Voting

[keenman]

I just voted, and all I'll give away is that I voted differently than I ever have before (and I've always voted the same in every previous Canadian federal election). The cool thing about Canadian elections is that I can say that and not give away who I voted for: there are 3 different parties I could mean, and each one has its positives and

Comments

[cafemusique]

I still don't know who I'm going to vote for. (I don't think I've EVER had that happen so late in a campaign.) I'm expecting that I will vote differently than ever before, though I am keeping an open mind to make sure I understand what I'm doing. Unfortunately, the only major-party candidate I know for certain I won't vote for is the one who will likely be re-elected in this riding.

It will certainly be different if I get my US citizenship...don't know how I'll adjust to that system (and DEFINITELY don't know how I'll adjust, before that, to living with elections going on around me that I won't be able to vote in, when I'll only have a Green Card).

[keenman]

Remember, one step at a time. :-P I finally just said screw it, and made my vote with my gut, looking both at the website of the local politicians and the federal leaders, and some less biased websites.

[kovucougar]

More than three, but only three "common" ones.

I'm still waiting for my ballot. But then again, I just got the app faxed off this week.

How long have you been here? If more than 5 years, how'd you not get auto-rejected for being out of the country too long?

[keenman]

8 years now. The government mails me something from time to time asking me if I plan on coming back, and I always mark 'Yes'. That seems to be good enough for me.

Our elections take 6 weeks. Three years in the US - must be a lesson in there!

[cool_moose]

I lived in Seattle for 12 years ('70-'81) and never missed an election in Canada.
Three parties? Even if your constituency isn't in La Belle Province (where you'd have 5 parties), you still have 4 - the PC's (booo), the Libs (mild YAY), the NDP (useful at the 15% of seats level) - and the Greens (yawn).
I'm predicting we get 'Har-pooned' again with a small Harper majority, since Dion doesn't impress. Last time, I worked for Ignatieff ... but I think both he and Rae will be a 'little long in the tooth' in five years. Guess I'll wait for Gerard Kennedy (and/or Trudeau#2) to reinvigorate the Liberals before I work for them again.

Interesting days recently - Chris K. has moved to Vancouver! He stayed with Sandra and I for two weeks and found a great suite in Kitsilano. Still job-hunting. He has a work-permit/visa for 12 months for now.

Hope you didn't bank at WaMu ... as we did for many years.

Re: Our elections take 6 weeks. Three years in the US - must be a lesson in there!

[keenman]

No I didn't, but a non-profit I was Treasurer for did. I meant three other parties because I didn't vote Liberal for once. (My assessment ended up being pretty similar to your own, interestingly, though.)

I'm hoping to visit sometime in the next 4 - 6 weeks: can't wait!