Set Election Dates

[yvr girl]

Should we move to a system where we had set election dates? If so, how would this work? Election on X date/X year unless there is a vote of non-confidence.

[arikara]

1. I tend to think "No"

They are doing it here in BC and therefore the last year of the mandate is one big campaign. I prefer the quickness of the federal elections. Call it and get it over with.

[habsdude]

2. fixed election dates.

The fourth year of any mandate tends to be unofficial election campaigning anyway. With fixed election dates, the government cannot choose to call elections at seemingly opportune times (like the 2000 election).

Open election dates also tend to help the incumbent party as the opposition doesn't know when to start getting ready for campaigns (like in this 2004 federal election)

It is one of the reasons we had Chretien in for such a long time. He knew when to call elections. (Well, that and having no viable opposition, unfortunately)

The Canadian public doesn't like calling elections for political reasons, so fixed election dates. And if the government still wants to choose its election date it can always vote against itself in a vote of non-confidence. Hardly worth it though.

In any case we will need to see how the elections go in B.C. and in Ontario (elections already set for October 2007). Federally, the only party really opposed to fixed election dates are Liberals who obviously are very conservative. The Status Quo is them after all. The Reform Right and the Social-Democrats tend to favour fixed dates.

Why should the Government choose when a new parliament is to be elected?

-Fixed dates, with fixed 35 day campaigns.
-If a vote of non-confidence occurs, the election occurs on the monday after 35 days.
Also,
-By-elections should occur 35 days after vacancy. The Government should not interfere with Representation to Parliament.

[TrogL]

4. Only in Canada

Liberals who obviously are very conservative

It's fun watching US journalists try and describe Canadian politics. Often they just use one phrase...

• incomprehensible
  
• inscrutible
  
• insane asylum
  

[yvr girl]

5. Incomprehensible indeed

It makes me laugh, that in BC anyway, the small "c" conservative party is the Liberal party. I can't imagine any party with the name 'Liberal' in it suceeding in the US. You might as well call it the Communist party.

I hate the fact that elections can be called at the government's discretion. It allows them too much power to engineer a favourable time. It really bugged me when JC called an election after 3 years. Elections are expensive.

I used to really hate the American election system. Primaries etc. It does seem to go on forever. The amount of money that they spend is almost criminal. But it does give you a battle tested nominee. I think the walking through fire that they have to do to get the job does prepare them for the job.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Yes.

And there should still be a set election period, so that electioneering outside of that time can be penalized. Should a government fall during it's term, an election is held, and a new four-year term is begun.