question for progressive Canadians?

[tielan]

Of which I imagine there are at least a couple reading this...

Is a minority Liberal (centrist-left) government bad in your books?

Comments

[jenab]

It's good. A majority would provide more stability for 4 years but it will be a good testing ground for Carney. Carney has come across as someone who will keep spending somewhat under control and understands that there does need to be spending on social programs and supports efforts to stop climate change.

I do hope the NDP, the left leaning party, will be able to come back strong. Their voice is always needed and the view is a lot of NDP supporters voted Liberal in order to stop the Conservatives from gaining power.

[elanya]

The view is wrong though - a lot of NDP voters actually went conservative. It happened in my riding and I'm really upset about it. The general understanding is that the conservatives did a better job at appealing to the working class, and people stopped seeing the NDP as a real option because they were too out of touch with their roots, which I can believe.

[jenab]

Thanks for letting me know. I hadn't realize that was happening.

[elanya]

Not to hijack the thread too much, but Charlie Angus had a good post about it: https://charlieangus.substack.com/p/thoughts-on-canadas-unprecedented?source=queue

[grav_ity]

No. It's not ideal, but it's definitely one of our best options right now. I was concerned for a while when it looked like the balance was going to be carried by the Bloc, but the Liberals and the NDP (with a bonus Elizabeth May) have enough votes to make it to 172. As an NDP member myself, and also as a raging idealist, I like it when the NDP can bargain with the Liberals. (Poilievre would have been a disaster as a minority leader because they he won't work with ANYONE, and obviously a majority would have also sucked.)

Also...I really like Mark Carney. Which kills me, because: ugh, Liberals, but he's very smart, he's been an environmentalist for a long time, he as a queer kid, he answers questions (it was kind of hilarious during the campaign because EVERYTHING was a lecture and the reporters were like "...what am i supposed to DO with this???" and he was like "educate yourselves."). Also he likes working with people and he's literally who he is today because he solved problems he didn't create with people he didn't like who, in some cases, were actively working against him.

So, yeah, it's fine. My main issue with a minority government is that they usually don't last long, and I *really* want some competent consistency right now. I'm sure I'll end up disappointed, but with the Liberals, I'm usually disappointed by what they don't do (with the Cons, I'm disappointed by what they do), and I can still respect them, even if I don't like them (again, not so much with the Cons!).

[spiffikins]

with the Liberals, I'm usually disappointed by what they don't do (with the Cons, I'm disappointed by what they do), and I can still respect them, even if I don't like them (again, not so much with the Cons!).

This is a really good way of putting it :) I agree!

[grav_ity]

If the last 10 years have taught me anything, it's how to explain my feelings about Liberals to innocent bystanders who asked what they thought was a simple question. lol

[tielan]

I'm sure I'll end up disappointed, but with the Liberals, I'm usually disappointed by what they don't do (with the Cons, I'm disappointed by what they do)

As spiffikins said, that is an EXCELLENT way of putting it, and I am going to it something fierce to describe Australian Labor (vs the Australian Liberal Party, who are the conservatives around here).

An d"he likes working with people and he's literally who he is today because he solved problems he didn't create with people he didn't like who, in some cases, were actively working against him" is, IMO, an excellent resume for a politician.

[elanya]

This basically sums up my views as well. I'd have really liked to see more NDP seats because they are a good influence on the liberals, but I'm glad they at least got enough seats that they can caucus with the liberals and the liberals don't have to look to the BQ instead. I tend to like minority governments for this reason. Really disappointed by the NDP collapse overall but hoping this will encourage them to restructure and go back to their roots of community engagement.

I don't love Carney, but he's fine. I do like having a smart PM, though.