What Makes Canada a Great Place to Live?

[Smurf]

Cepheid does not represent me.

(while I may not know when the Confederation was founded I can tell you anything you want to know about Canadian Military history. Oh and after WW1 we gained control of our Foreign Relations and Policy. As did Australia.)

 

[cepheid]

Smurf...can you please elaborate on what you meant? I am vehemently against the war in Iraq, and the current Bush administration, and the new trend towards imperialism, and the new phenonmenon of the religious right imposing its doctrine on the populace, and trying to make discriminatory laws that impinge on people's rights. I am also against insulting people needlessly. Finally, I believe in free speech. That's what I was trying to get across in my post. So, if my views are not representative of yours at all, then I guess that means you are:

pro war
pro Bush
pro religious extremism
pro insulting Americans for no good reason
anti free speech.

Clearly NOT...we share the same views. I was simply advocating keeping an OPEN mind, so that we are not guilty of same arrogance that we accuse Americans of displaying...why are you speaking out against me?

 

[tumor]

Blasphemous Heretic! Thou Shalt Be Destroyed by My Mighty Hockey Stick!

Try me
Hockey sucks He He He He, big time!

 

[revelator]

This thread seems to have an inordinate amount of perpetuation of Canadian stereotypes,

If you're referring to all the HOC-KEY comments then I don't think it's necessarily perpetuating a stereotype. It's been my experience as a Canadian, that a very large number of Canadians are fanatical about HOC-KEY. Hell, even the majority of my friends who weren't born here have grown to become fanatical about HOC-KEY. I think it's something in the water...

 

[tumor]

It is matter of weeks before first signs of Hockey withdrawall will show up in generall population.(beatings,riots, etc,)
Even when NHL is playing I'm sometimes scared to go outside,imagine no hockey for a whole of winter.

 

[revelator]

This is straying even further off topic but.. considering the new smoking ban in bars, and the lack of a hockey season. I wonder how terrible of an effect this is going to have on sports bars in Toronto and the GTA.

 

[cepheid]

If you're referring to all the HOC-KEY comments then I don't think it's necessarily perpetuating a stereotype. It's been my experience as a Canadian, that a very large number of Canadians are fanatical about HOC-KEY. Hell, even the majority of my friends who weren't born here have grown to become fanatical about HOC-KEY. I think it's something in the water...

Dude...I AM Canadian...and the hockey stuff was just in good fun, but it doesn't make you look very intelligent if you say that you'd trade in your freedom for beer...and other stereotypes I was referring to was the incredible display of unity we Canadians put on in this thread...the Quebec guy insults the BC school system and implies that all Albertans are rednecks, and that they must all agree with Republican views by default (nooooo thank you) Next thing he knows, he's being faced with some anti-french statements and being told that no, actually, it's the Quebec students who are dumb...sheesh! Then there's the Toronto guy who seems bent on proving our superiority to Americans in every possible way, thus perpetuating the embarassing fact that a large part of our national pride stems from the fact that we are *not* like Americans...we don't have enough of a national identity to state what we are, but only what we are not? You see what I meant now...we were perpetuating all of the stererotypes about each other. I just think we didn't come across as very intelligent refined, or enlightened, despite our claims to the contrary.

 

[tumor]

This is straying even further off topic but.. considering the new smoking ban in bars, and the lack of a hockey season. I wonder how terrible of an effect this is going to have on sports bars in Toronto and the GTA.

Maybe hockey fans start to read books. just kidding.

 

[revelator]

Dude...I AM Canadian...and the hockey stuff was just in good fun, but it doesn't make you look very intelligent if you say that you'd trade in your freedom for beer...and other stereotypes I was referring to was the incredible display of unity we Canadians put on in this thread...the Quebec guy insults the BC school system and implies that all Albertans are rednecks, and that they must all agree with Republican views by default (nooooo thank you) Next thing he knows, he's being faced with some anti-french statements and being told that no, actually, it's the Quebec students who are dumb...sheesh! Then there's the Toronto guy who seems bent on proving our superiority to Americans in every possible way, thus perpetuating the embarassing fact that a large part of our national pride stems from the fact that we are *not* like Americans...we don't have enough of a national identity to state what we are, but only what we are not? You see what I meant now...we were perpetuating all of the stererotypes about each other. I just think we didn't come across as very intelligent refined, or enlightened, despite our claims to the contrary.

