The results are not fully tabulated, but we can safely say that the Conservative Party has swamped the Liberal Party in the Canadian elections held on October 14th. The Canadian election results fall short of the 155 majority needed for the conservatives to run the government outright without a coalition, but they extended their dominance in parliament by at least 17 seats.
The results are not unexpected. In fact, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called for elections expecting to finally reach that super majority, but he made the strategic decision before the global financial meltdown. Just as bad news helps Barack Obama, the same is true in Canada. Although it did not help one minor party leader who perhaps amusingly ran on a platform of “change” after drawing inspiration (but apparently not votes) from Obama.
Nevertheless this result can be seen as nothing less than a punishing defeat for the Liberal Party and a spectacular triumph for the Conservative Party, which is the first majority government to face election since the market turmoil began. They will again form a coalition government with the regional party in Quebec, needing just 10 votes from minority parties.
Globally, the conservative renaissance continues among the western democracies. Conservatives are sweeping to power in UK elections, controlling the governments in Germany, France, and Italy, and the entire former eastern block. Meanwhile liberal stock is falling again in Spain and Australia where they cling to power by a hair.
What is happening is a voter flight from socialist-style economies which are now recognized as crippling economic growth under punishing taxation and government control over the instruments of production. After decades of economic stagnation resulting from national programs, such as socialized health care, people are looking again for new market-oriented answers. See the conservative triumph in the Canadian elections in this light.
The most glaring exception to the global tendency is in the United States, in which the liberal party Democrats assumed power in Congress from the conservative party Republicans during the 2006 congressional elections. Public opinion polls reveal that U.S. voters are not yet holding the party accountable for economic policies in the current economic turmoil.
Meanwhile, we are including a well-choreographed video from Liberal Party advocates in Canada. It is an instructive video as it shows that the animosity currently infecting liberal political circles is not restricted to the United States.
Canadian Election Results Reaction (Video)
October 15th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Heartliest congratulation to Hon.P M Canada win election 2008. If Hon. Stephon Joseph Harper open breave heart give the right to canadian sponsor his/her son/daughter, brother/sister upto age 50 years. like USA.
thank you
October 15th, 2008 at 7:22 am
The rich get richer & the poor get miserably poorer dont’t they Steve? Everybody on Ontario knows you don’t give a rat’s behind about us. It’s clear that you’re a George Bush supporter through & through. How much kickback are you getting in order to stay Prime Minister of Canada? Our jobs have all been sent offshore while you & your conservative cronies continue to line their pockets with dirty money. People in Ontario are all losing their homes, jobs, cars & anything else they’ve worked so hard for over the years.
I guess you really don’t care about Ontario because the rich & powerful all support your party. Keep continuing to screw up Ontario & you can start to call us the United States of Canada.
In short, thank you very much for betraying our trusts & selling us out. This further goes to prove you could care less about the poor & the middle class. Soon there will be no middle class, just rich & poor. And we all know who you cater to. The Rich!!!!
Hope you sleep well at night Brian Mulroney, Oh, I meant Steve Harper. Well, what’s the difference? You rich pompous politician.
October 15th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Oh, I forgot to mention that there is nothing honorable about you, buddy. You’re just a rich boy with a big name. Do us all a favour & resign & collect your big fat pension when you do. After all, that’s where the money is isn’t it Brian, I meant, Steve?
October 15th, 2008 at 8:48 am
And yet, here in the US we have people who want to ‘be like Europe’ a generation ago. Europe and Canada have learned it doesn’t work – but we apparently can’t learn from that.
Its like our liberals are always a generation behind the rest of the world. Well, they’re trapped in the 1960s, so I guess that’s the problem, really.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Rob – Bitter much?
October 15th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hey Rob
Sorry the left wing nut jobs lost! Don’t get upset though. Just call up your boyfriend and head on down to commercial drive to spare for change, smoke weed and play some hacky sack.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:18 am
As your resident Canuck, I must opine. I also must slap a bit of sense into you, MCCAIN. No one got swamped. In an election that boats the LOWEST voter turnout in Canadian history, we maintained the status quo – a Tory minority with the inept Libs as the Official Opposition. Yes, a few seats were switched around, but $300M taxpayer dollars were spent to accomplish a big fat nothing.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Wendy, you need CACORN up there to get out the vote.
Rob, watch the video and cheer up.
Beth, has Obama ever been to Canada?
October 15th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Isn’t the conservative parties in Canada and Europe, still socialist, which would still be left of our Democratic party?
October 15th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Congrats to Harper and the Conservative party. Hope your minority government is strong enough to finally repeal the long gun registration crap that the Liberals wasted millions and millions of our tax dollars on.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
why so bitter rob, its sad that ontario is having problems but to blame the government for everything is stupid.there is a lot more to the job losses in ontario then we will ever know the companies are after profits where does the conservative government fit into that? what you were hoping for a liberal government so they would bail ontario out of its problems, be a big boy and take responsibly for yourselves.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Isn’t a Canadian conservative still a liberal anywhere else?
October 15th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Yep. A big waste of time and money so that things can stay exactly as they were… We’re all super thrilled.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
And dude. Don’t hate on Jack Layton. Embrace the ’stache. Love the ’stache. He totally grows on you.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Allen – Stephen Harper would fit right in with the American conservatives… Just ask his pal GWB.
Thanks for coming out though.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
But the fact remains, he is not going to take away public health care and education.. if he did the conservatives proposed that, they would be voted out of office, the conservative party actually promoted spending MORE money or health care.. that does not fit GWB policies at all..
October 17th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
although the conservatives may have some good purpose there is still the problem of many families on low incomes, and high prices for every thing from rent to food to gas. i am on a disability pension and find that there are times i cannot get enough food or even get to the doctors because of not enough money and my kids don’t live at home. what about those families who have had money taken away by not giving the families on fixed incomes the basic needs portion for their children now, they expect them to provide for their children off the national child tax benefit and they grip that there is too many children living in poverty which leads to childrens aid apprehensions and more government money being used for their upkeep and court fees whereas if they just allowed families to have their checks plus the full nctb then things for these families would be better not solved but better. their are also many other options to help alleviate the poverty of many canadian families but will our government listen and help no.
October 17th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
[off topic. 1st warning]