The Canada Appreciation Thread

Archer · 2025-04-29T07:12:00-0500

pdxleaf
Congratulations on your new PM.

Thanks. After all the news organizations "called it" the lead narrowed to just 2 seats at one stage, but this morning things have shaken out so that although this is not a majority government, it's a very strong minority.

The Liberals have 168, Cons 144, Bloc 23, NDP 7, and Greens 1.

With the Liberals having a 24 seat lead, and the Bloc only having 23 seats, this means that it would take 3 parties voting together to bring down the government*. Still possible, but much more unlikely than the results earlier in the night would indicate. We'll have to see what Pierre Poilievre does since he has vowed to stay on as Conservative party leader, but then went on to lose his own seat. His party had big gains over the last election, but leading from outside parliament would be difficult as opposition leader.

* - the speaker is usually chosen from the governing party, so the Liberals will drop a seat effectively, but the speaker can vote in the event of a tie.

Faz · 2025-04-29T10:52:18-0500

Canuck
The only place to be is in Drumheller if dinosaurs are an interest. The Royal Tyrell Museum is world class! A few views. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive east of Banff, but it is not to be missed.

I couldn’t agree more. It would be worth a side trip with an overnight stay!

Dsloan · 2025-04-29T11:58:50-0500

Thanks for all the dino suggestions, everyone! We're gonna see if we can rent a car and check some of these out.

Hopefully we'll be able to report back with new things we appreciate about Canada and what watches were required for the trip 😁.

p4ul · 2025-04-29T12:05:01-0500

Archer
Thanks. After all the news organizations "called it" the lead narrowed to just 2 seats at one stage, but this morning things have shaken out so that although this is not a majority government, it's a very strong minority.

The Liberals have 168, Cons 144, Bloc 23, NDP 7, and Greens 1.

With the Liberals having a 24 seat lead, and the Bloc only having 23 seats, this means that it would take 3 parties voting together to bring down the government*. Still possible, but much more unlikely than the results earlier in the night would indicate. We'll have to see what Pierre Poilievre does since he has vowed to stay on as Conservative party leader, but then went on to lose his own seat. His party had big gains over the last election, but leading from outside parliament would be difficult as opposition leader.

* - the speaker is usually chosen from the governing party, so the Liberals will drop a seat effectively, but the speaker can vote in the event of a tie.

Thank you for the insiders view, not something that I have read in our parochial media here in the UK. Just a ‘win’ is what I had understood.

blufinz52 · 2025-04-29T12:12:09-0500

Archer
The Liberals have 168, Cons 144, Bloc 23, NDP 7, and Greens 1.

Which party did you vote for?

Archer · 2025-04-29T12:56:20-0500

blufinz52
Which party did you vote for?

I vote for candidates, not parties.

I certainly didn't vote for the candidate who espoused homophobic, Islamophobic, and misogynist views, and who doesn't even live in the riding he is trying to represent (he said he would only move here if he won). I didn't vote for this candidate who was undemocratically parachuted into this riding by the party leader (who he just happened to author a flattering book about), very much against the wishes of the local riding association. I didn't vote for this candidate who failed to attend all four of the all candidates meetings/debates. I'll let you guess the party he represents.

Of course despite all this, that candidate won...with 50% of the vote.

Paedipod · 2025-04-29T13:54:06-0500

Dsloan
Whoa, I didn't realize the Burgess Shale was so close! I'd love to check that out, but I can just hear my kid now, "but there's no therapods! I want late Cretaceous megafauna, not Anomalocaris fossils!"

Burgess Shale is not just a show up and walk in.....have to book in advance as it is a protected area and only limited number of visitors per day. Here's a pic of Emerald Lake last week, just up the road.

Dsloan · 2025-04-29T13:56:47-0500

Paedipod
Burgess Shale is not just a show up and walk in.....have to book in advance as it is a protected area and only limited number of visitors per day. Here's a pic of Emerald Lake last week, just up the road.

Yes, thanks for making sure I saw that. It also appears that it is not an easy hike. Definitely something to consider on a future trip with my kid when he's older, if he's still interested in this sort of thing. I may have to settle for a local hike and bringing a copy of the Stephen Jay Gould book with me.

The surrounding landscape looks amazing!

Canuck · 2025-04-29T14:06:50-0500

Dsloan
Yes, thanks for making sure I saw that. It also appears that it is not an easy hike. Definitely something to consider on a future trip with my kid when he's older, if he's still interested in this sort of thing. I may have to settle for a local hike and bringing a copy of the Stephen Jay Gould book with me.

The surrounding landscape looks amazing!

You haven’t seen Emerald Lake until you see it during the summer!

Evitzee · 2025-04-29T14:11:16-0500

Paedipod
Burgess Shale is not just a show up and walk in.....have to book in advance as it is a protected area and only limited number of visitors per day. Here's a pic of Emerald Lake last week, just up the road.

Still frozen over in mid-April. Wife and I used to walk around Emerald lake when we visited the Banff and Whitefish, MT areas in the summer (usually August). Sunny on the west side where avalanches occur, then in deep shade on the other side. Not too long of a walk, about 60-90 minutes, used to stop to eat lunch half way around. Well worth the effort.

Evitzee · 2025-04-29T14:12:02-0500

Canuck
You haven’t seen Emerald Lake until you see it during the summer!

That's Moraine Lake, no? That view is known as the "20 Dollar View" as it was used on the back of the $20 bill.