and minuses. |
 Gina Barber |
 New Democratic Party |
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+ Not a lawyer. + Is a teacher. + Does a lot of volunteer work. + Got a B.A. and a Masters in Sociology. + She's persistent, I'll give her that. - That's not a very good picture. - She's a cat person. |
+ Jack Layton is very sexy. + Concerned with social justice, homelessness, etc. - Kooky, far-left ideas. - They were the Liberals' best buddies for a while, now they've turned around and are running attack ads. |
| Estimated Probability of Election : 8% | Estimated Probability of Election : 10% |
 Sue Barnes |
 Liberal Party |
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+ Has already been MP of this riding for three-and-a-bit terms (experience!). + Chaired a bunch of committees whilst MP. + Born in Malta. + Two Bachelor's Degrees. - Has already been MP of this riding for three-and-a-bit terms (stagnation!). - Is a lawyer. |
+ Paul Martin smiles a lot, looks like my Uncle George. + Martin supposedly did good things for the economy. + Kept us out of Iraq. - Lots of political infighting and backstabbing. - A plethora of scandals, most particularly the one where they gave taxpayer money to an ad agency for nothing. - More concerned with popularity than good governance. - Isn't the whole point of this election to get rid of them? |
| Estimated Probability of Re-election : 35% | Estimated Probability of Re-election : 40% |
 Al Gretzky |
 Conservative Party |
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+ He's Wayne Gretzky's uncle. Much as I'd like to be optimistic about my countrymen, in all honesty, I think it's his surname that'll win him the election. + He's no carpet-bagger, though. He has lived in this riding for 25 years. + Not a lawyer. - No prior government experience. - He's a salesman. |
+ Wants accountability. I guess I like accountability. + Would cut taxes. + Would strengthen our ties with the Americans. - Steven Harper.... ew. - Would bring us closer to the Republicans. |
| Estimated Probability of Election : 55% | Estimated Probability of Election : 50% |
 Steve Hunter |
 Progressive Canadian |
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+ A young graphics artist & IT guy (like me!). + Not a lawyer. + I hadn't expected him to run again. Kudos. - No website (!?). - Seriously, where is the information about this guy online? His own party doesn't even acknowledge him! |
+ They describe themselves as "socially liberal, fiscally conservative", which appeals to me. - It's a break-away party of former Progressive Conservatives who didn't want to merge with the Canadian Alliance. They're dividing the right-wing vote and screwing over the Conservative Party. |
| Estimated Probability of Election : 1% | Estimated Probability of Election : 0.1% |
 Monica Jarabek |
 Green Party |
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+ She's a teacher - Not gonna get elected. Don't really know why she's bothering. |
+ Very pro-environment. + It appeals to me that this is an international political party. - They're pretty much just focussed on the environment. - They've never won a single seat in Canada. Seriously. |
| Estimated Probability of Election : 1% | Estimated Probability of Election : 0.1% |