Minorities work fine, under better leadership

[Harry]

Many nations have minority governments and they appear to work just fine. What is the problem with our minority governments in Canada? More and more Canadians are coming to the conclusion the problem is Stephen Harper who does not respect the other parties in Parliament. Harper needs to go.

Minorities work fine, under better leadership

No, the problem is the leader.

Stephen Harper gambled everything on winning a majority. Now, after swearing that anything less would cause earth to shudder and sky to weep, it would be personally calamitous if a Conservative minority government functioned smoothly. Harper said there would be instability, damn it. And he will make sure of it.

It may not come to that, fortunately.

Its likely the Liberals will be under new management soon, which should help blow away some of the animosity hanging in the air over Parliament Hill. But what would make all the difference is a new Conservative leader, which is possible. Having tried and failed four times to win a majority including twice against the weakest Liberal leaders in modern history Stephen Harper may decide it is time for a career change. Or Conservatives may decide it for him.

And new leaders may get a chance to show they have a better appreciation of this countrys proudest political tradition.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/decision-canada/Minorities+work+fine+under+better+leadership/4678313/story.html

Edited April 27, 2011 by Harry

[Scotty]

Many nations have minority governments and they appear to work just fine. What is the problem with our minority governments in Canada? More and more Canadians are coming to the conclusion the problem is Stephen Harper who does not respect the other parties in Parliament. Harper needs to go.

This message brought to you by the Jack Layton for President commitee.

[Topaz]

Of course,it is. Ever since he's come to the PMO, Harper done everything to upset Parliament. I've watched QP, Harper was the first to throw personal attacks to ALL the parties and he encourages his members to do the same for a laugh. The two worse ones are Baird and Pierre P? It seems Harper wants to argue over every little thing and he's in denial over wrong doings and tosses the idea aside. I wonder what would happen if Harper got only a minority again but the NDP and Libs were tied for seats. Harper has already said he bring back the SAME budget, knowing that the other parties don't agree with it. This just shows that he doesn't want to work with other parties, and will only do so, if he REALLY needs something past, like he has with the Bloc. Harper acts like a dictator.

[Scotty]

Of course,it is. Ever since he's come to the PMO, Harper done everything to upset Parliament. I've watched QP, Harper was the first to throw personal attacks to ALL the parties and he encourages his members to do the same for a laugh.

I've been watching parliament since Diefenbaker was in there, and it's been the Liberals who have driven the antipathy and rudeness of parliament for the last thirty years. It's been them who have continually lowered the tone and atmosphere. Mulroney was no great shakes, mind, but he was better than Trudeau, and far better than Chretien or Martin in terms of respect for the opposition.

As for Harper, he's no better than Chretien/Martin, but then, the Liberals, and now also the NDP start every question with a sneering accusation, so it's unsurprising the Tories are no more polite in response.

Edited April 27, 2011 by Scotty

[PIK]

Harper has been under constant attack since he landed on the scene, right form the beginning with reform and the other, we have been told how evil harper is. So don't give us this crap that it is all harper's fault. Look at how things were under chretien when he had no opp to worry about, now that is arrogance at it's finest, what respect did chretien have for anything. I don't rememebr harper ever grabbing someone by the throat or giving the finger to someone or acting like a fool in the queens company.

[ToadBrother]

Harper has been under constant attack since he landed on the scene, right form the beginning with reform and the other, we have been told how evil harper is. So don't give us this crap that it is all harper's fault.

Harper hardly helped himself early on. It's not all Harper's fault, but some of it is.

Look at how things were under chretien when he had no opp to worry about, now that is arrogance at it's finest, what respect did chretien have for anything.

In management style, I honestly cannot tell the difference between Harper and Chretien. The chief difference is that Chretien had a majority.

I don't rememebr harper ever grabbing someone by the throat or giving the finger to someone or acting like a fool in the queens company.

I don't recall Chretien acting like a fool around the Queen (by all accounts, Chretien stands among the Queen's most favored Prime Ministers). I think you must be thinking of Trudeau here.

[Posc Student]

While I'm no fan of Harper he ran the two longest miniority governments in Canadian histroy.

[g_bambino]

I think you must be thinking of Trudeau here.

And don't forget, Trudeau was eventually appointed by the Queen as a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (second in rarity only to the Order of Merit), despite the pirouette. Or, maybe because of it!

[sp]

Edited April 27, 2011 by g_bambino

[Tilter]

The Fable of the Porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions. After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

The moral of the story is: Just learn to live with the Pricks in your life!

[Keepitsimple]

This message brought to you by the Jack Layton for President commitee.

