[OT] Orwell is alive and well in Canada

[burns]

On Friday 02 December 2005 20:21, Collins Richey wrote:

> In general this is true. Of course, if you can't do without Candadian
> style liberalism, you'd probably feely right at home in Austin.
>

I wouldn't say that all Canadians are as singularly liberal as most Americans 
may think, or certainly as we are generally portrayed to be by the US media 
(which tends to cast everything in terms of stereotypes). While undoubtedly 
moderate, Canadians as a whole may be more tolerant than liberal. In fact, 
Texas and some of the southern states excepted, regional political trends in 
Canada pretty much reflects those of adjacent US areas, albeit in a slightly 
more moderate hue. 

As in New England, the Maritimes include pockets representing the  three main 
parties. In the past, when times were good and the East Coast fishing and 
industrial economy flourished, these areas tended to be progressively 
conservative. Now, with most traditional industry failing and unemployment 
high in that region, there is a greater trend toward the political left and 
the social programs of the NDP. 

Quebec is generally preoccupied with... well... Quebec, and will vote for 
whatever party appears to have Quebec economic, political and cultural 
interests at heart (not altogether unreasonable). 

Ontario is dominated by the massive urban social liberal middle class vote in 
Toronto. Unfortunately, this also represents an influential swing vote for 
any aspiring government. That is why many Canadian policies favor either 
Quebec or Ontario special interest groups, rather than the silent majority of 
Canadians.

The West with few exceptions are solidly social conservatives, especially in 
the rural areas. This is not unlike many similar areas of the US. The key 
exceptions to this are the urban area of greater Vancouver, as well as Lotus 
Land - Vancouver Island and the gulf Islands which tend to be solidly 
left-leaning... paralleling many areas of California - perhaps it's the 
Pacific breezes?

-- 
burns