Can someone combine the two threads
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=125824
Forget for a minute what party is what and on which side you may lie and look at it this way.
There are 4 major parties.
Only 2 have a chance of forming a government Minority or Majority (although I guess if things get really crazy it is possible for the Bloc to form a minority govt as well).
The party in power has a minority govt.
2 of the other parties said they will vot against the goverment.
The 3rd does not enjoy large enough support from the Canadian public to form a minority govt (or majority for that matter) and would look pretty bad forcing an election unless the issue was a very serious one.
This party has been painted into a corner so that it will definately look like it was them that forced the election.
The ruling party smartly put one of the major issues our their reach by appointing a former Deputy Prime Minister from their party to lead investigation into the issue.
Looks to me like the Liberals don't have much choice but to go along with the Conservatives until their fortunes start looking up.
Harper has room to push the envelope if he likes. As long as he does not push too far the Liberals won't take down the government.
My predictions:
It will be a bold speech but it won't stray too far from center.
Everyone except conservatives will say it involves too much spending, that tax cuts are too high, and that it is not doing enough for Canadian society and the environment. They will say that even if the speech could have been the same one given by a Liberal govt (we are so partisan).
The NDP and Bloc will vote against the govt at their first opportunity.
The Liberals will also vote aginst the government but they will not show up in enough numbers to take it down.
Just my predictions.
Anybody know what time it will be tonight?