Canada’s newest new government
p2pnet news view | P2P | Politics:- It was a national disgrace when Stephen Harper managed to scrape back into power after Canada’s recent snap election.
But the disgrace was the Canadian electorate’s. Harper got back in not because the nation approved of him, giving him a vote of confidence. It was because potential voters couldn’t be bothered to put their Xs where their mouths were.
Harper has time and again proven himself to be a wonderful friend — to Big Business. And Big Business not here in Canada, but outside of our borders.
During the run-up to the last election, the idea of a coalition government was mooted and IMHO, it was a pity that didn’t happen. But now it look as though he’ll be losing control after all and if he does, Michelle will be a happy lady.
The only regrettable aspect, again IMHO, is that the Green Party’s Elizabeth May won’t be a part of it. She appears to be someone with uncommon good sense.
Meanwhile, says the National Post »»»
Michael Ignatieff will become Prime Minister in a Liberalled coalition government if the opposition parties succeed in bringing down the Conservatives in a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons next week and if the Governor-General deems it to be a viable alternative, sources said late last night.
Mr. Ignatieff met with lame duck Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, and leadership candidates Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc in Toronto last night over dinner and structured a deal that would see Mr. Dion and Mr. Rae step aside, with the latter named to a senior post, likely Foreign Affairs Minister. When asked if a deal had been finalized, one of the men said not yet.
Earlier, Mr. Dion is understood to have struck a deal with NDP leader Jack Layton in which the New Democrats would get around a quarter of the seats around the Cabinet table, if the coalition bid to unseat the Conservatives is successful. The deal would have a guaranteed two and a half year lifespan.
Says the CBC »»»
Under the proposed deal, the NDP would hold 25 per cent of cabinet positions while the positions of finance minister, treasury board president and deputy prime minister would be held by Liberals.
The deal would reportedly last 30 months.
The Bloc Québécois would not officially be a part of the coalition, but the new government’s survival would depend on its support.
Says the Globe and Mail »»»
The Sunday rumours that the Prime Minister will now seek to prorogue Parliament and govern without it until the New Year is fascinating. And if that doesn’t work, maybe he can bring in the army.
What this whiff of tyranny he let loose in the Centre Block has done is infuriate the opposition parties to a point where they say they will topple the government no matter how far the Conservatives back down.
Harper says that if they do so, only another election can properly decide matters. But he is wrong. If he asked Governor-General Michaëlle Jean to allow a fresh election, she would surely refuse, given the state of the world economy and the mood of the Canadian people.
Says the Vancouver Sun »»»
In a mad scramble to keep power, Conservatives spent the weekend backtracking on features of their recent economic statement that infuriated the opposition. But all the backtracking is now raising questions about the government’s own political credibility.
In a stunning reversal, the Harperites have:
- Ditched an incendiary proposal to nix $30 million in public subsidies to political parties.
- Cancelled a plan to ban public service strikes.
- Announced they’ll move budget day up to Jan. 27, to allow for an earlier-than-scheduled release of an economic stimulus package.This all followed Stephen Harper’s Friday announcement that a confidence vote on the economic statement, originally scheduled for today, would be moved to next Monday.
None of the backtracking and manoeuvring, however, is dissuading the opposition from a plan struck late Thursday to form a Liberal-NDP coalition, with support from the Bloc Quebecois, to replace the government.
Says Michelle »»»
No worries Con supporters. ONCE the Lib/NDP are in power shouldn’t be more than six months/year we will be at the polls again
JN
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News 1130 - , November , 2008
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