One defends and the other conquers
I'm sure you've all been intensely following the Nova Scotia election (ha ha!). If you haven't, well, it might be worth at least glancing at tonight's results, because Nova Scotia is poised to become Canada's fifth province to succumb to the socialist hordes.
The latest polls have Darrell Dexter's NDP (campaign poster to the left) on pace for a majority government, so things do not look good for the fiddler, (outgoing) Premier Rodney MacDonald. The real intrigue in this one may be the race for second place, with the Liberals and Tories neck-and-neck by all accounts.
Speaking of which, I can guarantee that Liberal leader Stephen McNeil would not only have become opposition leader, but possibly also Premier, had he run TV ads with the tag-line "MacDonald fiddled while the economy burned".
I won't be watching this one too closely, but all you Nova Scotia politicos should feel free to discuss the results in the comments section as they roll in.
The latest polls have Darrell Dexter's NDP (campaign poster to the left) on pace for a majority government, so things do not look good for the fiddler, (outgoing) Premier Rodney MacDonald. The real intrigue in this one may be the race for second place, with the Liberals and Tories neck-and-neck by all accounts.Speaking of which, I can guarantee that Liberal leader Stephen McNeil would not only have become opposition leader, but possibly also Premier, had he run TV ads with the tag-line "MacDonald fiddled while the economy burned".
I won't be watching this one too closely, but all you Nova Scotia politicos should feel free to discuss the results in the comments section as they roll in.
Labels: Darrel Dexter, Nova Scotia election, Rodney MacDonald, Stephen McNeil
posted by calgarygrit at
6:08 PM
9 Comments:
Alrught! On to Ottawa.
By
JimTan, at 7:39 PM
Truro voted Dipper. All you need to know.
By
WJM, at 7:45 PM
I agree with WJM. And the NDP South Shore sweep is somewhat surprising.
I'm glad to see Geoff Regan's wife, Kelly win. Also, glad to see Andrew Younger win in Dartmouth East. He's a hard worker and well liked, he worked hard to take that riding from the NDP.
By
Bailey, at 7:58 PM
One thing has been constant in every election since the recession struck Canada. Voters have opted for safe, familiar, experienced and strong leaders over riskier choices.
Darrel Dexter doesn't buck that trend. He is the longest-serving of Nova Scotia's three party leaders, the oldest and most experienced and has effectively been a partner in government since 2003.
At the same time, McGuinty still polls well in Ontario, despite a recession and a few stumbles.
To me, this is intriguing. Voters in recessions historically throw the bums out - desiring sweeping change. In EU parliamentary elections far right nutcases and a party named after a torrent download site have done well. In the US they elected a black guy.
Why is Canada bucking the trend?
1. Two-thirds of Canada's job-losses are in Ontario. Things aren't that bad elsewhere (still that doesn't explain why Dalton McGuinty still leads in the polls).
2. Canadians were convinced that the system is not broken by, for instance, information about the strength of Canada's banking system (still, blaming a recession on the rest of the world never works - just ask Bob Rae or Kim Campbell).
3. The recession is so scary it has resulted in a "rally-around-the-flag" effect.
4. The recession is not that bad. The dramatic headline of "worst unemployment in 11 years" is much less bad than elsewhere. 1998 was a pretty good year anyhow.
By
hosertohoosier, at 11:12 PM
Can we really call a party that has NEVER governed Nova Scotia the "safe" choice, though?
Dexter's certainly a likable, safe enough guy, but it's still got to be a bit of a risk putting in a party with no experience in government.
By
calgarygrit, at 10:19 AM
Yes, yes we can. Let's review that Rodney's experience prior to government include fiddling and teaching gym and the Liberal leader is a former appliance repairmen. Dexter has been the leader through six years of minority (and, prior to Rodney, mostly collaborative) government, MLA since 1998, city councillor before that, a lawyer, journalist, and spent time in the navy. There is no shortage of other accomplished individuals in the party or the new caucus.
By extension, I suppose Albertans should never elect any party but the PCs, but most especially not the Liberals, since they haven't been in power in the living memory of almost anyone in the party.
By
Josh, at 11:22 AM
"...but it's still got to be a bit of a risk putting in a party with no experience in government."
It can be a risk to put a party with "experience in government" into power, just ask New Brunswickers who are enduring Shawn Graham's incompetence.
By
Anonymous, at 12:01 PM
There's nothing wrong with taking a risk when the safe choice sucks.
I'm just responding to H2H's comment that the NDP were the safe choice. I'm not so sure on that.
By
calgarygrit, at 2:12 PM
I think he's saying that the particular circumstances of Dexter and the NDP made them less risky than changing gov't would otherwise be, not that they were "safer" than the Tories.
By
The Invisible Hand, at 1:25 AM
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