Election Night (Canada) Party

[bjarvis]

From the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC:

Join fellow Connect2Canada members and other interested viewers in watching coverage of the Canadian federal election results on January 23, 2006. Enjoy appetizers from the Elephant & Castle and discounted Molson beverages. This event was made possible courtesy of the Canadian Embassy, the Elephant & Castle Restaurant and Molson.

Date: Monday, January 23, 2006
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Elephant & Castle, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Please click here to RSVP for this event.


I'm undecided yet about going. Since I have satellite service from Canada, I could watch the results roll in at home just as easily as in downtown DC, and I won't have to drive home depressed if the neo-puritans Conservatives win a majority.

Comments

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

While I'd much prefer to have the Liberals rather than the Conservatives, they've had the reins of power for 13 years so my gut tells me it's time for a change just to clean house a little. If the Conservatives form a minority gov't, most of my most desired programs and depts will likely be only cosmetically adjusted but if they form a majority, they will have carte blanche to wipe out the things I hold dear (eg. gay marriage, health care, non-involvement in missile defence & Bush's invasion-du-jour, etc.). A minority Conservative gov't would also force the Liberals to shape up, ditch the anchors that have been dragging them down and develop a slightly richer program than more-of-the-same.

In any case, I'll be watching closely on the 23rd. I only wish I could vote.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

From my limited research (mostly The Economist) things have been changing rapidly and the most likely outcome is a minority C gov't, which as you point out is relatively unthreatening but still takes the patronage candy away from the Ls, who've proven they can't be trusted without a thorough housecleaning. The party sounds like it would be fun except it will be full of people who're interested in politics. :-)

[beartalon.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, but while I want to vote, I want to take the option people have been recently telling me about: a "decline". Where you take your ballot, leave it unmarked, and hand it back stating, "I decline this ballot".

It is then not marked as a ruined ballot and tossed out, it actually gets counted, but since I can't find this option on the Elections Canada website, I don't know how they affect any electoral process and because of that, I won't use the option.

The only time the website mentioned declining a vote is a bill to be passed in the House of Commons to make declining a private form of vote. Right now you have to make the statment in front of the voting officers (and everyone else in the room at the time) and THEY record it.

I'd like to see more options on a ballot. A YES column so I can pick the ONE person I want to vote for and a NO column so I can tell who I won't, even if I can't decide on a YES.