I just want to clear up a few things and then I will add my own opinion.
Here is the most recent article from the CBC on this topic
Liberals, NDP, Bloc sign deal on proposed coalition
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
I have been avidly reading the machinations of the Canadian Parliament over the weekend.
Last week Harper's Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty put forward an interim budget meant to provide stimulus to the economy. Instead, he presented what was a very partisan budget. The opposition parties didn't like what they saw and threatened to vote no confidence and bring down the government that was brought into power only a few week's ago.
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The next thing that happened is that the Conservatives backed down on the two major items that the other parties said they had issues with
- The took out the dropping of the $1.95 subsidy per vote each party gets
- The also removed the notion of dissalowing strikes by federal employees for the next x amount of time (I think it was two years)
The conservatives then also decided to deliver their yearly budget a month early - end of January rather than February.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
So does this mean we are heading for another election? You would think so, but no so fast. The Liberals and the NDP (with the support of the Bloc) have suggested that they will approach the Governor General with the idea that they will form a coalition government.
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We also found out the this plan was in the works before the issue of this budget (or finance update) came about.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
I have just been watching as the news articles have been flowing in... It looks like this is going to happen.
The plan sees the Liberals with 75% of the cabinet positions and the NDP 25%. It also appears that Dion, the current leader of the Liberals, will *not* be the PM. Instead, Michael Ignatief will be voted into leadership by the Liberal caucus. In a last minute deal that would have seen Ignatief scuttle the coalition (he did not like the idea of Dion being PM and has a large amount of support in the caucus), the other leadership candidates agreed to step aside in favour of Ignatief.
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Actually they all agreed that Dion would lead the coalition according to the latest reports.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
The open vote that would have allowed the non-confidence motion was to have happened on Monday but Harper postponed the vote until next week buying himself some time.
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For now it still seems to be set for Dec. 8 (Monday) acording to the article linked above.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
If the opposition decides to go through with this, the only thing that should be able to stop them is if Harper suspends the Parliament (he has the power to do this).
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I believe that he can only do this with the approval of the Governor General. The other parties also need the approval of the Governor General in order to for a coalition rather than Canadians heading back to the polls.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
What are you thoughts on this? Is this a "coup d'etat" as Harper colours it? Does the fact that the Conservatives only have 37% of the popular vote colour your view of things? Could you support this coalition?
I am not entirely sure how I feel about it except that it sure makes for exciting times. On one hand, I don't like the Harper. On the other, this sets an interesting precedent. One that might not be so palatable with different parties forming the coalition. Regardless, it looks like it will continue to be an interesting year for politics in Canada (even if nobody outside Canada knows about it).
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Well, who said that Canadian politics were not exciting?
My first thoughts are - the rules are there and this fits within them.
What I don't like is the Governor General deciding what is best for the country. The argument by coalition will be that they represent the majority of Canadians and the argument by the Conservatives will be that in the coming tumultuos times it is not a good idea to have a the country led by a coalition. I just don't like the idea of this being up to an unelected official representing another government.
As to the idea that the Conservatives only got 37% of the vote - definately true but at the same time not a sinlg Canadian (0%) voted for the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition.
Had the Liberals and NDP run tegether I am sure that they would have garnered alot of votes and maybe even more than the 37% the Conservatives got. But they did not.
I am not as confident that had the 3 parties run together they would have received that many votes.
Forgetting about the expense of an election for a minute, I wonder if did go to an election would the public be unhappy with the Conservative budget (financial update) and vote them out or would the results remain about the same as they were about a month ago.
I think this is not about what the Canadian people want and need, this is about power and what the parties think they can get away with. This time around it just happens to be the Liberals and the NDP. They think that they can get away with it.
What they are risking, however, is that the Governor General decides not to let them form a coalition and sends the country to an election. If that happens you will see some very unhappy Canadians and they will take it out on the Liberals and NDP.
Oh - One more issue that I have. Should the Governor General allow them to form a coalition government, how do we keep that government in check. They will have a majority of seats but what if they are not effective and can't get anything done becuase of fighting amongst themselves? I don't believe that there is any mechanism for forcing an election.
I just don't like it. I don't like these guys playing around pretending to represent us.
But I am also a guy who like rules. The rules are there and this is allowed. If the Canadian people are unhappy about this then in the end someone will pay.