Canada's cold new dawn

[CHIMO]

Canada woke up to an election shock this morning. It was a self-inflicted jolt, and all the more painful for that. After three minority governments in seven years – all following inconclusive, forgettable elections that never gave the Conservatives the solid majority they were sweating for – a man of the hard right named Stephen Harper finally has his win.

He triumphed over Michael Ignatieff – known to the British as a fine writer, historian and BBC talking head – who had returned to Canada to lead the Liberals, often described as the country's traditional party of government. Instead, Ignatieff got whacked, and the left-leaning New Democratic party did very well indeed, astonishing even themselves. To put this in British terms, the Liberals (New Labour) were humiliated, the New Democrats (the Liberal Democrats) came in a powerful second and a Canadian version of George W Bush, minus the warmth and intellect, is now prime minister.

What happens now is the full-scale Americanisation of Canada, hinted at over the past seven years by Harper – he fired people who talked too loudly about this – but not acted upon because Canadians have always valued their distinctiveness from the angry country in decline south of the border.

It doesn't win votes to say you want to de-Canadianise Canada, long known as a bastion of free healthcare, destination of refugees and immigrants, and a place that worries about climate change. But Harper once sneeringly referred to Canada as a typical northern European "welfare state". He grew up in Calgary, Alberta, a western province that has long felt sneered at, and has spent his political career redressing the balance.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/03/canada-stephen-harper-american-politics

[Arrowhead2k1]

1. I'm sorry, but that article is so full of hyperboles and blatant inaccuracies.

It's not to be taken seriously.

Harper actually grew up in a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. He was a member of the "Young Liberals".
Honestly, he may or may not be "hard right", we simply don't know yet. Even if he is, even with his majority mandate, he may or may not be willing to suddenly transform his governing by shifting hard to the right. Such an act would surely destroy the Conservative party and cause rifts even amongst them. He's not going to be dictator of Canada forever, governments come and go. Crappy centre-right governments are nothing new for Canada.

Sorry, but all of this fear mongering coming from the left is simply over the top. Let's try to collect ourselves and be level headed here. It's not the end of Canada. :)

Oh and saying Harper is GWB without the warmth and intellect? What?! GWB had intellect? :rofl:

[CHIMO]

2. Well

What can you expect from a columnist that writes for a paper that recommended the NDP in this election.

Maybe she thinks that people only start growing up in their twenties? Who knows. If it concerns you then just ask her.

Without knowing the nature of Harper then one must examine the animal from the outside. On that method, my opinion is the same of hers in regard for the direction of Canada in this parliament.

And you are forgiven.

And on what basis do you state that it is not the end of Canada?

[whosinpower]

4. I voted NDP

I agree with much of their platform. I grew up in the heartland of the CCF, the birthplace of universal healthcare.

Even I do not agree with this article. That is not to say I am cheering for the majority. I am not. But listen, Harper is not about to veer radically right and give the canadian electorate a big surprise. He is not stupid - and that would be an utterly STUPID thing to do. Last time the conservatives gave Canada a GST surprise - they were decimated - decimated to just two seats in the house of parliament.

so - here is what I think we can expect....gay rights will get no special treatment. I do not believe he will open up the same sex marriage debate. I also do not believe he will open up the abortion debate. They may defund it - but I would find it very hard to believe they will criminalize it.
Fiscally - they will be just as irresponsible as the liberals were...and just as irresponisble as they were under the minority. They will cut some programs for optics but the deficit will continue to balloon under their stewardship.
Universal Healthcare will not be dismantled.

But to suggest or infer that this is the end of Canada speaks so lowly of the strength and character of Canada as a nation and as a people. It is an insult, quite frankly.

[CHIMO]

5. OK

How about this.

The North American perimeter. What do you think will happen.

Health care. They will allow creative initiatives by the provinces. He will not out and out cut it. He will allow the provinces to further open it up to private medicine. Once we have the north american perimeter along with NAFTA what will happen to health care?

So you think nothing else is coming?

De-funding the CBC. Removal of subsidies to political parties. This then permits corporate funding.

I haven't touched on abortion, gay rights nor same sex marriage.

And you have glossed over the fact that there is no more Progressive Conservative party. The party that is now called the Conservative party is the old Reform party.

Some legislation can be changed by a new government but others such as medicare can't unless trade legislation is broken.

As far as the character of Canada, as a nation goes, well look who we have put into Ottawa as the governing party. I have seen many comments on this board over the years to the effect that we do things differently in Canada.

Take it as an insult if you wish. Without an educated population, who don't know how our system of parliament works nor realizes that elections are necessary you will not have two nations left!

Whether you voted NDP, Liberal, Bloc or Green makes no difference to me. I too agree with the NDP's old platforms.

[whosinpower]

6. alright

North american perimeter - another term for a north american superstate - with one currency, one government....maybe that is one way we could get rid of Harper and gain Obama? We could give the US universal healthcare!?! And toques....

Seriously - I do not know what would happen - but I welcome the conversation/debate. I am not afraid of it.

[Bragi]

7. I don't share your opimism about our benign dictator

I find this odd. You wrote: "I also do not believe he will open up the abortion debate. They may defund it - but I would find it very hard to believe they will criminalize it."

I agree he won't criminalize abortion, he will just eliminate any health care funding for family planning services, and use fiscal levers to restrict women's access to abortion.

This will trigger a nasty and polarizing debate that the Xian right will love and appreciate, and result in the practical elimination of abortion as a choice for many women.

So I don't share your view that Harper will now be a benign dictator. He will shove his agenda up the asses of the 6 in 10 who did not vote for him, smile while doing it, and there is nothing we will be able to do about it.

[Metric System]

3. As much as I dislike Harper, I think he's more intelligent than Bush. This makes him more dangerous.