If you can mark an X................

The clock is ticking and the embargo is about to begin, as most Canadians know the news gatherers and broadcasters cannot provide political coverage on an election day until the polls have closed across the nation. And while it seems ridiculous in this wired world of ours, the bloggers of the world (or nation at least) are expected to follow suit.

Now frankly I find it rather silly to think that Elections Canada will be monitoring each and every blog in the free world for election details, but hey who am I to argue against full employment. And if they're still looking for monitors, I'm more than available (at a handsome price I might add) to spend the election night surfing the net, I may not actually look for political sites but I'm available anyways.

However, I will abide by the convention that says it's now up to the voter to make his or her declaration in our adventure with democracy, the vote. Podunk will return to the political wars following the vote count, but for now the pencil is in the voters hands.

Regardless of your political affiliation take the time to vote, it may seem sometimes like a waste of time to some, but it is our right and should be used. There are many parts of the world that only wish they had the opportunity for a say, or even a chance to have a say. Right or Left, Right or wrong, one vote, one person can make a difference.

Thinking of spoiling your ballot? Well don't bother, technically it's illegal, but more importantly they don't record it, so you'll be making a statement that no one will actually ever hear of.

An interesting note on the voting day hours has popped up, it seems a bogus e mail has been making the rounds advising that we can vote over two days, both Monday and Tuesday, it's not true and there is only one day to vote, Monday, January 23rd. In BC the polls are open from 7am-7pm. Check here for the hours in the rest of the country.

Once the polls have closed you can check out some of these sites for details on how the vote has gone, what the issues are and where the future may lead

Globe and Mail election coverage web portal
CBC News Election website
CTV Election homepage
Canoe's Canada Votes
CPAC's election page
Politics' Watch
Toronto Star's Election Special
Global National's Decision Canada
Tyee's Election Central

And now for the favourite Canadian past time, the prediction page.

You can compare the podunk pundit picks with the UBC Stock Market the prognostications of nodice.ca or just wait until the votes are counted to either hail podunk or bury it....


Keeping in mind that John Diefenbaker once said that polls were for dogs, we'll compare our Nostradamus act with a trip to the political kitty litter box, after a bit of digging we present our gems for your consideration.

To Review last election the standings were:

LIBERAL 135
CONSERVATIVE 99
BLOC 54
NDP 19
IND 1


AS WE HEAD FOR THE POLLS THE VOTE WILL BE:
Needed for a majority 155

When the dust settles!

Conservatives 157
Liberals 67
Bloc 58
NDP 26

And since I'm feeling pretty brave my picks by the Province

Canada 308 seats in total

Newfoundland and Labrador (7 seats)

Conservatives 4 Liberals 3

Nova Scotia (11 seats)

Conservatives 5 Liberals 4 NDP 2

Prince Edward Island (4 seats)

Liberals 3 Conservatives 1

New Brunswick (10 seats)

Conservatives 5 Liberals 4 NDP 1

Quebec (75)

Bloc Quebecois 58 Conservatives 10 Liberals 7

Ontario (106 seats)

Conservatives 57 Liberals 37 NDP 12

Manitoba (14 seats)

Conservatives 8 NDP 4 Liberals 2

Saskatchewan (14 seats)

Conservatives 13 Liberals 1

Alberta (28 seats)

Conservatives 28

British Columbia (36 seats)

Conservatives 26 NDP 7 Liberals 3

Territories (3 seats)

Liberals 3

SKEENA BULKLEY VALLEY

Conservatives defeat the NDP in a very close race, the Liberal vote splits towards the Conservatives for the most part.

Make a difference, get out and vote!