Coalition Government

g_bambino · December 1, 2008

She probably has difficulty calling an election when the seperatists/socialist coalition is offering to govern without the consent of the people. Clearly it is the coalition that doesn't want to go to the people, COWARDS for sure. They are the ones who can chose to go to the people, not Harper.

Er, was that election we just had a rehersal or something? The Crown has already just gone to the people to see how they feel, and they felt like a minority parliament. Could everyone's minds have changed in the past month and a half?

madmax · December 1, 2008

Mark my words, this will spell the end of the Liberal Party of Canada.
They are finished and this act is the final nail.

Wasn't that the intent with the removal of election financing? To put the final nail in the coffin? The LPC have nothing to lose going for it. They could have found a much better choice then Dion, but its the LPC. You can't expect alot.

If it is the end, so be it. It could well be the end of Stephen Harper and his new strategic advisor from the Mike Harris era.

This can only be described as a battle between dumb and dumber fighting for their political lives.

ThatGuy · December 1, 2008

Wasn't that the intent with the removal of election financing? To put the final nail in the coffin? The LPC have nothing to lose going for it. They could have found a much better choice then Dion, but its the LPC. You can't expect alot.
If it is the end, so be it. It could well be the end of Stephen Harper and his new strategic advisor from the Mike Harris era.

This can only be described as a battle between dumb and dumber fighting for their political lives.

I support this post.

Jerry J. Fortin · December 1, 2008

I think folks should relax and see how this plays out. After all, its out of our hands at the moment. We had our one vote per government a few months back and now the system has its own rules and we are not allowed to play.

The left and right spin doctors are our with the knives these days. It isn't safe for the average guy to raise their head above the trench line. Politicians and their wanna be counter-parts are spraying crap in all directions.

TomS · December 1, 2008

Er, was that election we just had a rehersal or something? The Crown has already just gone to the people to see how they feel, and they felt like a minority parliament. Could everyone's minds have changed in the past month and a half?

I agree we just elected a Conservative minority government. But if the opposition has lost confidence than they should go to the people for power, not the GG. also I think things may have changed substantially, not so much in the last month and a half, but in the last hour and a half.

ThatGuy · December 1, 2008

I agree we just elected a Conservative minority government. But if the opposition has lost confidence than they should go to the people for power, not the GG. also I think things may have changed substantially, not so much in the last month and a half, but in the last hour and a half.

That is up to the Governor General though isn't it.

We will see how she responds. We live with the decision.

TomS · December 1, 2008

That is up to the Governor General though isn't it.
We will see how she responds. We live with the decision.

I find it "funny" that we have to live with the decision, but the seperatist/socialist coalition does't have to "live with OUR decision made just a couple of months ago.

madmax · December 1, 2008

I find it "funny" that we have to live with the decision, but the seperatist/socialist coalition does't have to "live with OUR decision made just a couple of months ago.

Harper is going to lose the confidence vote. Put a fork in him.

Casey set to cast non-confidence vote
Independent MP says Harper has failed Canadians

By TOM McCOAG Amherst Bureau

Mon. Dec 1 - 5:57 PM

Independent MP Bill Casey says he has lost confidence in Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his government.

As a result, the MP for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley will cast a non-confidence ballot when the vote on the Harper government’s recently released economic statement is called in the House of Commons.

The vote is expected to be called sometime around Dec. 8.

"At this time of economic crisis, Stephen Harper has failed Canadians as prime minister," Mr. Casey said Sunday.

Every vote counts.

jdobbin · December 1, 2008

Mark my words, this will spell the end of the Liberal Party of Canada.
They are finished and this act is the final nail.

Harper was going to call an election in the next months with the new financing in place. What was to lose going now, especially with Harper looking like he was trying to be a jerk at a time when the economy is in trouble.

g_bambino · December 1, 2008

I agree we just elected a Conservative minority government. But if the opposition has lost confidence than they should go to the people for power, not the GG. also I think things may have changed substantially, not so much in the last month and a half, but in the last hour and a half.

No, we didn't elect a minority Conservative government. We all cast our votes for our Member of Parliament; he/she then went to Ottawa and decided who to put their support behind in sending to Rideau Hall to be asked by the Govenror General to form Her Majesty's government. Hence, the people have already been to, only just a month and a half ago. We don't need to go to the polls again unless this coalition falls apart, and then there's no choice for the Governor General but to drop the writs again.

johhny · December 1, 2008

I find it "funny" that we have to live with the decision, but the seperatist/socialist coalition does't have to "live with OUR decision made just a couple of months ago.

Because you guys lost!

Wild Bill · December 1, 2008

No, we didn't elect a minority Conservative government. We all cast our votes for our Member of Parliament; he/she then went to Ottawa and decided who to put their support behind in sending to Rideau Hall to be asked by the Govenror General to form Her Majesty's government. Hence, the people have already been to, only just a month and a half ago. We don't need to go to the polls again unless this coalition falls apart, and then there's no choice for the Governor General but to drop the writs again.

Well, that's the lawyer's argument! Technically you may be right but do you really think that's what the majority of voters believe?

If you're right, then they'll all simply say "Golly! I never knew that! Who woulda thunk it? I guess I have to accept it as perfectly ok, then!"

That's a much bigger stretch. Tell us again at the next election.

capricorn · December 1, 2008

Because you guys lost!

The Conservatives lost because they won the most seats?

