I did hear it was actually up in Ontario, or in the Toronto area anyway.

Possibly. I'm hoping that was the Once Bitten, Twice Shy effect.

Yeah, but the Quebec PC was always more left leaning than the Federal. I think the default in Quebec skews more social dem than in many parts of the country.

Quebec politics is extremely pragmatic stuff, I think. Once there was blood in the water, and the Liberals were looking vulnerable, the Liberals were going to lose ridings like crazy to the Bloc and there wasn't enough time to show strength and reverse the trend. Martin will have to win Quebec's confidence back for Election!06.

the voter turnout was lower than last time. People are crazy!

Really?! I can't believe that either. t waves my cane along with Ouise

I'm grumpy because a friend of ours lost a very narrow race, by around 150 votes. To make it worse, he lost to a Conservative of the complete wackadoo variety.

In the small world department: Jon - you said that your Cdn friend lives in Broadbent's riding (Ottawa South); that's where my parents lived until last year, and my aunt & uncle still live there.

That sucks, Dani. t waves cane threateningly at the voters in your friend's riding

In the small world department: Jon - you said that your Cdn friend lives in Broadbent's riding (Ottawa South); that's where my parents lived until last year, and my aunt & uncle still live there.

Wherebouts? She is highly amused that I have these other Cdn friends that inform me on Cdn politics, etc. I haven't explained the Buffistas to her yet.

In the neighbourhood called (accurately enough) Ottawa South, off Bank Street just south of the Glebe.

I was really enjoying some of the riding names. My favourites were (of course) from Newfoundland: Random-Burin-St. George and Bonavista-Exploits.

I just like that you call your districts "ridings".

t relocating from Natter

Dani, you said that Canadians don't do formal coalition governments? But I thought that 'free votes' (where one does not vote along party lines) were almost unheard of in the Canadian House of Commons? How in the world do you govern without a formal coalition, then, if you're not dealing with a whole party at once?

Not Dani but :

I think Dani might have meant that there are no true coalition gov'ts where parties merge and appoint cabinet members cross party lines. Our minorities usually have one party in power that is making deals iwth one or more other parties to ensure votes go their way.

Parties do expect their Members to vote along party lines in the House, but there are occasionally free votes.

Wow, that's an awful lot of constantly re-negotiated horse-trading.