The Bloc Paradox

Once again, rumours of the BQ’s demise were greatly exaggerated. The Bloquistes are back and they present a paradox for Canadian politics. As long as we have minority governments, the Bloc stays strong. The only way to whittle down their power over the long term is for another party to obtain a strong majority. That said, the only way for another party to get a strong majority would be to erode Bloc support. Stephen Harper’s strategy on this front has been to give away as much power as he can to Quebec. So far it has failed to really curb Bloc support, at the same time, Harper’s base in the West wants to do a whole bunch of things that would infuriate the people of Quebec.

Liveblogging the Election

To kick things off, here’s a shot of my high-tech media command centre:

Everything after this is in reverse chronological order. No results until all polls close.

11:20pm: Okay, still a Con minority, still the same MP in my riding. I’m going to bed, more reflection tomorrow.

11:19pm: Local news – Olivia Chow is still my MP.

11:15pm: Oh well, at least electoral reform is a popular topic on twitter.

11:07pm: I tried to give Dion the benefit of the doubt since he became Liberal leader, it becomes much harder after tonight.

11:02pm: Crackpot far-right-winger Peter Kent may take Susan Kadis’ seat, ugh.

10:58pm: The Cons looks like they’re going to be frozen out of Toronto proper. Good.

10:46pm: Conservative minority government according to CBC.

10:44pm: Thank goodness that the good people of Quebec had the sense too put the brakes on the Harper sweater-vest steamroller.

10:41pm: Looks like Garth Turner is out in Halton. But Gerrard Kennedy is in.

10:38pm: 140 seats for the Cons, a little close for comfort.

10:31pm: Fortier can’t win a seat! Hah! Back to the senate?

10:30pm: Credit to Dion – I’m impressed that the Liberals are strong in Quebec at all. Good job there, Stephane.

10:29pm: The story emerging is that the Cons lost it in Quebec, otherwise they’d have won it in Ontario.

10:26pm: Still think Dion’s job is in jeopardy.

10:25pm: Probably another Con minority – even Rick Anderson says so.

10:23pm: Rona Ambrose is headed back to Ottawa so she can continue to be useless.

10:21pm: In my riding, Trinity-Spadina, it looks like Olivia Chow is going to squeak through again.

10:14pm: The prospect of any Con seat inside the 416 (i.e.: Toronto proper) is disgusting. John Turner said the voters are never wrong. Bullshit. Con-voting Torontonians must have some kind of political equivalent of a death-wish. Get ready for everything to suck.

10:12pm: It looks like things are going to be uncomfortably close to a Con majority. Sigh…

10:09pm: Carolyn Bennett looks to be winning her riding. It’s nice to see that the people of St. Pauls were not intimidated by a few terrorist acts.

10:05pm: So is Dion going to resign or what? The Cons are appearing to make inroads in Ontario after telling the world it was the “last place” to invest.

10:03pm: Elizabeth May failed to knock off Peter MacKay and really has nothing to show for her party’s efforts in terms of seats.

10:00pm: All the polls are closed. CBC says Conservative government. Shit. Fingers crossed for a minority government.

9:53pm: Why do so many Green candidates look like bike couriers?

9:34pm: It’s weird having a picture of my computer on my computer.

For Gilles Duceppe

You should have answered Mick Jones’ question before you said anything, M. Duceppe: