22-11-2004 20:19									#241
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quote: Otherwise there would be 6 democrats on every ballot...

You don't have primary elections? Primaries tend to allow for more ideologically diverse parties (i.e., politicians are tied to the local views rather than the national party platform or leadership).

	22-11-2004 20:22									#242
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I am also descended from Canada. My great, great grandfather was a German noble of some sort, and he emigrated to Canada, married a woman who spoke a couple of Native American languages, then they both moved to Chicago, IL. She was my great, great grandmother.

	22-11-2004 20:42									#243
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Maybe that's enough politics.

Other stuff:

- We're polite. Example - yesterday I turned a corner fairly quickly and almost bumped into another guy, who was doing the same thing. We both instantly said "Sorry", even though no contact was made, just a brief stop and sidestep. I'm not saying that doesn't happen elsewhere, it is just inbred here.

- We embrace diversity rather than trying to stamp it out (for the most part). Immigrants and their descendants are usually referred to by their native country first - i.e. Hungarian-Canadian, not Canadian-Hungarian. Toronto has been named the most multi-cultural city in the world. Canada is a collage, not a melting pot.

- We are tolerant. Alternative lifestyles, marijuana, abortion, etc...

- We are hardy (hard not to be through the winters)

- We are hard workers. Out west they are more laid back(less hours), but the effort during work hours is there. I have heard many stories about foreign companies loving Canadian workers because they get so much work done.

- With regards to foreign affairs, we want to improve the world moreso for the sake of improving the world than for the sake of improving our stance in it.

There are always exceptions, naturally. These broad strokes are just my opinions.

	22-11-2004 20:42									#244
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quote: Originally posted by JimmyCracksCorn Only in Canada the Governor is a Premier, and members of the House are called MPPs (members of provincial parliament) or MHAs (members of the house of assembly).

MLAs (members of the legislative assembly). In Quebec they're something else again, but I can't recall it off the top of my head. They call their provincial legislature the "national assembly" IIRC (one of those French-identity things), so that would make their provincial legislators -- MNAs?

	22-11-2004 21:05									#245
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to the political argument. It's entertaining. I'll root for NYE, my fellow GS'er (ptwdgI reference).

Since my father held Canadian citizenship until a few years ago and my sister & nephew currently live just outside Toronto, I feel like I know a tad more about Canada than the average American. Only a tad, though. One thing comes across loud & clear: You're NOT like Americans. No matter what people say.

-Arrian

	22-11-2004 21:31									#246
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quote: Originally posted by DanS You don't have primary elections? Primaries tend to allow for more ideologically diverse parties (i.e., politicians are tied to the local views rather than the national party platform or leadership).

Not sure if you are asking nationally or on the riding level....

Party leaders are chosen by the parties at national conventions (of one sort or another). The local candidate for a particular party is determined at a nomination meeting held shortly before (or after) an election call.

	22-11-2004 22:01									#247
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quote: Originally posted by dejon - We are hard workers. Out west they are more laid back(less hours), but the effort during work hours is there. I have heard many stories about foreign companies loving Canadian workers because they get so much work done.

That's definitely true when compared to Hong Kong.

People in Hong Kong typically spend 60 hours a week in the office, but I figure most do the same work than a Canadian could do in 35 hours.

	22-11-2004 22:02									#248
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quote: Originally posted by DanS You don't have primary elections? Primaries tend to allow for more ideologically diverse parties (i.e., politicians are tied to the local views rather than the national party platform or leadership).

And yet Canadian politics is more diverse.

	22-11-2004 22:03									#249
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quote: The local candidate for a particular party is determined at a nomination meeting held shortly before (or after) an election call.

What's the formal term? A caucus?

quote: And yet Canadian politics is more diverse.

There are at least more parties, even if those parties are less diverse.

	22-11-2004 22:03									#250
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There's a belief that Americans barricade themselves in their homes while Canadians do not (The old joke about Americans having ten deadbolts on their door).

True or not? What do you think?

	22-11-2004 22:04									#251
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quote: Originally posted by Tingkai And yet Canadian politics is more diverse.

It's the reason your politics is more diverse.

	22-11-2004 22:05									#252
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quote: True or not? What do you think?

I'm sure it depends on where you live.

	22-11-2004 22:08									#253
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quote: Originally posted by DanS I'm sure it depends on where you live.

Yup.

When I lived in Nebraska and the far Western Chicago suburbs, we never locked our doors (at least not until several houses in our subdivision got robbed). Here I have mulitple locks on my back door.

	22-11-2004 22:10									#254
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Not true where I live (I often forget to lock the door, I've left the garage open all night long several times). One bolt lock on the front door, that's it.

YMMV.

-Arrian

	22-11-2004 22:12									#255
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quote: Originally posted byDanS What's the formal term? A caucus?

We just call them nomination meetings.

quote: Originally posted byDanS There are at least more parties, even if those parties are less diverse.

Interesting question. Off hand I would say Canadian politics requires compromise, but I'll give it some more thought.

Good night,

	22-11-2004 23:00									#256
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quote: Originally posted by notyoueither Oh, and btw, the oilsands are just starting to be tapped. The technology to get the oil out of there is just beginning to be properly implemented. Is this bad news for you?

