gc1765 Posted October 1, 2006 Report Posted October 1, 2006 No party will fight the election on amending the constitution.The opposition would fight the election on the very real case that Jean's choice still signifies that the Liberals need to remain on the sidelines for their arrogant and terrible choice of GG. The Conservatives, Bloc and NDP all see the Liberals as their main opposition. That's how the issue will form. The Liberals could try and argue that a consitutional change is needed. The other parties will reply that it just takes a government that doesn't treat the choice of GG flippantly i.e. not the Liberals. How important do you think it is to the average Canadian who the governor general is? I'm guessing most people couldn't care less, they know it's primarily a ceremonial role that will have no influence on their lives. Even those who might care, I doubt it will be enough to influence their vote. Also, michaelle jean is popular in quebec, why would the bloc criticize someone who is so popular in their province? Quote Almost three thousand people died needlessly and tragically at the World Trade Center on September 11; ten thousand Africans die needlessly and tragically every single day-and have died every single day since September 11-of AIDS, TB, and malaria. We need to keep September 11 in perspective, especially because the ten thousand daily deaths are preventable. - Jeffrey Sachs (from his book "The End of Poverty")
Ricki Bobbi Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Posted October 1, 2006 How important do you think it is to the average Canadian who the governor general is? I'm guessing most people couldn't care less, they know it's primarily a ceremonial role that will have no influence on their lives. Even those who might care, I doubt it will be enough to influence their vote. Also, michaelle jean is popular in quebec, why would the bloc criticize someone who is so popular in their province? People would care if somebody selected for a primarily *ceremonial* role used their power to block an election. Canada still is a democracy... Remember that's the scenario we are discussing here. Quote Dion is a verbose, mild-mannered academic with a shaky grasp of English who seems unfit to chair a university department, much less lead a country. Randall Denley, Ottawa Citizen
gc1765 Posted October 1, 2006 Report Posted October 1, 2006 People would care if somebody selected for a primarily *ceremonial* role used their power to block an election. Canada still is a democracy...Remember that's the scenario we are discussing here. The governor general still has the power to invite a party to form a government without an election, especially if the previous government fell shortly after an election. That's not really undemocratic since the composition of parliament is not changing, and any legislation would still require the support from a majority of those MPs. By next spring, I would say it's not too early for another election, but if the government had fallen over it's budget I would say it is well within the power of the governor general to invite the opposition to form a government. I don't see how michaelle jean is unqualified to do that pretty simple task. Is there some other experience or qualifications that you would look for in a person to be able to decide when it is too soon for another election? Quote Almost three thousand people died needlessly and tragically at the World Trade Center on September 11; ten thousand Africans die needlessly and tragically every single day-and have died every single day since September 11-of AIDS, TB, and malaria. We need to keep September 11 in perspective, especially because the ten thousand daily deaths are preventable. - Jeffrey Sachs (from his book "The End of Poverty")
jbg Posted October 1, 2006 Report Posted October 1, 2006 By next spring, I would say it's not too early for another election, but if the government had fallen over it's budget I would say it is well within the power of the governor general to invite the opposition to form a government. I don't see how michaelle jean is unqualified to do that pretty simple task. Is there some other experience or qualifications that you would look for in a person to be able to decide when it is too soon for another election? I think that technically the GG has always asked HM's Loyal Opposition to form a government when a minority government fails. For obvious reasons, i.e. what happened in King/Byng it's an invitation best not taken. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Ricki Bobbi Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Posted October 1, 2006 By next spring, I would say it's not too early for another election, but if the government had fallen over it's budget I would say it is well within the power of the governor general to invite the opposition to form a government. I don't see how michaelle jean is unqualified to do that pretty simple task. Is there some other experience or qualifications that you would look for in a person to be able to decide when it is too soon for another election? I think that technically the GG has always asked HM's Loyal Opposition to form a government when a minority government fails. For obvious reasons, i.e. what happened in King/Byng it's an invitation best not taken. Jean would be unqualified to assume because she technically has the power to do so she morally does as well. Who is to judge that an election next srping would be too early? Diefenbaker's 62-63 lasted less time? Clark's 79-80 lasted less time? So she wouldn't have precedent on her side. Is she qualified to judge that *this time* would be too short for another election? And to ask the party that placed her in the position to form another government? Quote Dion is a verbose, mild-mannered academic with a shaky grasp of English who seems unfit to chair a university department, much less lead a country. Randall Denley, Ottawa Citizen
jbg Posted October 1, 2006 Report Posted October 1, 2006 Jean would be unqualified to assume because she technically has the power to do so she morally does as well.Who is to judge that an election next srping would be too early? Diefenbaker's 62-63 lasted less time? Clark's 79-80 lasted less time? So she wouldn't have precedent on her side. Is she qualified to judge that *this time* would be too short for another election? And to ask the party that placed her in the position to form another government? That wasn't what I asked. What I asked was whether a PM in a minority goverment has the power to direct the GG to drop an election writ, or if the GG has to turn to the opposition first. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
watching&waiting Posted October 1, 2006 Report Posted October 1, 2006 Actually the GG has the power to allow the opposition to form a try at governing, if she feels that it would have a chance of successfully doing so. To be exact, I believe that is the way it is supposed to be done. If there is no chance for someone to form a successful government, then and only then is she to drop the writ. There have been instances of this but I must admit to it not being within my time. Quote
jbg Posted October 1, 2006 Report Posted October 1, 2006 Actually the GG has the power to allow the opposition to form a try at governing, if she feels that it would have a chance of successfully doing so. To be exact, I believe that is the way it is supposed to be done. If there is no chance for someone to form a successful government, then and only then is she to drop the writ. There have been instances of this but I must admit to it not being within my time. King/Byng, in the 1920's? Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
Ricki Bobbi Posted October 1, 2006 Author Report Posted October 1, 2006 That wasn't what I asked. What I asked was whether a PM in a minority goverment has the power to direct the GG to drop an election writ, or if the GG has to turn to the opposition first. I was replying to another poster. To answer your question the PM technically has no power over the GG. The GG can choose to do whatever she sees fit. The PM technically *asks* the GG to call an election whenever he chooses to do so. Quote Dion is a verbose, mild-mannered academic with a shaky grasp of English who seems unfit to chair a university department, much less lead a country. Randall Denley, Ottawa Citizen
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