I don't like the Conservatives being in #2. Hopefully the Liberals can take some of those voters and bump them down to #3 -- but I dunno, 30% is getting right down to their most hard-core base. I hope the Liberals don't see easier pickings by attacking the NDP, instead... (as my sister was saying to me, Justin Trudeau is a wild card)
I'd like to see a very strong NDP/Liberal coalition gov't -- one that endures so some infrastructure that the Conservatives tore down can be rebuilt and so some new infrastructure can be designed. So we can gracefully extract ourselves from the Conservative's sycophantic and subservient foreign policy. And I'd like to see a new gov't do better to support and promote small independent business.

Last edited Tue Jun 30, 2015, 04:36 PM - Edit history (2)

I certainly hope that Libs take number 2 spot also, but Trudeau has already ruled out a coalition. If for some reason he changed his mind, a coalition government would offer some stability, but likely not move any bold policy forward. If the NDP won a minority, I wonder how their first budget would fare. If the Cons are decimated and leaderless, I doubt they'd vote it down. If the Libs vote it down, I think the resulting election would catapult the NDP into a majority, because of voter frustration.

If a minority NDP budget can pass, it'll likely be very watered down. And of course, there will be major discoveries of Conservative fraud, and economic mismanagement, but the NDP will still get blamed (by the opposition, establishment and media) in their first year for what will be a lingering weak economy.

Do you think this news is part of the effort to pull support away from Mulcair? I wonder who the sources were.

A report published online by Maclean's magazine says NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair was in discussions in 2007 to join the Conservative party as a senior adviser on the environment to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Several sources told the magazine that the discussions were the first step in securing Mulcair to run as a Conservative candidate in 2008 but the negotiations allegedly broke down over money, with Mulcair seeking nearly double what Harper's office offered.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/thomas-mulcair-almost-became-tory-adviser-in-2007-report-1.3132863

Either Libs or Cons were waiting to revive that one. But the NDP fully expect it, which is why Mulcair wrote an autobiography due to be published in August.

If he says something, you just know it's crap. He wasn't even in the meeting and the story about the meeting had already been revealed publicly in 2007 and then again in 2011, old and irrelevant news until Soudas added his lie about the money.

The author of the hit piece is Martin (Marty) Patriquin, a regular guest on CBC's Power & Politics and he takes the Cons side far too often, imo.

In addition to being a liar and opportunist, of course.

Another CBC reporter has an interesting analysis about the latest release of this "news":

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tom-mulcair-s-tory-talks-why-the-story-s-back-again-and-who-benefits-1.3133761

also contributed to the story. That's a wrinkle I hadn't thought about. Well, the one thing that's clear, the Liberals are no longer seen as the greater threat to the Cons, it's now the NDP.

It's going to be a long, hopefully interesting, 5 months.

The large number of NDP rookies elected in Quebec last time could increase the success of a BQ challenge. They have more to gain there than the Liberals, and I wouldn't be surprised if the two parties have some agreement to go after the NDP but not each other.

They are actually pulling some from the Cons. I am not sure the BQ could cause a big problems, it doesn't seem there is major discontent in Quebec which would cause voters to switch back to the BQ. Hard to say, though, anything can happen, October is still a long ways away.

Still, as you say, anything can happen in the next few months. But the trend gives me hope.

they have my vote. They got it in Alberta too.

But I think my riding is safely Liberal, so I can vote my preference. Alas that vote will no longer translate into election financing. Yet another Harper-led change on the road to US-style elections. (Insert your favourite expletives....)

that would take pages!

I loathe him and his "Harper government" with every fibre in my being. I thought the Mulroney government would be the worst one I would have to suffer through but, damn, they were child's play compared to this one.

One thing that puzzles me is the absolute hate I remember towards the Mulroney gov't, even here in the West...but Harper seems to get a pass because too many people see "wonky goof" instead of someone who is crooked. Mulroney was overt enough of a slime that people caught on right away. So many people here are totally fooled by Harper. It's so frustrating.

But happy about the NDP's numbers. Excited to see how they do out here in the West. I hope the momentum's on their side in October!

the rest have been minorities (seems like it's been "Harper's government" since the ice age, lol) so the damage he could do before was somewhat limited whereas Mulroney had at least 2 majority governments I believe where his arrogance and sleaze was easier to see and feel.

I am very encouraged by the NDP numbers. Alberta going NDP broke the ice, so to speak, where Canadians began to seriously consider the party as capable of governing, imo.

NDP is now within 4 in Alberta. And that's even with the Liberals at 20.

Harper's toast.

He also did far more harm than Mulroney, as a PM does not need a majority to avail himself of his executive prerogatives.

Liberals and Conservatives are both in bad shape right now.

Harper and his inner circle are mired in scandal while unpopular Liberal governments run the show provincially.

Duceppe's return to politics could polarize the ROC anti-separatist vote towards the NDP. And create an orange 1993.

Mulcair, to his credit, is currently more popular than Layton was in 2011 Quebec.

Can't say I'm surprised. Duceppe, Mulcair, and Layton are the only decent people we've had in federal politics since Broadbent left.