Argus · December 1, 2008

Harper's prince of darkness, anti-Christ ways are what lead to this. There is no great love for the man.

Chretien was, if anything, far more of a totalitarian, my-way-or-the-highway guy, who never forgot a slight, and never forgave one, and you never had a problem with him.

Incidentally, I'm looking forward to all your concern about heavy spending evaporating with a Liberal led government, and you instead turning your talents to explaining why it's necessary, and all the Tories fault.

Argus · December 1, 2008

You think the Tories will win a massive amount of seats in Quebec?

I'm guessing that after this, the Bloc will increase its popularity in Quebec, but the Liberals will plunge there, and everywhere else.

johhny · December 1, 2008

The Conservatives lost because they won the most seats?

Actually the coalition has the most seats. face it bud you lost! get over it

Argus · December 1, 2008

A) People will freak if there is an election.
The CPC would lose seats in Quebec.

Its what the CPC want, because it would likely stave off defeat. I don't know how many seats they held within the Striking range outside Quebec, but it wouldn't matter, the CPC are either going to lose government, or risk losing an election. They would choose the Latter over the former.

They were only 11 seats shy of a majority. Given an election, with the Liberals and NDP blamed for wanting to turn the country over to the separatists, and throwing everything into chaos in the midst of an economic crisis purely out of their lust for power - well, they might well pick up those 11 seats in Ontario alone. I doubt the folks out east are too happy at the thought of a BQ government either.

cybercoma · December 1, 2008

No, we didn't elect a minority Conservative government. We all cast our votes for our Member of Parliament; he/she then went to Ottawa and decided who to put their support behind in sending to Rideau Hall to be asked by the Govenror General to form Her Majesty's government. Hence, the people have already been to, only just a month and a half ago. We don't need to go to the polls again unless this coalition falls apart, and then there's no choice for the Governor General but to drop the writs again.

The coalition fails or people camp out on the front lawn of Parliament Hill to protest until she does. There is no doubt that Conservative supporters would be angry at this decisions; however, there is bound to be Liberal and NDP supporters that can't be happy seeing their respective party forming a government with the other. Should GG Jean make the coalition the governing power, I think it's fairly safe to say that there will be angry Canadians from all political persuasions. There will likely be ensuing protests because the average Candian isn't even aware of the possibility of parties forming coalitions. If the GG knows what's good for democracy in Canada, she will go to the polls. If she doesn't, HER job will be at risk when Canadians are calling for electoral reform because a Liberal appointed GG put the Liberals into power by some archaic loophole in our system.

capricorn · December 1, 2008

I'm guessing that after this, the Bloc will increase its popularity in Quebec, but the Liberals will plunge there, and everywhere else.

I agree. Having been invited into this coalition increases the Bloc's legitimacy in Quebec. Duceppe now has a reason to postpone his retirement from federal politics.

capricorn · December 1, 2008

Actually the coalition has the most seats. face it bud you lost! get over it

I'm stupider for having read that...and your previous posts. :blink:

g_bambino · December 1, 2008

Technically you may be right but do you really think that's what the majority of voters believe?

It isn't really my fault if there are people who don't have a clue how their constitutional system works. This is a representative democracy where we don't directly elect the government, those we elected to represent us do, in a sense, and the Crown follows their advice in order to keep the system running smoothly. Whomever they put their confidence behind is he whom the Canadian populace puts its confidence behind, and as long as there is such a person, there need not be an election until the four year limit to a parliament's life is hit.

People seem to be under this wierd impression that prime ministers are elected in the way US presidents are. I don't think there are any Westminster style parliamentary democracies that do so; even in republican versions the prime minister is whomever has the confidence of the legislative chamber.

[ed. to add]

Edited December 1, 2008 by g_bambino

Topaz · December 1, 2008

Conservative-supporter Old Duffy just can't believe what is happening and the interview with Baird was like two old guys crying to each other. The reason the Conservative are going down is they aren't doing nothing to help our economy and I say they are NOT responsible when it comes to handling our taxes dollars. The gov't is probably more in debt than any one knows and I'm sure they will try very hard to stop the oppositions from forming a government. Twisted Sister's "We're not going to take anymore" comes to mind when the opposition heard what the government had in mind for the economy.

capricorn · December 1, 2008

If the GG knows what's good for democracy in Canada, she will go to the polls. If she doesn't, HER job will be at risk when Canadians are calling for electoral reform because a Liberal appointed GG put the Liberals into power by some archaic loophole in our system.

Here's what I'm not clear about. If the GG rejects the coalition, can she drop the writ unilaterally or must she wait until Harper informs her he has lost the confidence of the House before she does so.

cybercoma · December 1, 2008

Here's what I'm not clear about. If the GG rejects the coalition, can she drop the writ unilaterally or must she wait until Harper informs her he has lost the confidence of the House before she does so.

I'm not positive on the details, but I believe Harper has to lose the confidence first, Harper informs her he lost the confidence, then the coalition asks to form the government.

g_bambino · December 1, 2008

Here's what I'm not clear about. If the GG rejects the coalition, can she drop the writ unilaterally or must she wait until Harper informs her he has lost the confidence of the House before she does so.

She shouldn't do anything until the House has voted on the confidence motion. Harper should then inform the GG that he has lost the confidence of the House, but if he does not and tries to stay on as PM she can dismiss him anyway.