What? There are upsides? Uh-huh. If you’re Canadian and are not happy with the results, consider these the Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Join Me in the States. ;)

• Oddly enough, it’s better to be living in a country run by a guy who looks like a creepy marionette than to live in one run by an aspiring cowboy. *nod*
• The NDP won 29 seats this election. Compared to the last election, that’s a gain of 11 seats. For the party I would be supporting if I were a Canadian, that’s a very good thing, especially since things were uber-sucky for them in the late 1990s and the early part of this decade. They still have a ways to go before they’ll get back to the numbers the party had in their heyday in the late 1980s (the most seats the NDP has had was 43, back in 1988); but since Jack Layton came on the scene, things have been looking up for them. Heck, those who didn’t vote NDP are impressed by the gains!
• The Bloc Quebecois lost three seats. I know what you’re saying. “It’s only three seats, Shell!” Hey, it’s three less fellas and/or gals sitting in the Canadian Parliament who want to screw up Canada by letting Quebec become its own country.
• The Conservatives gained only 25 seats to get into power; and they have only 21 more seats than the Liberals. When the Liberals got their minority government two years ago, there was a difference of 36 seats between the two parties. Translation? This election was quite a bit closer between the two parties than the last one.
• Paul Martin is out as Liberal leader (though he’ll still have his seat, as he won his riding–Lasalle-Emard, Quebec). Again, why does this rock, you may ask? Well, in my view, while he did some good as Liberal leader, I think he took the Liberals too close to the centre. Not to mention the sponsorship scandal didn’t do him any favours, either, even though he was cleared of any wrong-doing (all the blame went to his predecessor, Jean Chrétien). This also means a Liberal Convention sometime in the future, probably later this year.
• Can you imagine the future Air Farce sketches with Craig Lauzon as Harper? Also, of course, the gang from 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer (blog link in the sidebar), and virtually every Canadian comedian will have new punchline fodder; I’m sure. Canadian politics will be so much fun!
• We’ll also get to see if Mercer’s fantasy Conservative cabinet comes to pass.
• Belinda Stronach won her riding and will be back on the Hill. Way to flip the bird to your former party, girl!
• Here’s one for fans of the series North of 60: Actress Tina Keeper (Michelle Kenidi) won her riding in Northern Manitoba. A chick who played a kickass Mountie on TV is now an MP… yeah, that’s pretty cool. (Besides, Michelle was my favourite character on that show!)
• Last, but never least…it’s a freakin’ minority government! You already know what that means: It won’t last for long. Somewhere down the line–about eighteen months to two years from now–there’ll probably be a confidence vote, possibly followed by yet another election. If it turns out Stephen Harper is some weird reincarnation of Brian Mulroney, or–worse yet–one of Mike “The Knife” Harris? There will be some hell to pay; I’m sure.

I think those are ten pretty good reasons to stay in Canada if you’re disgruntled over the election results. But then, if whoever you voted for in your riding got in, then you have eleven reasons to be happy. *nod*

Bed time for me.