Sorry dude, never meant to imply your not Canadian! When you mentioned stereotypes, the hockey one was the only one that came to mind, and I responded with that mind.

Still there's a difference between insulting a school system and criticizing. Also, I don't recall anyone saying that all Albertans are rednecks and must support republican policy, although I have said in another thread that support for Bush runs highest in Alberta. Neither do I remember reading anything anti-French, just criticism of their system.

Then there's the Toronto guy who seems bent on proving our superiority to Americans in every possible way

Which guy? How?

 

[tumor]

I don't recall anyone saying that all Albertans are rednecks and must support republican policy, although I have said in another thread that support for Bush runs highest in Alberta.

You know what was beautiful? when USA stopped importing Canadian beef.
Alberta's farmers those same pro war rednecks and biggest Bush supporters got screwed really good by their best friend.Since then I started believing in Karma Man!

 

[revelator]

and implies that all Albertans are rednecks

I don't recall anyone saying that all Albertans are rednecks

Alberta's farmers those same pro war rednecks

D'oh! [slaps self in head]

Serious though, I do hope the beef and softwood lumber disputes can be resolved soon.

 

[tumor]

Remember what Ralph Klein(premier of Alberta) said about what farmers should do with cows who have BSE - "shot, shovel and shut up"! Brilliant! simply Brilliant!

PS.And who said Canadians are boring?

 

[Smurf]

Smurf...can you please elaborate on what you meant? I am vehemently against the war in Iraq, and the current Bush administration, and the new trend towards imperialism, and the new phenonmenon of the religious right imposing its doctrine on the populace, and trying to make discriminatory laws that impinge on people's rights. I am also against insulting people needlessly. Finally, I believe in free speech. That's what I was trying to get across in my post. So, if my views are not representative of yours at all, then I guess that means you are:

pro war
pro Bush
pro religious extremism
pro insulting Americans for no good reason
anti free speech.

Clearly NOT...we share the same views. I was simply advocating keeping an OPEN mind, so that we are not guilty of same arrogance that we accuse Americans of displaying...why are you speaking out against me?

I am:
Anti-Violence
Anti-Bush
Pro-Extremism
Anti-Religious
Pro-Direct Action
Anti-Indirect Action
Anti-Democracy
Anti-'Capitalism'
Pro-Free Market
Anti-Insulting Americans for no good reason
Pro-Good humour
Pro-Criticizing American Economics/Politics
Pro-Human Rights
And in the middle with the whole Freedom of Speech thing.

I think that covers everything.

I didn't think you reflected my views accuratly in your post, so I thought I'd mention that (especially the last paragraph - the one people always remember the most).

 

[Smurf]

Dude...I AM Canadian...and the hockey stuff was just in good fun, but it doesn't make you look very intelligent if you say that you'd trade in your freedom for beer...and other stereotypes I was referring to was the incredible display of unity we Canadians put on in this thread...the Quebec guy insults the BC school system and implies that all Albertans are rednecks, and that they must all agree with Republican views by default (nooooo thank you) Next thing he knows, he's being faced with some anti-french statements and being told that no, actually, it's the Quebec students who are dumb...sheesh! Then there's the Toronto guy who seems bent on proving our superiority to Americans in every possible way, thus perpetuating the embarassing fact that a large part of our national pride stems from the fact that we are *not* like Americans...we don't have enough of a national identity to state what we are, but only what we are not? You see what I meant now...we were perpetuating all of the stererotypes about each other. I just think we didn't come across as very intelligent refined, or enlightened, despite our claims to the contrary.

I think you worry too much about your image. I don't think I have ever flat out insulted someone for no reason (and I'm very sorry if I have). If someone's going to judge Canadians by the way they talk on a forum then they can do that, I don't care if one more person thinks we are all dumbasses living in igloos, god knows there's plenty of them already.

