Latest Polling Numbers

Nik on the Numbers

Although Conservative support remains strong at 39.1%, nationally support has moved away from the NDP to the Liberals in the latest nightly tracking survey. Liberal support is up four points while NDP support is down from 19.6% to 15.9%. The Liberals realized gains, particularly in the Prairies, in the wake of Michael Ignatieff's Western tour. Support for the NDP was down in all regions numerically but within the regional margins of error.
The Nanos tracking has the Conservatives nationally at 39.1%, followed by the Liberals at 32.7%, the NDP at 15.9%, the BQ at 8.7% and the Green Party at 3.7%.

Above numbers are as of March 31st, 2011. If this trend continues it will be a very close race between the Liberals and Conservatives.

Until next time!

May is out - for now!

Federal Green Party leader, Elizabeth May has to again fight to be included in the upcoming televised debates. In 2008 she also had to fight to be included in the debates, and was allowed to take part after uproar from voters across Canada.

What really pisses me off about this is the fact that they allow the leader of the Bloc to take part in these debates. The Bloc is a party only running candidates in Quebec, and their goal is the break-up of Canada, but hey that's fine with the CBC because they have elected members in the house. In the 2008 election the Greens got more votes and a higher percentage than the Bloc, however with our first past the post system they were not able to elect any MP's.

The Liberal and NDP leaders have said that she deserves to be in the debates, and like in 2008 Harper has said no. Some will bring up the point that the Greens have no elected members and therefore should not be included. Some will also say that if they allow her into the debates, than all fringe parties should be allowed into the leaders debates. Well the answer to that question is quite simple. The Greens are running candidates in all ridings across Canada.

Regardless if you agree with her politics or not Elizabeth May should be allowed to take part in the Leaders debates. It's the right thing to do, and it's the fair thing to do.

Until next time!

Our money their friends

Don't forget about the 1.2 billion that Harper spent of our money to host what's now been called the worlds most expensive photo-op. So what can 1.2 billion do, it can help our seniors, our low income familes, money towards our health care and post secondary education.

Harper also wants to give our banks, oil and insurance companies tax breaks amounting to 6 billion dollars. Canada can't afford to have Harper as our PM after this election. It's time for change, and it's time to bring back a government who has a proven record of balancing budgets, producing surplus year after year, and investing in the well being of our kids and seniors.

Until next time!

Text of Coalition Letter - 2004

It seems that the Conservatives want to make this election about coalitions which is something that Harper created himself back in 2004 as per a copy of the letter that he signed with the leaders of the Bloc and NDP.

September 9, 2004

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson,
C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1

Excellency,

As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government's program.
We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority.
Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

Gilles Duceppe, M.P.
Leader of the Bloc Quebecois

Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the New Democratic Party

New Conservative Logo

It's now been 2 days since the election campaign has begun, and this election is not about coalition this and coalition that, it's about a government that came into power in 2006 with the mandate to clean up Ottawa and hold all MP's to a higher standard. The Conservatives brought in the Accountability Act, they brought in the fixed election date law, they brought in several new crime bills, and some became the law of the land.

So what was the key factor that brought down the government? was it the budget? No, it was the Contempt of Parliament that the Conservative govenment was found guility of. Voters I've spoken with don't seem to care about this serious matter, and Harper himself does not seem to care about this either. Don't forget it was Harper that brought down the Paul Martin government on what they felt was the breaking of several laws by Liberal party officials which was labled "Adscam". So is this the reason why Harper is playing the coalition card because he knows he can't win an election on the fact that his government for the first time in Canadian history was found in contempt of Parliament.

Again this election is not about a coalition, but it's about helping our seniors, who built this country live without worrying if they have the money to pay their bills and put food on the table. It's about investing in our kids, in our community, and putting families first.

Until next time!

Coalition, what Coalition

FROM THE TORONTO STAR....PICTURE IS NOT!

Stephen Harper’s bid to stoke election fears about a Liberal-led coalition has been undermined by words from his political past when he joined other opposition leaders in urging the then-governor general to consider “all of your options.”

Harper tried to fire up a Brampton crowd Sunday morning with the spectre of a governing coalition of Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Québécois unless the Conservatives fail to win a majority government on May 2.

