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20 Years of the Bloc Québecois and the Secret to Political Success
The Bloc Québécois will tomorrow celebrate 20 years of existence, having confounded the federal parties and the political establishment since its founding. Born out of the the fervour over the failure of the Lake Meech accord, the parties progressive-nationalist policies have attracted Québécois voters in large numbers, having never polled less than a third of the Québec electorate since it was created in 1990.
Liberals: «A credible option for Québec»
The Liberals have gone on the offensive against the Bloc Québécois after a fire-storm has erupted in Québec over independence, sparked off by its founder's comments on the impossibility of sovereignty for Québec in the short to medium term.
Québécois put independence on the back burner
Nearly two thirds of Québécois agree that independence should not be on the order of the day, and is not a pressing concern when compared to economic recovery and other important issues.
Canada's aging population presents problems for future governments
Top economist throughout the Industrialised world have long given grave predictions regarding the future of counties' pension systems as the population ages and the birth-rate drops.
Grits and Tories at parity in the polls
The Tories and Liberals are on parity according to the latest Harris-Decima poll, conducted last week, with Tories polling 32%, and Liberals 30%. If continued, this trend will almost certainly mean another minority government after the election, with the NDP and Bloc Québécois again holding the balance of power.
Differences of political culture: Why Ignatieff oppossed the coalition
In a new book by NDP campaign manager Brian Topp, titled «How we almost gave the Tories the boot» reveals in detail how the Liberals deliberately scuppered the chance to form an Opposition coalition with the aim of the Ignatieff grouping taking over the Liberal Party and calling elections later on in 2009.
For a pluralist Québec
A new civic group has been formed by academics and individuals across Québec for the promotion of a rational application of shared values and reasonable accommodation and the further development of a dynamic, vibrant and tolerant country. The group calls itself «Pour un Québec Pluraliste». They have published a manifesto outlining their views and rationale behind them, and one must say it is spot on.
Layton in first place among progressive Canadians
The Canadian people have spoken on the question of who would be their first choice for Prime Minister of the country, and it is not good news for Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals. Of the three main parties, they come in last in the pronouncement of will of the Canadian population, with the New Democratic Party's leader Jack Layton coming in second place with 52 percent, trailing serving Prime Minister Stephen Harper at 85 percent.
Lifelong learning for all!
With proposed strike action by Ontario university faculty, and the recent news that tuition fees will be raised in Québec, Canada as a whole must take a hard look at how it values, and finances, higher education.
Political Developments in Venezuela
The situation in Venezuela would seem to be developing quite rapidly at the moment. In the face of spiralling inflation, electricity shortages, resignations in the cabinet etc, the cracks are beginning to show more openly in the PSUV, one example is on Facebook: the PSUV has changed its endorsement of a page from the regular PSUV fan page to a new one, PSUV Militante, claiming that the former has been «taken by the Right».