Damn! I just now find this thread? Man, to think of all the bitching I could have done!
David, just to add to Roland's post, except for early elections the standard term for a ruling party is 4 years.
I think it's funny that the US election is still to come, it feels like the longest campaign trail in the history of the world! Harper called the election on Sept 7 (never mind that he started campaigning way before and even used tax-payers money to do it, the slimeball) and 5 weeks later it's over. For a total of $350 Million wasted dollars.
Actually it wasn't all a waste. We learned that all parties apparently hired the Three Stooges as their campaign advisors:
-The Greens, who have a strong intelligent and articulate leader proved that they are NOT ready for prime-time by having her run in McKay's riding, an inexplicably popular Tory cabinet minister, in effect losing their ONLY opportunity to win a seat in Parliament.
-Jack Layton, the NDP leader, was convinced he was running for Prime Minister and ran TV ads that effectively called Harper
a strong leader but that he himself was
the new strong, whatever that means.
-The Liberals had an intelligent and compassionate leader with vision but he came across as very weak, expecially in English.
All in all, an embarrassing and depressing exercise.
The only good thing about it all is that although the right of centre only had one party to choose from - the centre-left vote was split between 4 parties - they still couldn't manage a majority government.
The left has to get its act together and unite, but we won't, lol!
I don't understand much of the terminology you all are using so please forgive me if my question comes across as ignorant, but do you all know who won yet? Was this an election for a new Prime Minister? I remember John Harper being elected in a few years ago. I watched the election process on C-Span although I really didn't understand what was going on. I also remember watching John Harper give his acceptance speech.
How long between the elections for Prime Minister?
I'm sorry if I sound like an ignorant American (and I must confess I am) but I'm very interested in these elections in other countries and I don't always understand them. I'd love to learn though!
Comcast moved C-Span to its digital line-up so I couldn't watch the Canadian elections tonight.