Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick
You're ignoring every point shreddog just made.
Most galling for me is equating the CPC as "western-style" conservatism. Where are John Baird and Pierre Poilievre from? Ontario. Where was Harper born and raised? Ontario. Harper would be nowhere without the massive support he received in Ontario- the Ottawa area is as blue as Alberta and 905 is home of strident social and fiscal cons like Julian Fantino, and let's not forget about the stench that Bev Oda created.
Our PROGRESSIVE Conservative provincial government is as small-l liberal as any in the country. Premier Redford had a car in last year's Gay Pride parade in Calgary, this year's in Edmonton and will be in Calgary's again when it takes place over Labour Day weekend. Her government reinstated funding for sex reassignment surgery almost immediately after she took office. I'll let it go at that. If anything, western "conservatism," at least what it's come to represent at the provincial level in Alberta, is so far from Harper's Ontario version that I actually voted PC in our recent provincial election.
Now let's hear your take on healthcare privatization in Quebec.
I'm surprised there's such a backlash about what I said.
Of course, there are lots of examples to the contrary, but surely this is not your first time hearing that many Atlantic Canadians associate the west with social conservatism? I mean, there are still dry communities on the prairies? There are colonies where people dress and live as though the 1800s. It's the birthplace of Reform, Alliance, all those radically right-wing movements.
What I said is no less common than saying, "Well, America tends to be quite Democrat along both coasts and Republican in the middle."
Sure, there's lots of exceptions... and some of the most reviled Republican leaders, like George W. Bush, are actually from blue states - but that doesn't change the general truth of the statement.
For the most part, the prairies are more conservative - and in dramatically different ways - than Atlantic Canada.