Now that I've had a few days to digest what happened in Canada's election, I thought I'd leave my take for those of you who are interested, since it isn't always what the media portrays.
Stephen Harper, our Conservative Prime Minister, won another minority government. We have a multi-party parliamentary system, which means that whichever party has the most seats forms the government. But in this case, and before the election, the Conservatives were short and didn't have a majority. So they couldn't automatically pass anything.
They won pretty big, though, up about 17 seats I think. They're a lot closer to a majority now than they were before.
They gained seats in the crucial 905 area (the area code surrounding Toronto, where they needed to break through), a few in Vancouver, and in New Brunswick and Anne of Green Gables land. They just hit a wall in Quebec.
We have a weird system where Quebec, which has a quarter of our parliamentary seats, votes overwhelmingly for a Quebec separatist party to represent them, even though they don't actually want to separate. It's very strange. They just want a strong Quebec voice in Parliament. We were hoping the Conservatives could break through in Quebec (they do have 9 seats now, I think), but the big breakthrough didn't come.
It's too bad, but that's Quebec.
The main thing is that nobody wants another election, so the opposition parties will likely support a lot of what Harper is doing. And right now our banks are the strongest in the world and our country is bearing up well under the financial crisis.
So I'm very encouraged. That's probably going to work out to at least three more years of Harper appointing fair judges (rather than overly liberal judges), three years of Harper appointing key Conservatives to the ministries and the Bank of Canada; three years of Harper running the military. Even if he never passed another law or budget, that's a big legacy you can leave in a country.
One of the key responsibilities in both the U.S. and Canada is appointing these key people. That's where you make your mark. And let me say, that given who Obama's friends tend to be, I would much rather be in my position where Harper is appointing fair judges than in the position that the United States may soon be in when Obama is left to appoint his allies.
But that's just me needling you guys about your election! Sorry about that. Can't help it. I'm going to stay away from any more election news for a while because I can't handle it. We came through our own election quite well, and for that I am grateful. God has given us a good government.
But no matter who runs Canada, or who runs the United States, God is still in charge. And whichever party wins is still a whole lot better than what most countries of the world face. So I am counting my blessings, and praying for a continually better world.
I have really started to enjoy your blog but I hope it will not be political very much of the time. As a believer that does not agree that the Conservative party or the republican party in the states (I am a US citizen living in Canada) always neccessarily represents my own values, I chide at the assumption that they do. I really wish that more Christians would leave their own political endorsement out of their evangelical or ministry outreaches (which i certainly see this blog as a ministry of yours).
This is said in love as I do so enjoy your books and your blog, so I will be back for sure but hoping that there won't be too much partisan political posting, but more focus on things we acn all agree on, namey God's Word and how we live it out as women.
I am glad to hear your gov. did well. Now PRAY for ours. Some of us don't want B.O. in. Actually alot. But weather we can trust the votes is another issue. I still don't know why Accorn is in business.
that is what I have to keep telling myself through this election. Whoever wins is who God wants to be there and even if I don't agree with the outcome I have to trust God with his plan and know that in the end it will all work out.
Congratulations on being done with your election. I have to admit I was more than a little jealous when I read that you only have a 6 week election process. I love your comment about God being the ultimate one in control. I think we forget about that so often (I know I do). Thanks for that reminder!!!!
About Me: I'm a Christian author of a bunch of books, and a frequent speaker to women's groups and marriage conferences. Best of all, I love homeschooling my daughters, Rebecca and Katie. And I love to knit. Preferably simultaneously.
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Hi Sheila,
I have really started to enjoy your blog but I hope it will not be political very much of the time. As a believer that does not agree that the Conservative party or the republican party in the states (I am a US citizen living in Canada) always neccessarily represents my own values, I chide at the assumption that they do. I really wish that more Christians would leave their own political endorsement out of their evangelical or ministry outreaches (which i certainly see this blog as a ministry of yours).
This is said in love as I do so enjoy your books and your blog, so I will be back for sure but hoping that there won't be too much partisan political posting, but more focus on things we acn all agree on, namey God's Word and how we live it out as women.
God Bless!
-Nicole