This story is interesting because it shows in measurable terms a differentiation between Conservative and other ridings.
In fairness, there may be a selection effect -- Conservative ridings tend to be more rural and perhaps the urban ridings have facilities already so a politically neutral placement of funding could lead to an apparent Conservative bias. Or, if the reason ridings went Conservative is because they are under serviced (a protest vote), then a politically neutral funding mechanism would give those under serviced ridings more money. It could be that being Conservative is merely co incident with factors that are appropriate for extra funding so that being Conservative doesn't cause the funding -- all men who drive blue cars eventually die but that doesn't mean driving blue cars is deadly.
That said, the attempts by the Federal government to avoid the analysis suggests they don't believe the selection bias argument will wash. Still, it ought to be considered:
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/recreational-stimulus-favours-tory-ridings/article1332609/?service=mobile
Recreational stimulus favours Tory ridings
Hockey rinks and other facilities in Conservative seats got 33 per cent more funding than others in Ontario, Globe analysis shows

Minor-league hockey players take the ice at a Toronto arena in November of 2008.
A high-profile Harper government stimulus program created to build hockey rinks and other recreation projects has funnelled about 33 per cent per cent more money to Conservative seats than to opposition ridings in the battleground province of Ontario.
An analysis by The Globe and Mail shows Tory ridings received an average of $2.1-million, compared to $1.5-million on average for opposition ridings.
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
416 225 2777
3 comments:
What happened to Liblogs
Liberals do it - Its ok they are working for their constituents - See HRC Boondogle. Shawnigate,...
Tories do it - its bad!
Do you guys not realize the hypocrisy? canadians se through your bullshit - see the polls for confirmation.
Whats this I hear that Bob ray is using his TAXPAYER FUNDED WEBSITE for partisan purposes? Is that ok with you?
Thanks for the rational approach. Infrastructure like roads, bridges, and such tend to be built in areas that don't already have roads and bridges. How much infrastructure can you really stuff into downtown Toronto? A look at an electoral map shows huge swathes of Canada coloured Conservative blue and much smaller and much more urban areas Liberal red. Is it unreasonable that infrastructure by area would result in more money going to CPC held ridings?
And all that said, if it really is just Conservatives acting like Liberals did and justifying it by that then I am disgusted by it. Corruption and graft is what drove so many Westerners to the Reform party. I'm not married to the CPC and they had better keep that in mind.
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