Election result

[jawnbc]

And so it was (with perhaps 3 or 4 seats subject to recount/challenges):

Conservatives 124 seats (+25)
NDP 29 seats (+11)
Bloc 51 seats (-3)
Liberals 103 seats (-30)
Independents +1 (in Québec, a Howard Sternesque ex-radio DJ)

So another hung minority Parliament. The Liberals got spanked but not incarcerated, the Conservatives got a qualified endorsement, mostly built on their Western Canada hegemony (of 92 seats, 65 went Tory), about 1/3 of Ontario (40 of 106), a surprising (but still small) 10 of 75 seats in Québec, and a mere 9/32 in Atlantic Canada.

So less than 1/3 of the ridings in Canada gave the Tories half their seats. But until they get at more than half of Ontario (another 20 seats), or a similar result in Quebec, a majority just isn't to be had.

But I'm very pleased with the NDP result! We finished a net +11 seatwise, including +5 in BC. And we've achieved gender parity in the BC NDP caucus too boot. Of our 6 queer candidates, both Bill Siksay and Libby Davies triumphed (of 6). These gains were almost all at the expense of the Tories.

Must chill out so I can sleep before 02h00

;)

Comments

[arktos62.livejournal.com]

What is the Tory policy on same sex partnerships?

[jawnbc]

They promise to revisit it with "a simple free vote". some of their members (current and new) are pro-SSM; some Liberals are anti-SSM. The NDP won't allow a free vote on human rights issues, and the Bloc say they won't allow it this time.

So a free vote might be close....though all it would do is slow things down for a bit. The courts have consisently ruled that SSM is required constitutionally.

[arktos62.livejournal.com]

Looks like Canadian politics have some interesting times ahead.

It's being watched with greater interest than usual at Westminster: a popular prime minister passes his shelf life, hands on to a finance minister seen as a safe pair of hands, things gang agley, and the new PM is discarded for a young new Tory. Are we seeing our future?

[skeezix1000.livejournal.com]

I'm also thrilled that a number of Christian-fundamentalist, social conservative candidates in BC got trounced. Ha ha.

[jawnbc]

yeah me too. Am I correct in thinking that more of the new Ontario Cons were moderates? Have you taken a look?

[skeezix1000.livejournal.com]

The kook running for the Tories out in Pickering, whose name escapes me at the moment, but who was caught on tape talking about a culture war over gay marriage, lost. Hee.

One of the real right-wing idealogues in the party, John Baird, took Ottawa West. He was a Mike Harris cabinet minister (and is thus a potential candidate for a Harper cabinet), and is considered a very inflexible red-meat conservative. He, however, fully supports same-sex marriage. The word is that he's gay himself, but he hasn't come out publicly.

Beyond that, I don't know. I haven't done any kind of analysis, but the new Tory ridings are predominantly rural or rural/suburban, and I suspect that the previous Liberal MPs were likely anti-same sex marriage. So, one so-con replaces another so-con.

There were lots of moderate, pro-gay marriage Tories running here in Toronto, but, of course, they all lost.

[detailbear.livejournal.com]

Except for 2, the new Ontario Conservatives are either unknown or middle-of-the-road. John Baird is a social liberal/financial conservative. He could just as easily be a blue liberal, I think.

Former provincial minister Tony Clement beat the liberal in Muskoka-Haliburton by 21 votes. Automatic recount might change that.

[jawnbc]

that's indeed hopeful news. Thanks K!

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

Any word on the orientation of that woofer Chuck Strahl? I have fantasies of him and Jack Layton getting it on in leather harness. Hawt!

Maybe it's just me.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I caught some of the results last night -fascinating how the people chose.

[holden-wake.livejournal.com]

yah bill! was so beautiful to see him get re-elected, can't wait to see the issues he'll raise in the next parliament! :)

[schillerium.livejournal.com]

Kind of a shame Svend didn't get back in, yet sort of understandable at the same time. (It's also probably time for Lorne Nystrom to pack it in, but that's another story.)