Author: Stephen Taylor

The main story is that the Conservative Party is back in Quebec and in a big way. Both the Bloc and the Liberals suffered losses while the Tories beat some of the more optimistic predictions and took 10 seats. This is a great base for the Conservative Party to build upon. Stephen Harper and Jean Charest should get to work as soon as possible to build the case for this classical federalist model that they’re calling “open federalism”. Stephen Harper should take Quebeckers sanctioning of the Liberal Party and make the case for unity through respect.

The other big story? The West is in. The axis of power and influence in this country hasn’t changed over night, but it is bound to become different as Conservatives cut off Liberal ties to patronage and do their best to stack the Privy Council Office with their own people. Most importantly, now that the West “is in”, we have a chance to see a truly pan-Canadian government and power structure as every region of the country has a significant stake in Harper’s new government. Regional exclusion will not (and cannot) exist within a Harper government. Especially with the concept of open federalism, even Saskatchewan NDP premier Lorne Calvert endorsed Harper’s plan for provincial balance.

Speaking of the CBC, when they were cycling through the ridings last night, why even when no polls were reporting was the Liberal candidate ranked #1 (even against an incumbent from another party)? So much for the so-called honeymoon period.

And now, while watching Newsworld am I getting the feeling like I’m watching a somber retrospective of election night (what does a Calgary power centre mean? Then a sad look at the rise and fall of Paul Martin). CTV’s about to have a lot more access.

How will Stephen Harper’s minority conservative government survive? I believe that they’ll hold on longer than Paul Martin’s Liberal government. First of all, Canadians realize that this Parliament is now a group effort among all parties. Governance will be done on an issue-by-issue basis. The Conservatives will come out strong with a very successful drive on pushing through the Accountability Act. All parties will likely support the policy and members that do not will be viewed with suspicion especially after constructive discussion/amendments in committee.

The theme that dogged Paul Martin’s minority Parliament was the Gomery inquiry and corruption. Stephen Harper has the advantage of riding the opposite track of that theme. Canadians saw government accountability as the #1 election issue and there is little doubt that Stephen Harper will deliver forcefully on it.

Law and order will also be an early key accomplishment of Stephen Harper’s government. Even Jack Layton’s NDP hugged the centre proposing harsher sentences for violent/gun crimes. We’ll likely see amendments that address “causes” of crime which will see measures such as increased community policing (the capital of which could be drawn from the gun registry).

It’s a new day in what should hopefully be a new era in Canadian politics. The Liberals have been trending towards defeat since they barely held on in 2004. Now as they face bankruptcy and what should be a brutal leadership race, the Tories have a real opportunity to build upon their success especially as Stephen Harper presents his case for a strong mandate by restoring Canadians faith in good government.

In the interests in our freedom from incarceration, yet against the interests of liberty, Craig and I have decided to stop the Blogging Tories aggregator between 7:00pm EST and 10:00pm EST.

According to the Elections Canada Act,

329. Prohibition – premature transmission of results

“No person shall transmit the result or purported result of the vote in an electoral district to the public in another electoral district before the close of all of the polling stations in that other electoral district.”

I have a few points I’d like to make about this section of the law. First, restricting speech by prohibiting the reporting of available results is abhorrent in a free society such as Canada. That being said, the results on the east coast should not serve as decision making information for a voter on the west coast. Yet, anyone with satellite television or the Internet can circumvent the law and a fair democratic process.

It is my opinion that the act should reflect the current reality instead of attempt to direct people how to behave.

Therefore, the EC act should be amended to either restrict opening ballot boxes until the last poll closes in BC, or all polls should close at the same time.

If we represent the nanny state as a mother, and the citizenry as a child, the relevant section of the Elections Canada act could be represented by the mother placing an ice cream sundae next to the child’s dinner (with lots of vegetables, natch) and telling the child not to eat his dessert before his dinner. If the child does not comply, the child is then fined millions of dollars and/or serves a prison term.

It would be much more acceptable if dessert was available only after dinner.

Furthermore, if you’re looking for early election results you need to look no further than a certain popular American blogger that helped us circumvent Gomery’s publication ban on the Jean Brault testimony.

The violation of unjust laws is a practice that makes any “free” society that much more. I am sadly disappointed that in Canada, we do this by proxy.

Here’s a picture from Don Newman’s Politics show. On every morning’s broaaadcast Newman featured three spinners from each of the federalist parties.

Can you spot the Liberal?

(Pictured from left to right are: Susan Murray (LPC), Brad Lavigne (NDP), Sandra Buckler (CPC))

While you’d expect that I have nothing but adoring praise for the CPC spinners during the election (Tim’s Chicken Little moment and his baiting of John Duffy’s reiteration of the beer and popcorn comment were great moments. Sandra’s also been fantastic on Politics day in, day out.), I must also give credit to the NDP spinners especially Jamey Heath and Brad Lavigne. These two certainly delivered Jack’s message better than the mustachioed one ever did.

The Liberal spin team was so disasterous during this campaign that it literally made headlines (Scott Reid’s beer and popcorn remark, the Duffy vs. Duffy moment, and Susan’s “BS” moment were low points during the Liberal campaign).