 

[cepheid]

^^^Smurf you make an excellent point there. Maybe its time I stopped derailing the thread further. However, I still do not understand what it is about my last paragraph that you so disagree with. Isn't that the one in which I gave that quote about defending people's rights to free speech? Or was it the part where I mentioned Bush's reign of fear? Oh well, whatever it was, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Edit...D'OH!...now I see it...It was probably the part about how I said Canadians have a "whopping inferiority complex". That was harsh...and is itself a stereotype. Indeed I have been overly critical about my fellow Canadians here...I hope there are no hard feelings guys. revelator..my comments were not directed right at you, or any specific "Toronto guy". I was just trying to convey my impressions, but I see now that I jumped to conclusions, mistaking honest discussion for disparaging remarks.

Whoever was planning on moving here...do you still want to after all of our antics? (juuuust kidding...chill)

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Please continue. I couldn't ask for a better way to get some perspective.

 

[wasteofo2]

I've got a question about Canada:

I hear lots of people talking about a "minority government" in Canada. What the hell is that about?

 

[ek]

I've got a question about Canada:

I hear lots of people talking about a "minority government" in Canada. What the hell is that about?

The Liberals, who are in power, have less than 50% of the MPs in the House.

More than 50% -> Majority Government.
Less than 50% -> Minority Government.

I don't know exactly how it impacts what goes on but it just means the Government is less powerful and can't do as much. Or it needs another party to form a coalition (easier said than done) to become a Government with Majority powers.

What exactly those Majority powers are I can't tell you.

 

[wasteofo2]

Is there a party that has a greater % of MP's (I'm assuming this means Representative of some sort...) than the Liberals, or do the Liberals have the greatest %? Is it something like the Liberals have 45%, the Conservatives have 30%, the Mooses have 15% and the Beavers have 10%?

Do you guys have General Elections for a chief executive officer (like our President), or is he decided in some other manner (like voted on by representatives or something)?

 

[check]

Waste,

Here’s some election results from the last election, in case you’re interested.
http://www.elections.ca/pas/38e/38official.pdf

Yes, as of right now the Liberals have the most seats, followed by the Conservative Party, the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP. However, the Liberal’s do not have a majority of the seats, so they cannot get things passed without support from other parties. This is called a minority gov't.

The country is divided into 301 electoral districts and the people (Members of Paliment) vote for which they want to represent their district in Parliament. The leader of the party with the greatest number of seats is Prime Minister. The PM is the head of government while the Queen is the head of state, but she really doesn’t matter.

 

[wasteofo2]

So there's no Nation-wide election for a governmental leader?

Ya'll mofo's are a craaaaaaaaaazy bunch...

That'd be like having Bill Frist as our President, what a scary thought...

I can't imagine having the leader of my country being a guy who got elected by one small section of the country, and only has to convince a few dozen people to like him to get to the highest position of power. Plus, it seems like the only people who get to be the Prime Minister are people in the Parliment, right? Is there any way for local governors or anything to become PM? Also, what actual powers does the PM of Canada have?

 

[check]

It’s not a silly system. In fact, it’s pretty similar to how your electoral college works except each electoral district is worth the same and there are 251 more of them.
As for not directly voting for the Prime Minister, it doesn’t bother me, nor does it bother most Canadians I think. Provincial "premiers" can become PM, but they'd have to switch to federal politics. I'm not sure how many premiers have been PMs. I don't think that many. But yeah, at the Provincial level, the government works almost the same as at the federal level. The Premier is the one who's party has the most seats in that province.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Prime-Minister-of-Canada here’s a good article about what a Canadian PM is and what he/she can and can’t do.

 

[revelator]

Edit...D'OH!...now I see it...It was probably the part about how I said Canadians have a "whopping inferiority complex". That was harsh...and is itself a stereotype. Indeed I have been overly critical about my fellow Canadians here...I hope there are no hard feelings guys. revelator..my comments were not directed right at you, or any specific "Toronto guy". I was just trying to convey my impressions, but I see now that I jumped to conclusions, mistaking honest discussion for disparaging remarks

No worries dude!

