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Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com. This summer I am joined by Keir Wilmut and Omar Soliman.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
About that urban/rural divide
I've gotten a bit of flack for my oped yesterday, where I noted that the Tories have to do a lot more to win over urban voters. One old and trusted friend from Calgary chided me, accusing me of "Torontothink." This person pointed out that 400,000 people in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver voted Conservatives and that the Tories took 6 GTA ridings. Also, the Tories swept the urban cities of Calgary and Edmonton. (This is true.)
My response? Sorry, it's not good enough. For the Tories to win a majority next time they have to do better. They need 40 more seats.Many will have to come from Ontario. As was summed up by Paul Tuns:
The Tories were shut out of Halifax, Montreal, London, Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Hamilton, Windsor, Vancouver, Victoria, and large parts of Winnipeg and Regina, not to mention smaller cities such as Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, Brantford, Guelph and Kingston. There are a few exceptions (Oshawa and parts of Ottawa and Winnipeg) but not many.
So I stick by my guns. We've heard enough armchair diagnoses. The Conservative Party must find out the real reasons for this problem through actual research and study (yes, talking to them!) and then take steps to fix this.
UPDATE: Andrew Coyne weighs in on the issue.
UPDATE II: My friend James Moore, MP has come out decidedly against me here. OK, fine. I admit it: the Tories had success in some cities! How specific with language do we have to get here? The problem is with New Canadians in the largest cities, and suburbun Ontario constituences.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:38 PM
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