Posts Tagged ‘Federal Election’
Total number of valid votes: 14,720,580
Polls reporting: 71,486/71,513
Voter turnout: 14,720,580 of 23,971,740 registered electors (61.4%)
Information via http://www.sfu.ca/~aheard/elections/results.html
Today we are reminded that around 60% of people (the real majority) aren’t happy with the results.
And again, because I am interested in what readers and visitors of Medicicine Hat Media voted, I present the following poll:
Loading ...Today we vote. We decide the leadership of Canada for the next few years. It’s all of our responsibilities to vote, especially if you don’t like the current state of affairs in Canadian Government. Where do you go to vote in Medicine Hat?
Simply follow this link and input your postal code. It’s pretty easy, so why not?
While you are at it, view our previous posts on the election this year:
- What’s Your Vote Worth? A Buck Seventy Five?
- Payne’s Comments Backfire on Him
- Federal Election – Medicine Hat Links
- The Bastard’s Guide to the 2011 Federal Election
- Normand Boucher and the Federal Election
If you aren’t sure where you stand and need some help putting your ideas and beliefs into perspective, try out this Vote Compass which will show which way you swing (or place you in dead middle of two parties like it did for me).
In 2003, bill C-24 brought significant reform to Canada’s electoral and campaign finance laws. The Bill was an amendment to the 1974 Election Expenses Act. The 1974 legislation responded to growing concern over the political fundraising and the financing of parties and election campaigns.
For this election, federal parties that receive over 2% of the national vote get $1.75 per vote cast. When you cast a vote for a party, you are not only saying that you approve of their values, but you give them your $1.75 to support their policies and future campaigns. The electoral districts (ridings) that receive 10% or more of their local vote receive 50% of their campaign spending back. Suffice to say, we’re talking about tax dollars. Also in qualifying, parties such as Canadian Action or the Marijuana Party won’t see any cash, in all likelihood they will be under 2%. However, parties like the NDP and Greens heavily depend on this money from your votes for future campaigns.
Fortunately or unfortunately, this may be the last year the $1.75 program exists. If the Conservatives gain a majority, they will surely strike down any future tax dollars to political campaigns. Is that a good thing? Do we want our tax dollars going to political parties in order that they can market themselves to us?
Fact of the matter, all political campaigns must be funded. If not with tax revenue then where? Private sponsorship and corporate donations? Presently corporate and union political donations are somewhat banned.
That being said, what does a system of solely private and corporate funded politics lead to? More favouritism and lobbying? How else would politicals parties be financially supported? What system would be better?
Considering the weak voter turnout expected for this election, funding from this Elections Act program for all parties will be in the region of $27 million. Not an annual expenditure, it’s the only cash the parties will receive until the next Federal Election. Inclusive to the $300 million pricetag of this election. Is that alot of tax dollars to pay for fair democracy? Some say it is.
At any rate, this could be the final election where your vote is worth $1.75. Personally, I would suggest my vote is worth a whole lot a more.
In an interview with the Medicine Hat News, Medicine Hat MP, LaVar Payne defended against Norm Boucher’s comments about him not doing anything for Medicine Hat.
Not only did he fail to defend himself, but the Medicine Hat News caught him in a lie regarding the Events Centre application.
You can access the full story by clicking here.
GREEN PARTY – GRAHAM MURRAY
LIBERAL – NORM BOUCHER
NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY – DENNIS PERRIER
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE – LAVAR PAYNE
In a surprise media conference, Julie Friesen has announced that she will be running in the federal election for the Liberal party in opposition to Norm Boucher, who has also announced he will be running in the federal election for the Liberal party. This is after Julie made the comment yesterday, stating “Citizens of Medicine Hat should be very, very disappointed in (Mayor Boucher)”. There has been some bad blood between the two since the last civic Mayoral election, where Julie was out-voted to Norm by a couple percent. She stated today that, “Second time’s a charm” and that “Here’s my second chance”. There have been some comments floating around how Julie would be a good candidate for the Mayor position in Norm’s absence; however, this can no longer be the case.
So the government fell and we’re now staring down the barrel of an election. Whose fault is it? This is the one point that every politician agrees on: it’s the other guy’s fault!
Here in Medicine Hat, we finally have a race. A legitimate non-conservative candidate with a decent shot at taking office has shown up. For your reading pleasure, here are all the relevant and irrelevant candidates for the 2011 election along with my take on their leadership.
Incumbent: The Conservative Party
Party: Conservative
To be honest, it doesn’t matter who is running for the conservative party this election, they’re likely to win. Medicine Hat doesn’t vote for a candidate, they vote for a blue C. That all may change thanks to the next guy, though.
My take: http://www.yunoconfidence.ca
Challenger: Norm Boucher
Party: Liberal
Medicine Hat’s current mayor is making his entry into federal politics. He’s the mayor, so he has at least some experience campaigning. 40% of 30% of Hatters voted for him in the last mayoral election, so he has a good shot at getting a decent number of votes in this election. His biggest drawback is that he’s running as a Liberal in Alberta.
The biggest complaint I’ve heard is that he shouldn’t have run for mayor if he knew was just going to run for Parliament, because everyone knows you’re supposed to quit your current job before looking for another one. Oh, and that arena thing. That one’s gonna hurt a lot.
My take: http://www.stopthescandals.ca
The Chamber is hosting an election forum for federal candidates on April 28, 2011
On Thursday, April 28th the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a public forum for local candidates running in the 2011 Federal Election. The one-night event will take place at the Medicine Hat College Theatre and all candidates are being invited to participate.
Following the Chamber’s mandate to be the “voice of business” in the community, this forum will focus primarily on issues related to business and economic development.
Doors open at 6:30 PM. Event from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
All are welcome to attend.
Format:
Attendees are invited to submit questions for the candidates on the Chamber’s website at www.medicinehatchamber.com. All questions for the forum will be determined prior to the event.
- Questions must be submitted to the Chamber in advance.
- Deadline to submit questions is 4:30 PM on April 27th.
- Not all questions submitted will be posed to the candidates.
- No photography, video, or audio recording is permitted.
- No signs or banners will be permitted in the auditorium.
For more information, call (403) 527-5214 or visit www.medicinehatchamber.com