No kidding.....the author of the article says that Harper tried for a majority 4 times. He includes the first time when he was defeated by Paul Martin in 2004. He counted the second time when he finally won his first minority government in 2006. He did try for a majority in 2008 and almost made it and now, he's taking a second try at it. I guess this clown of an author figures that a party should ALWAYS win and always win a majority. This is Harper's second crack at a majority.

[Shwa]

With the thread title, I was hoping for another thread on ethnic employment issues, finally believing the problems had been solved. Bitterly disappointed...

[Bonam]

I don't think that Harper is the problem with the minority government, or even that there is a problem. This has been one of the longest lasting and most stable minority administrations in Canadian history. Canada is doing better economically than most other industrialized countries. What's the problem?

[Handsome Rob]

I was expecting MikeDavid00 to show up and explain how minorities don't work and are lazy.....

Wonder if he's clicked yet?

[ToadBrother]

I don't think that Harper is the problem with the minority government, or even that there is a problem. This has been one of the longest lasting and most stable minority administrations in Canadian history. Canada is doing better economically than most other industrialized countries. What's the problem?

My sentiments exactly. Why would we want to screw with the formula and give Harper a majority?

[Bonam]

My sentiments exactly. Why would we want to screw with the formula and give Harper a majority?

I wouldn't be against another con minority either. I'm also pretty sure that that will be the result despite all the excitement about the NDP.

[ToadBrother]

I wouldn't be against another con minority either. I'm also pretty sure that that will be the result despite all the excitement about the NDP.

I'm sure it will be, but it will mean Harper is going to have make concessions, either to the NDP or to the Liberals. If the NDP overtake the Liberals in seats, there's a whole new dynamic.

[Bryan]

Minorities do work better with better leadership, that's why Harper has lead the longest running minority in history.

[ToadBrother]

Minorities do work better with better leadership, that's why Harper has lead the longest running minority in history.

Whatever Harper's strengths, in no small part the longevity is due to the weakness of the Liberals. Let's give Iggy's uninspired leadership its due credit.

[cybercoma]

Minorities do work better with better leadership, that's why Harper has lead the longest running minority in history.

It's also why we've had 4 elections in 7 years. He's not very good at this stability thing he claims he's all about.

[ToadBrother]

It's also why we've had 4 elections in 7 years. He's not very good at this stability thing he claims he's all about.

And the whole "stability" argument would apply to anyone achieving a majority. That particular claim stinks of desperation. Layton has rolled over top of the Liberals, and now the Tories are clearly getting worried that there isn't a ceiling on the NDP rise.

One thing's clear, the only hope the Tories have of a majority at this point has nothing to do with popular support, and everything to do with a mathematical fluke that allows them to dance up the middle.

[cybercoma]

That's the hilarious thing about their entire campaign. "We need a majority for stability."

No you don't. You need a majority for a tyranny. Canadians want you to find stability by learning how to work well with others. Yeah, we're frustrated with elections because it pisses people off that you can't compromise with others.

[Rick]

Of course,it is. Ever since he's come to the PMO, Harper done everything to upset Parliament. I've watched QP, Harper was the first to throw personal attacks to ALL the parties and he encourages his members to do the same for a laugh. The two worse ones are Baird and Pierre P? It seems Harper wants to argue over every little thing and he's in denial over wrong doings and tosses the idea aside. I wonder what would happen if Harper got only a minority again but the NDP and Libs were tied for seats. Harper has already said he bring back the SAME budget, knowing that the other parties don't agree with it. This just shows that he doesn't want to work with other parties, and will only do so, if he REALLY needs something past, like he has with the Bloc. Harper acts like a dictator.

Precisely Topaz and all the more reason why you're seeing the increased voter turnout and people turning to Jack Layton, someone they can believe in and trust to make parliament work.

Canadians know Harper is the problem and things will not change until Harper is gone.

[RNG]

Precisely Topaz and all the more reason why you're seeing the increased voter turnout and people turning to Jack Layton, someone they can believe in and trust to make parliament work.

Canadians know Harper is the problem and things will not change until Harper is gone.

What increased voter turnout? Haven't seen it yet.

[Rick]

What increased voter turnout? Haven't seen it yet.

You obviously haven't been paying attention to all of the reports from dramatically increased turnouts at the advanced polls..

Educate yourself

[Smallc]

You obviously haven't been paying attention to all of the reports from dramatically increased turnouts at the advanced polls..

Educate yourself

There was also a poll saying that 63% of Canadians say they are sure to vote, and that's an increase of about 5% right there.