Harper...Plagiarized speech?

A staff member, Owen Lippert was revealed to have plagiarized a speech from the Australian Prime Minister in March 2003, which Harper read days after it was originally given. Owen says, "Neither my superiors in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition nor the leader of the Opposition was aware that I had done so." Although Harper had no idea, i would always double check for any mistakes such as this, because as Prime Minister of Canada, I wouldn't want other people to ruin my image. Owen apologized and resigned on Tuesday, September 30, 2008.


Australian Prime Minister John Howard on the left giving a speech on the War in Afghanistan
with Canadian Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper on the right speaking two days afterward.
(Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/09/30/rae-harper.html#socialcomments)

Final Post

The final post in my blog on the Canadian Election is now. Prepare yourself for the devastating results...

Canadian Federal Election of 2008 Results (Source: Wikipedia, Canadian federal election, 2008)

Canadian Federal Election of 2006 results
(Source: Wikipedia, Canadian federal election, 2006)


Comparison:

- Stephen Harper won a minority government both times
- Both times the order was Conservative, Liberal, Bloc Quebecois, and NDP.
- Stéphane Dion became leader of the Liberal Party for the 2008 election instead of Paul Martin.
- The difference in seats won between the Conservatives and Liberals in 2008 (67) is more than in 2006 (21)
- The top four parties' swing was in the same direction both years.
- In 2006, 64.9% of the electorate voted, where as in 2008 an all-time low 59.1% voted.
- In both elections the New Democratic Party received more votes than the Bloc Québécois, but since Bloc Québécois got the majority of the votes in Québec, they won many seats in Quebec, so they ultimately have more seats than the NDP who received votes spread out across Canada.

Breakdown by Province/Territory
Click on the image to get a clearer view.

You will notice that in Quebec, Bloc received 50 seats compared to Liberal's 13 and Conservative's 10. You will also notice that in Alberta most people voted for Stephen Harper, whose hometown is Calgary, Alberta. This may be an example of bias, as the people who live in that province might lean towards voting for someone they can relate with if they don't have a strong opinion on which candidate they support.
(Source: Wikipedia, Canadian federal election, 2008)

Why was there just a federal election?

Why would PM Stephen Harper order a federal election, when he is already Prime Minister? It is most likely because prior to this election, the Conservative government under Harper was a Minority Government. A Minority Government is a government that has less than half the number of total seats in parliament. I think Harper's goal was to gain more seats as to become a Majority Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet in a Majority Government have much more control and can enact whatever policy they want. To obtain a Majority Government, he would have to have won 154 or more seats, but Harper and the Conservative Party won 143, 11 less than they needed.

Here's a video on his decision, showing his announcement.

Party Research

Here are the five main political parties running in the Canadian Federal Election:

Conservative Party of Canada
Leader - Stephen Harper
seats won in 2006: 124

Founding Principles

• having fiscal accountability, progressive social policy and individual rights and responsibilities all be of equal importance;
• form a national group of Canadians who agree with these beliefs and reflect the diversity of Canada;
• A belief in loyalty to a sovereign and united Canada governed in accordance with the Constitution of Canada, the supremacy of democratic parliamentary institutions and the rule of law;
• A belief in the equality of all Canadians;
• A belief in the freedom of the individual, including freedom of speech, worship and assembly;
• A belief in our constitutional monarchy, the institutions of Parliament and the democratic process;
• A belief in the federal system of government as the best expression of the diversity of our country, and in the desirability of strong provincial and territorial governments;
• A belief that English and French have equality of status, and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada;
• A belief that the best guarantors of the prosperity and well-being of the people of Canada are:
• The freedom of individual Canadians to pursue their enlightened and legitimate self-interest within a competitive economy;
• The freedom of individual Canadians to enjoy the fruits of their labour to the greatest possible extent; and
• The right to own property;
• A belief that a responsible government must be fiscally prudent and should be limited to those responsibilities which cannot be discharged reasonably by the individual or others;
• A belief that it is the responsibility of individuals to provide for themselves, their families and their dependents, while recognizing that government must respond to those who require assistance and compassion;
• A belief that the purpose of Canada as a nation state and its government, guided by reflective and prudent leadership, is to create a climate wherein individual initiative is rewarded, excellence is pursued, security and privacy of the individual is provided and prosperity is guaranteed by a free competitive market economy;
• A belief that the quality of the environment is a vital part of our heritage to be protected by each generation for the next;
• A belief that Canada should accept its obligations among the nations of the world;
• A belief that good and responsible government is attentive to the people it represents and has representatives who at all times conduct themselves in an ethical manner and display integrity, honesty and concern for the best interest of all;
• A belief that all Canadians should have reasonable access to quality health care regardless of their ability to pay; and
• A belief that the greatest potential for achieving social and economic objectives is under a global trading regime that is free and fair.

New Democratic Party
Leader: Jack Layton
seats won in 2006: 29

Main points:
- focus on families
- making life affordable for families by increasing available jobs
- hiring more doctors and nurses and "renewing" health care
- environmental concern

• they will provide leadership to keep jobs in Canada, encourage innovation, and help Canadians balance their budget by putting a stop to consumer gouging.
• they will invest in new energy solutions, affordable housing, and education and training for workers and young people.
• they will ensure that opportunities are shared with working families and individuals, not taken away through tax giveaways to those who need them least.

Liberal Party
Leader: Stéphane Dion
seats won in 2006: 103

Main points:

Economy

They will invest $1 billion in the Advanced Manufacturing Prosperity (AMP) Fund to promote a greener, more competitive manufacturing sector.

They'll also cut personal and business taxes by up to 10 per cent under the Liberal green shift plan, so that a family with an income of $74,000 and two children will receive nearly $1,400 in income tax cuts and credits.

"Liberals will reduce poverty, invest in a green economy – and restore fiscal discipline to government. Liberal times are prosperous times."

Environment: quote from thegreenshift.ca:

"That is why the Liberal Party of Canada has introduced the Green Shift, a bold plan that will cut income taxes, put a price on pollution, fight poverty and position Canada to be a leader in the 21st century global economy.

Our plan is as powerful as it is simple. We will cut taxes on those things we all want more of such as income, investment and innovation, and we will shift those taxes to what we all want less of: pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

Energy costs are soaring all over the world. While energy prices continue to rise, we need to encourage energy efficiency. We need to change wasteful habits. We need to discourage polluting activities."

Bloc Quebecois
Leader: Gilles Duceppe

Main Beliefs:

- Sovereignty will ensure that the people of Québec can make their own decisions

- Sovereignty will allow Québec to put forward a real sustainable development policy

- Sovereignty will enable Québec to take care of everyone, without exception

- Sovereignty will ensure a development and an appealing quality of life for everyone, everywhere on the territory

- Sovereignty will ensure that Québec will take its "true place" in the world

Green Party
Leader: Elizabeth May
Seats won in 2006: 0

main points:

They feel the most important issue to address at this point in time is the global climate change. They plan to react to this by "dramatically reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. We can do this in ways that enhance Canada’s economy and the wellbeing of Canadians."

it also states on their website:

"We must also invest in peace.

And we must shockproof our society against unforeseeable events by building in resilience.

In energy, that means relying increasingly on decentralized renewable power and less on mega-project generators. In social policy, it means realizing that looking out for one another is as important as breathable air, drinkable water and healthy food."