Canadian Election '08

[Denominator]

First of all, I'm curious how many of you were aware that A) Canada exists and B) there is a federal election coming up.

But for those of you that know about Canada, it's upcoming election, and the Canadian political system, I'm curious who you would/will vote for (I add will in case there are more hidden Canadians here now that the site has expanded, but to the best of my knowledge I'm the only one).

Since there is a character limit on the poll options, I can't add who will be the Prime Minister if their party is elected. So I'll list them here instead.

Conservative Party - Stephen Harper (current PM)
Liberal Party - Stephane Dion
Bloc Quebecois - Gilles Duceppe
NDP - Jack Layton
Green Party - Elizabeth May

I myself will likely vote for the Green party again, mostly because I am a rebellious University student and my riding is the only one in Canada that even comes close to electing a Green party member. I don't think electing the Green party is necessarily the best choice, but it has the highest probability of change, and that's what I really want to see right now.

On an interesting side note, I have actually met the current Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. He runs in my grandparents riding here in Calgary, and they do a lot of work during the elections, so he was kind enough to come and congratulate them at their 50th anniversary party.

[Null Parameter]

I voted in the poll for Bloc Quebecois, because it's a funny name. ;)

Would you mind explaining exactly what a "riding" is? You mentioned it several times, but it is a term I am unfamiliar with.

[Denominator]

Would you mind explaining exactly what a "riding" is? You mentioned it several times, but it is a term I am unfamiliar with.

Unlike the American elections, Canadians don't actually get to vote for Prime Minister.

The country is broken up into ridings, essentially based on population concentrations (for example, a riding in a major city covers much less geographical area than one in a rural area). Each riding has one representative for each party that is running there, and that's who you vote for. When I vote, I get one choice from the 7 in my riding (there are minor parties that run in certain areas, but since there aren't enough of them across the country, they can't physically hold office).

Assuming the party leader wins in his/her riding, the party leader with the most representatives elected gets to be Prime Minister. There are 307 seats in the Canadian Parliament, and whoever gets the most gets to be Prime Minister. If you get 154 or more seats, you have a majority government (you can pass any bill because all party members will vote the same), but it can happen (like it is now), where the leading party does not have a majority government. That means that the other parties can get together and reject a vote, which leads to a new election.

[Defiance]

I would "vote" Green Party.Why, you may ask?Because, they are green. =D

[Kyyrbes]

Green party, change is good.

[Morphine]

Green party, change is good.

What?! You just made a comment on the other forum that stated you are voting for McCain. Then you come on here and select green party because change is needed?! You need to do some research my friend. In case you didn't know the green party's political ideologies are more aligned with the campaign of Ralph Nader and somewhat Obama. There is even a Green Party in the U.S. which Nader once ran with. Not to mention you claimed your reasoning was change yet you want to keep the same political party in power in the U.S.? I mean I'm not completely up to date on the political race in Canada but I am aware of it enough to know where my ideals align. Being in Vermont we do get the CBC and I catch the news on there from time to time as well as the Rick Mercer Report.

How is it that there are 6 votes for the green party here yet more than half voting Republican in the U.S. poll?