Politics: Canada: Harper takes the lead in long haul toward heading new Canadian minority government

Poll: Harper inches ahead 31% to Martin's 28%, Layton's 20%, Bloc gets 57% in Quebec, Martin 22%. If this tilt held until Feb, Harper's Tories could form a minority government (but in all proablility, it won't hold). If Harper had a surge to win 40% of the vote across the continent on the Canadian side of the border, that would be sufficient to form a majority governemnt, experts say. But I would object to this as more of the same, as I advocate proportional representation (PropRep) with a geographic weight factored in (geo-PropRep), to get the desired geographical even among smaller parties. Would that if Harper's Conservatives won, they'd introduce legislation to bring PropRep to Canada's House of Commons. This would be a far more just system of representation than what currently prevails! It would further create the interesting and desirable anomaly that people elsewhere - that is, in English-speaking provinces - could vote for the Bloc. And people in Quebec could vote for the Tories, and also have their votes counted toward the Conservative national total. - Owlb

Many thanks to Reuters, "Conservatives soar in poll after Canadian scandal," Nov 5, 2005.
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HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER - a few tidbits from refWrite's log on Stephen Harper's comings and goings before Parliament assembled for the current session.
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Federal Conservatives target Metropolitan Toronto ridings, by Bea Vongdouangchanh, F. Abbas Rana and Angelo Persichilli, The Hill Times, August 1st, 2005. Yes, the Tories are meeting in Metro Toronto today at the Intercontinental Hotel, and "are focusing on specific Liberal ridings. Stephen Harper will push the environment, tax deductible public transit."
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Tories plan election goodies for transit users, by Sean Gordon, August 3. "Tax credit part of MPs' urban agenda - Harper brings politicking tour to G."
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HARPER BEGINS 2nd BBQ SUMMER TOUR OF ONTARIO
Harper sets his sights on Ontario this week, by Michael Stittle, CTV.ca, August 1, 2005/.
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CONSERVATIVES GET KEY 'RED TORY' HUGH SEGAL IN SENATE
Segal ready to wave Tory flag, CBCNews.com in the Senate, due to Martin appointment.
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MARTIN NAMES TO SENATE A KEY MEAN-MOUTH AGAINST HARPER
Can't find the URL to live-link this spicy snippet, but here's what I've got:

Larry Campbell, who called Stephen Harper's Conservatives "barbarians" during the 2004 federal election and earlier this year denounced Harper's plans to topple the Liberal government, said he expects to begin work as a Liberal senator this fall, even though he plans to serve out his term in municipal politics until a new mayor is installed in December.

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CAMPAIGN 'FRAMING'
You want to win? Better get framed by Val Sears, Toronto Sun, August 2, 2005.
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HERE'S THE PLACE from which will emerge some of the meanest, most viciosos to defame Harper during the anticipated campaign: Unleash the Dogs of War ... and Internal Hatred

“Business groups” are the owners of CanWest Media, the Fraser Institute (always guaranteed space in the CanWest monopoly communication vehicles), reactionary so-called citizens’ organizations, the Stephen Harper, Stockwell Day, Preston Manning Right politicians in Canada – backed by the U.S. Administration, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the central bureaucracy of the European Union recently drubbed by the voters of France and Holland. ¶ That combination makes up a heavy set of fighters. Their consistent message is “save your own skin”, “help us down-grade standards of living”, “learn, above all, to hate your neighbour”.

Mark it Poison! now, ready the remedy and stock up on it. - Politicarp
Log maintained by Owlie Scowlie, with an assist from Anaximaximum