The rural/urban divide is evident in Canada as well. It is an interesting phenomenon. Rural vote conservative and urban vote liberal/NDP.
Geography dictates culture and politics. A Canadian from Saskatchewan has more in common with an American from Nebraska than a fellow Canadian from Toronto or Vancouver.
Conservatives do like their handouts though. Conservative businessmen like to point to welfare cheats that are on social assistance as being the problem but they are the first with their hand out when there is a disaster that affects their business.