This is a little off topic, but I recall reading about comments made by Paul Celucci regarding our decriminilization of marijuana. Apparently, if we keep on going in this direction, the US administration is going to need to have even more delays at the border, so that the young'ns won't be smuggling pot into the states.

This is apparently a direct quote.

"Why, when we're trying to take pressure off the border, would Canada pass a law that would put pressure on the border?" he asked.

I figure, because it's more important to not give our teenagers and other citizens a criminal record over something so paltry as minor possession of marijuana. Who knows, maybe more stringent border rules would keep American guns out of here. I for one would sooner have us keeping our dope here, and the guns elsewhere..

 

[Dagenais]

It’s not a silly system.

The minority system is indeed a silly system. It is highly unstable as they last for a very short period. In fact, the average minority government in Canada only lasts about a year and a half. According to Mapleleafweb.com, 1 year, 5 months and 27 days.

 

[fourier jr]

I'm not sure how many premiers have been PMs. I don't think that many

no provincial premier has ever become prime minister. the closest was robert stanfield (nova scotia) in the 70s sometime; he was leader of the pc party & thay had 2 seats less than the liberals.

re: pot
trudeau was famous for saying "there's no room for te state int he bedrooms of the nation" but the sentence before that says a lot more: "...we're just bringing the laws of the land up to contemporary society i think..." laws are passed to reflect the views of the society, not the other way around, at least if we live in a democracy. & if bush or cellucci or whoever, doesn't like our 21st-century freedoms they can go %^&* themselves; if they don't lead my government they should butt out.

 

[cepheid]

Dagenais...many of the governments in Europe are almost always minority governments due to the fact that they operate on a system of proportional representation...which means that the percentage of seats for a party is quite analogous to the percentage of the popular vote they received, as I'm sure you know. Those governments are not necessarily on the verge of collapse, and in my opinion...such as system would be far more democratic...because the party in power would not be able to act with impunity, thereby increasing their accountability and reducing the chances of corruption. They are now forced to cooperate with opposition parties in many matters, ensuring that all views are brought to the table, more views are represented...issues are thoroughly discussed/debated. It may be slower, but who knows...it might be better in the long run.

The government has to be careful not to lose sight of it's main purpose...ie acting for the good of Canadians...if it goes astray...it may fall. Horrible bungling like the sponsorship scandal (which I know Quebec was particularly outraged about) arose because of the liberal's 10 yr iron clad grip on the gov't. Don't get me wrong...I wouldn't want to see any other party holding the reins right now, but I prefer this situation...it introduces added checks and balances.

 

[Janitor]

How many of your retirement benefits would follow you if you moved to another country and took up citizenship there? Presumably you could get your IRA to tag along, possibly minus some up-front taxes due before it transfers to some institution outside of the U.S. But would you forfeit all of the Social Security benefits you had coming to you?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

It appears that by maintaining dual citizenship, and since we are both entitled to benefits now, we can still collect. If we were to renounce our US citizenship I have no idea yet. Obviously you can't collect if you leave while still inelegible for benefits.

 

[Smurf]

As you can see Ivan, it's pretty much Quebec vs the rest of the country . (this is accually one area I think is reflected accuratly in this thread)

 

[cepheid]

^^Yeah, it's unfortunate, but here's one of the reasons why there is such a rift (see link below)...there was a time when I was proud of Canada's diverse/dual nature and wanted to try keep a such a culturally rich heritage within the country...it was part of our identity...proof that as a country we had (more or less) achieved an unprecedented level of social and political harmony and tolerance. But after hearing about incidents like these...I cannot help thinking..."fine, if they have such disdain for the rest of us, why don't they just get the hell out, and see if I care!" It's immature, but check it out:

http://www.cbc.ca/national/rex/rex_041109.html

Oh...and what I said about minority governments...I guess I didn't know what the hell I was talking about:

http://www.cbc.ca/national/rex/rex_041022.html

Edit: wow. These are very a propos.