Martin, Harper draw most fire in French-language leaders debate (Canada)

[Minstrel Boy]

You wouldn't think so, but Canadian leaders' debates can actually be pretty exciting. This one was very well moderated, with excellent questions, and as usual it was a true debate: the leaders were talking to each other, and not to the moderator, for two hours. And it may be a parochial observation, but I'm proud to see the leaders of our four major parties debating each other in proficient French one night, and English the next.

...

As the debate got going, things got hotter for Harper, whose surging Conservatives are running neck and neck with the Liberals in the polls.

Martin and NDP Leader Jack Layton attacked Harper over his party's position on a woman's right to have an abortion, suggesting he would take away that right. Harper flatly denied the charge.

Harper has been on the defensive over abortion and other hot-button social issues over the last two weeks in the wake of controversial comments by some Conservative candidates.

Harper's foes also pounded him over Iraq, noting his past statements supporting sending Canadian troops to back the U.S. war in the country.

http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=e6af2389-e8f9-4a2d-8e6f-e27f77f839fd

[Lisa]

1. 4 leaders -- count 'em, FOUR!

For a country with about a tenth of the US population. And it would have been 5, if the Green guy had gotten his foot in the door.


p.s. does anyone recall what the overall campaign costs were last time? I think the Globe and Mail said it was around $30-something million (Cdn) for all 12 national parties combined? Cheapasses, that's us!

p.p.s. The Liberals spent around 12.5 million, according to this site.
http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/thecampaign/electioncosts.html

Then there's the cost of holding the election itself ($265 million this time?) Imagine how irate people will be if it's a minority government and we have to do it all over again after a non-confidence vote!

http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes/thecampaign/electioncosts.html

[freeforall]

4. Lisa...the 30 million campaign bill...

Intelligent - that's us!

And the six-week campaign - you've got to admit Canadians are damned efficient, LOL!

[Lisa]

6. just as well it's only 6 weeks!

I think our campaign team would keel over if we had to keep going at this pace for month after month! We've already had to run out to replace some signs due to their being "borrowed".

And the cheap part I like! If I had my way, there'd be even less ad money -- let's see Harper try to look sleek and well-coiffed on community cable!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. What are the chances of the KKKonservatives(Harper) winning?

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Depends how you define winning.

Chance of forming a majority government are zero. They will elect no one from Quebec, and they would need to sweep Ontario to compensate. But Ontario is a tough three-way battle.

They could form a weak minority government, but they would have to moderate their policies to hold power.

With two weeks to go, a minority is likely regardless of who wins, which could mean another election soon.

[Spazito]

5. It was interesting, I was having a discussion about the election...

with some friends this weekend and, with our new campaign finance laws, it will cost every voter $1.73 to ensure that corporations can't buy our government. I say that is very cheap at the price and willingly give up my share.

[whirlygigspin]

7. ...while you were debating, your kids moved to Arizona

I watched the "leaders" debate this morning; what a sad sight.

Cannot Canada come up with better than this?

Stephen Harper :puke:

3 hours of grown men whining like pigs being dragged from the trough,
pity the poor canadian taxpayer.

[daleo]

8. They should pin Harper down on his tax cut, as well

I did a quick and dirty costing of it the other day (using Conservative estimates of the tax break at each level of income, and publicly available Statistics Canada figures for 2002 tax returns):

- Total annual cost should be about $7.5 billion
- 40% will go to the 10% of taxpayers who make 70K and above per year.
- 25% will go to the 7% who make between 60K and 70K
- 17% will go to the 7% who make between 50K and 60K
- 15% will go to the 10% who make between 40K and 50K
- 3% will go to the 5% who make between 35K and 40K
- The 61% of tax filers who made less than 35K won't see a cent.
- The top fifth of taxpayers will get about three quarters.

This hardly constitutes a middle class tax cut - more of an upper middle class tax cut. I did this pretty much on the back of an envelope, so it is a rough approximation. It could be off somewhat, but it gives an indication of how this tax cut actually works.

I haven't seen a proper costing of this from any of the parties. We deserve to see this spelled out, as it will likely result in putting the national accounts back into a deficit.

[whirlygigspin]

9. vote early , vote often

Now here's a party!

http://www.marijuanaparty.com/index.en.php3

[daleo]

10. My local conservative party candidate's campaign manager

Went to work for them, after being fired for impersonating the candidate on a radio show (with his support). There's all kinds of cut-ups around here.