Posted on January 24, 2006 - Filed Under Punch Forum |


Rafael L. Oriel, Jr.
Winnipeg, MB
oriel@shaw.ca
24 Jan 2006

     In as much as there is a proposal in the Philippines to shift from presidential to parliamentary system of government, I like to give you an idea on how an election is being held in a parliamentary country like Canada. After 56 days of political campaigning since November last year, today, January 23, 2006, is federal Election Day here in Canada where Canadians are going to polls to elect the Members of the Parliament.
     We are having an election because the Canadian government formed by the Liberal Party and New Democratic Party coalition was defeated by the opposition in a no confidence vote due to an alleged corruption in sponsorship program.
     There are four major political parties vying to form the next government: Liberal Party lead by Paul Martin, Conservative Party lead by Stephen Harper, New Democratic Party lead by Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois with Gilles Duceppe as the leader. Survey done by pollsters show Conservatives leading at 39 percent versus 27 percent for the ruling Liberals. They are predicting that Stephen Harper of the Conservative Party could win a majority government ending 12 years of Liberal rule.
     It is 8:30 P.M., Monday January 23, 2006 here in Winnipeg, Manitoba and the polls in Manitoba had just closed. We are just waiting for the closing of the polls in the West coast, e.g. Vancouver and Yukon Territory and then counting of the election results will begin shortly.

Unofficial Partial Election Results as of 9:12 P.M., Winnipeg time
Conservative - 103
Liberals - 85
Bloc Québécois - 52
New Democratic Party - 21
Independent - 1
46 Ridings to go
Total Ridings - 308
155 Ridings to form majority government

Unofficial Partial Election Results as of 11:00 P.M., Winnipeg time
Conservative - 125
Liberals - 102
Bloc Québécois - 51
New Democratic Party - 29
Independent - 1
0 Riding to go

Total Ridings - 308
155 Ridings to form majority government

     At 11:00 P.M., Winnipeg time, Paul Martin, leader of the Liberal Party delivered speech at their party headquarters thanking Canadian and thousands of their election campaign volunteers. He told Canadians that he phoned Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party, to personally congratulate him for winning the election thus officially and honorably conceding defeat.
     At 11:39 P.M. Winnipeg time, Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party delivered his speech from their party headquarters before jubilant supporters thanking Canadians and the thousands of volunteers who help them in the election campaign. He also outline to the Canadians his future plans for the political party and promised to work cooperatively with the minority government of the new Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.
     At 12:05 A.M. Winnipeg time, speech of Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe was broadcast in French.
     At 12:17 A.M, Tuesday, January 24, 2006, the leader of Conservative Party and future 22nd Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper delivered his victory speech from their political party headquarter in Calgary, Alberta. He thanked Canadians and thousands of volunteers for a job well done. He told Canadians that they voted for change and he promised that his party, the Conservative Party, is committed to deliver that change under his leadership and as the new Prime Minister of Canada, the fifth youngest Prime Minister of Canada at the age 47 years old.
     This is how a strong, united, independent and free Canada holds election of the Members of the Parliament and indirectly electing or choosing their Prime Minister. Plain and simple, boring and dull compared to the elections in the Philippines but very peaceful, solid and honorable where results are known and accepted in a matter of hours.
     I wish and pray that elections in the Philippines will be similar or even better in the very near future.
     Godspeed to all of us.

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