Nope, the more oil that is recovered the better. I am curious how they are getting it out since most of the rock is what we geologists call "tombstone"; meaning there is no pore space left for liquids (water or oil) to flow through. I imagine they use explosive charges to fracture the rock to free up trapped oil. Is that correct?

	22-11-2004 23:21									#257
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quote: Originally posted by Tingkai There's a belief that Americans barricade themselves in their homes while Canadians do not (The old joke about Americans having ten deadbolts on their door). True or not? What do you think?

I have one deadbolt on my door but I almost never use it. Also I live in a very small suburb where most of the people know most of the other people and it's a bit off of the beaten track so hardly any crime ever occurs. Heck, when I go to the corner store (and it literally is the corner store) I even leave my keys in the car.

	22-11-2004 23:54									#258
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quote: Originally posted by notyoueither No. But they should have a say on the process and what can and cannot prevent a person from standing as a candidate for member of Parliament in this country.

Nothing's preventing anybody from standing as a candidate.

	22-11-2004 23:59									#259
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quote: Originally posted by DanS You don't have primary elections? Primaries tend to allow for more ideologically diverse parties (i.e., politicians are tied to the local views rather than the national party platform or leadership).

Party memberships are far rarer than the equivalent "party affiliation" required to vote in US primaries. Something like 5% of eligible voters have some party membership at any one time. Different parties decide their leadership based on different methods. Some go based on a straight one member one vote system. Others have more complex formulas.

	23-11-2004 00:00									#260
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quote: Originally posted by optimus2861 MLAs (members of the legislative assembly). In Quebec they're something else again, but I can't recall it off the top of my head. They call their provincial legislature the "national assembly" IIRC (one of those French-identity things), so that would make their provincial legislators -- MNAs?

Yes.

	23-11-2004 00:05									#261
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quote: Originally posted by DanS There are at least more parties, even if those parties are less diverse.

Which means that there is more choice available to an individual voter. The US system of two overly broad centrist parties removes the choice from the hands of the average voter and puts it in the hands of the party...

	23-11-2004 00:10									#262
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Having an ideologically diverse party does no good to the average voter. They still only get to make one choice. In the US that choice is simply either or. In Canada there are more options.

	23-11-2004 00:40									#263
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Jimmycrack, a central thesis of the Federalist papers is that an all-powerful parliament is a bad form of goverment for reasons listed. Given your response to me and your subsequent praise of the Canadian system, it appears that your haven't read the Federalist papers, or if you had, you disagreed with their thesis. But I would rather bank on the fact that you haven't read them. What this implies about your level of education and your right to lecture me, or anyone else for that matter, as if you were some PhD political scientist is obvious. You can take your arrogant superiority and go jump in the nearest Great Lake.

	23-11-2004 00:42									#264
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quote: Originally posted by Ned Jimmycrack, a central thesis of the Federalist papers is that an all-powerful parliament is a bad form of goverment for reasons listed.

Yeah, but this is about learning about Canada, not telling Canadians why they're bad for not being Americans.

	23-11-2004 00:45									#265
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quote: Originally posted by Tingkai There's a belief that Americans barricade themselves in their homes while Canadians do not (The old joke about Americans having ten deadbolts on their door). True or not? What do you think?

This is true (to a degree at least) in cities due to the crime rate. I think Canada is a much safer place than the US. This has a lot of beneficial effects on the quality of life in Canada.

	23-11-2004 00:46									#266
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quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara Yeah, but this is about learning about Canada, not telling Canadians why they're bad for not being Americans.

I was just favoring NYE in his debate about the all powerful parliament he justly disfavors.

	23-11-2004 00:46									#267
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interesting thread



I'm actually going to take time to read most of the posts!!

	23-11-2004 02:54									#268
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quote: Originally posted by Ned I was just favoring NYE in his debate about the all powerful parliament he justly disfavors.

That wasn't what he was saying, Ned.

Your reading comprehension is as impressive as are your reasoning skills

	23-11-2004 03:30									#269
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Canada
Corned beef
Poutine

Some Canadian 'cuisine' - Tim Horton, Swiss Chalet and Harvey.

Some historical tidbits - there was at least one act of genocide in Canada in Acadia against French settlers there to take their lands for British settlers.

When the French and Indian Wars ended ( Seven Years' War), the Crown issued the Proclamation of 1763 barring any white settlements beyond the Appalachian mountains which irked the colonists. They often would disregard this proclamation so later in 1774 the Crown passed the Quebec Act to reaffirm the Proclamation Act. Only this time, the Crown extended Quebec's borders to Ohio River west of Appalachians and the western borders was the Mississippi River.

I consider this the moment the Thirteen Colonies and Canada finally became two seperate entities instead of simply being British colonies in North America. This Act, which was also known as one of the Intolerable Acts in the Thirteen Colonies, helped to drive American colonists toward to the Revolution in 1777.

I sometimes wonder what if the history took the other path and there was never a divide between the Thirteen Colonies and Canada, what would today's world be like.

I was just about to go on but this would then become a threadjacking.

	23-11-2004 03:49									#270
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That based on the persentage of population, more Playboy playmates are from Canada.

I love Cara Wakelin.
But want Christina Young.

Last edited by Muad'Dib on 23-11-2004 at 06:29