Harper signed a letter in August, 2004 with NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe to then-governor general Adrienne Clarkson urging her to consult with them first should Martin have requested dissolution of the Commons and an election.
“We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation,” the leaders wrote.
“We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority,” they wrote.

This whole issue of coalition is not what this election is all about, but it seems that Harper wants to make it about a coalition. In 2006 the Conservative government came into power with a mandate to clean up government, to make MP's accountable, and to work with the other political parties in governing Canada. Since his first election in 2006 we've seen all of Harper's promises broken. Here's a few of the items that should make ytou think twice before voting Conservative.

1.) Flaherty got rid of the income trusts in 2006 and seniors who invested their hard earned money saw it all go up in smoke with a stoke of a pen. Billions were lost, and Flaherty said he would never touch the income trusts. - BROKEN PROMISE.

2.) Took a 13 billion surplus and turned it into a 56 billion deficit.

3.) Prorogue Parliament not once, but twice to avoid a non-confidence vote which would have brought down his government. When you prorogue, all bills and items before any committees, and the house go out the window and the clock is reset.

4.) Firing of Ministers for questionable practices.

5.) Kicking out of the party Helena Guergis for no reason, and not letting her back into the party after the RCMP found no grounds for investigation.

6.) Spending 1.2 billion of the G8 and G20 summits, while our seniors who built this country can't afford to pay their bills and put food on the table.

7.) Spending 35 billion on fighter jets.

8.) 2 sitting Senators being charged with Election Fraud related to the in and out scandal.

9.) Giving 6 billion in tax cuts to our banks, insurance, and oil companies while our middle class and poor are having a hard time putting food on the table and paying their bills.

10.) High unemployment rate with no lowering seen in the near future.

So Mr. Harper if you want to make this whole election about forming coalitions, that's fine with the rest of the political parties as they won't be taking about coalitions, but they will be talking about how to reduce our deficit, create jobs, helping our seniors and low income familes live a better life. That's what our Canada is all about.

Until next time!

Election day set for May 2nd, 2011

Watching and listening to Harper's speech outside the GG residence. Boy this guy really needs to go, and go he will after all the votes are counted on May 2nd, 2011. Harper's nose is growing, and growing longer. Harper is getting slammed with questions about his attempt to form a coalition back in 2004 when he signed an agreement with the NDP and Bloc. The Liberals have made it clear that they would not form a coalition with the NDP and Bloc, but Harper claims that he's lying and will form a coalition government and all this is a "Hidden Agenda" by the Liberals, NDP, and Bloc.

This election should NOT be based on the threat of a coalition, it should be based on the Harper record. A record of spending 1.2 billion on the G8 & G20 summits, Spending 35 billion on fighter jets, destoying the income trust which costs our seniors close to 30 billion back in 2006. Shutting down Parliament twice to avoid an election, Contempt of Parliament charges, forging documents, taking a 13 billion surplus and turning it into a 56 billion deficit, giving 6 billion in corporate tax cuts to our banks, oil and insurance companies while our seniors and low income families struggle to pay their bills.

This is an election on the issues facing Canada and should not be based on the stupid idea of a coalition. So let's talk about the issues and run on the issues.

Until next time!

Let the race begin!

The Conservative government of Stephen Harper was defeated in a non-confidence vote related not to the budget, but on contempt of Parliament charges with all 308 members voting along party lines. Even Simcoe Grey's Helena Guergis voted with her former party.

The Prime Minister on Saturday morning around 9am will take a walk over, or should I say drive over as he did in 2008 to the residence of the GG, and say that he's lost the confidence of the house and requests that an election be called.

The latest Ekos poll had the Conservatives at 35%, the Liberals at 28%, the NDP at 14%, the Greens at 10% and the Bloc at 9%. I still think it's unfair for the Bloc who gets less of a percentage than the Greens ahd have such a big block of seats. Anyway that's our unfair, first past the post system.

So with the planes ready to go, the buses all clean and painted with the ugly pictures of the party leaders, we are now in election mode. I will bring you some of the highlights from the national campaign, and for more local news I encourage you to visit http://www.simcoegrey.blogspot.com/

Until next time!