Canada a Parliamentry democracy ?

[kiwi]

As a neutral conservative type I am astonished that your GG overrode the will of your Parliament.

She did not bother asking if the head of the Conservatives had the confidence of the house.

It reminds one of Charles 1st or Cromwell type behavior by Harper.

What on earth was your GG afraid of, that Harper would ask the Queen to fire her ?

[Smallc]

What on earth was your GG afraid of, that Harper would ask the Queen to fire her ?

If I had to guess, I would say she was afraid that the country would tear itself apart...or at least become very strained.

Edited December 5, 2008 by Smallc

[ToadBrother]

As a neutral conservative type I am astonished that your GG overrode the will of your Parliament.

She did not bother asking if the head of the Conservatives had the confidence of the house.

It reminds one of Charles 1st or Cromwell type behavior by Harper.

What on earth was your GG afraid of, that Harper would ask the Queen to fire her ?

The GG's role is a complex one. Long-standing tradition demands that, in a constitutional monarchy like we (and the UK, Australia, the Bahamas, etc) have, the regal or vice-regal head of state act upon the advice of His or Her Ministers. I doubt very much that the result would have been any different if it had played out in Britain or New Zealand or anywhere else in the Commonwealth where the Westminster system is in place. Defying a sitting PM would be an event that a Governor General would perform under only the most extreme circumstances, and as chaotic as this all was, it certainly didn't meet the litmus test of the kind of crisis needed.

Most of the constitutional experts seemed to be agreement over the last couple of days that it would be undue interference of the executive in Parliament to deny a sitting PM's request. That was the overriding principle, and while I think Harper is vile creature who created this crisis unnecessarily, he's still the Prime Minister.

[cybercoma]

Parliament was scheduled for recess in another week or so anyway. Allowing Harper to prorogue parliament early is not that big of a deal. Should the coalition be as stable as they claim, they can take down the government when they get back from break. I don't understand what the rush is.

[kiwi]

The GG's role is a complex one. Long-standing tradition demands that, in a constitutional monarchy like we (and the UK, Australia, the Bahamas, etc) have, the regal or vice-regal head of state act upon the advice of His or Her Ministers. I doubt very much that the result would have been any different if it had played out in Britain or New Zealand or anywhere else in the Commonwealth where the Westminster system is in place. Defying a sitting PM would be an event that a Governor General would perform under only the most extreme circumstances, and as chaotic as this all was, it certainly didn't meet the litmus test of the kind of crisis needed.

Most of the constitutional experts seemed to be agreement over the last couple of days that it would be undue interference of the executive in Parliament to deny a sitting PM's request. That was the overriding principle, and while I think Harper is vile creature who created this crisis unnecessarily, he's still the Prime Minister.

Nope not here in NZ, he/she acting as PM would be asked do you have the confidence of the house in asking for it to be shut down.

Parliament is supreme here and a PM believing he/she had special powers would get short shrift.

A PM can only be a PM if that person has the confidence of the house anything else is a dictatorship.

And the easy question is would Harper survive a confidence motion ?

[blueblood]

Nope not here in NZ, he/she acting as PM would be asked do you have the confidence of the house in asking for it to be shut down.

Parliament is supreme here and a PM believing he/she had special powers would get short shrift.

A PM can only be a PM if that person has the confidence of the house anything else is a dictatorship.

And the easy question is would Harper survive a confidence motion ?

Harper technically had confidence of the house when he shut her down.

harper also had immense pressure on the GG, I would not have been surprised if the Queen wouldn't have been involved had the GG not played nice.

Harper won't survive a confidence motion unless some Liberals ''catch a cold"

[craiger]

I'm pleased with today's news. I don't consider myself affiliated with any party, but I would say that Harper's approach to governing concerns me. there does seem to be a scheming style to Harper that really makes me question his sincerity over just about anything. I can't honestly say that much of the policy he has invoked while in office has particularly raised my ire, but the way in which he or his cabinet frames almost all issues as being partisan is terribly off-putting. Political junkie that I am neverminds the aggravation and carries on, but I guess the thing that has consistently struck me since the coalition agreement is the sentiment that many people are expressing that the public voted for the Conservatives to govern this country. No. People voted and the Conservatives have attained a "minority" government in each of the past two elections. This does not give them the right to not work with the other parties.

Look, it should be absolutely clear... If any party wins a minority government mandate, the public has spoken. They have clearly stated that not any of the parties have enough support to govern Canada. Until there is a majority, the citizens of Canada will only be satisfied with consistent mediation/negotiation over ALL issues. I don't see a problem with that.

Edited December 5, 2008 by craiger

[Alta4ever]

Harper technically had confidence of the house when he shut her down.

harper also had immense pressure on the GG, I would not have been surprised if the Queen wouldn't have been involved had the GG not played nice.

Harper won't survive a confidence motion unless some Liberals ''catch a cold"

You know all of this really reminds of the Coalition government of Asquith and the events surrounding it and Lloyd George.