Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - CANADA: Possible Non-Confidence Vote?

Charlatan · 12-04-2008, 05:45 PM

I think we already have the rules. It is the rules of Parliament that we are currently following.

Harper won a minority government. He could have maintained that government for a full term as long as he didn't lose the confidence of the house. I believe that he get's the first opportunity to form the government as the former PM. I seem to recall that there was some debate that when Martin lost his last election that if the Liberal seats plus the NDP seats were greater than the Conservative minority, they could form a coalition OR the Liberals could have formed a government with the support of the NDP (much like Trudeau did in the early 70s) or Mackenzie King did with the Progressive Party before the King-Byng affair (in that case the Conservatives had the numbers of a minority government but Mackenzie King was able to form a government as the incumbent).

As for bringing down a government via a vote of non-confidence and replacing it mid-Term with a coalition... I think the current rules are fine. First, it takes some doing for a opposition parties to agree to a coalition. Second, there is no more a chance of the opposition screwing things up than there is of the party getting tossed out. Ultimately, they will have to stand for re-election at some point and the public will turf them if they fail to govern to their satisfaction.

For example, if the current coalition were to have taken power, they would have likely faced a new election in at least 18 months (though I have a feeling it would have been sooner given the new Liberal leader would have wanted to get a mandate as soon as possible). If the coalition was truly deplorable they would have paid the price in full. If they were actually successful, all of the hatred of their "backroom coup d'etat" would have been forgotten.

Of course, the real solution here is for governments in a minority situation to work toward compromise and not act like they have a majority.

12-04-2008, 05:45 PM	#55 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I think we already have the rules. It is the rules of Parliament that we are currently following. Harper won a minority government. He could have maintained that government for a full term as long as he didn't lose the confidence of the house. I believe that he get's the first opportunity to form the government as the former PM. I seem to recall that there was some debate that when Martin lost his last election that if the Liberal seats plus the NDP seats were greater than the Conservative minority, they could form a coalition OR the Liberals could have formed a government with the support of the NDP (much like Trudeau did in the early 70s) or Mackenzie King did with the Progressive Party before the King-Byng affair (in that case the Conservatives had the numbers of a minority government but Mackenzie King was able to form a government as the incumbent). As for bringing down a government via a vote of non-confidence and replacing it mid-Term with a coalition... I think the current rules are fine. First, it takes some doing for a opposition parties to agree to a coalition. Second, there is no more a chance of the opposition screwing things up than there is of the party getting tossed out. Ultimately, they will have to stand for re-election at some point and the public will turf them if they fail to govern to their satisfaction. For example, if the current coalition were to have taken power, they would have likely faced a new election in at least 18 months (though I have a feeling it would have been sooner given the new Liberal leader would have wanted to get a mandate as soon as possible). If the coalition was truly deplorable they would have paid the price in full. If they were actually successful, all of the hatred of their "backroom coup d'etat" would have been forgotten. Of course, the real solution here is for governments in a minority situation to work toward compromise and not act like they have a majority. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke