Harper succeeds: parliament suspended
p2pnet news view | Politics:- Prime minister Stephen Harper asked Canadian governor general Michaelle Jean to shut down parliament until January, “so he can try to escape next Monday’s no-confidence vote which would bring him down,” p2pnet posted a little while ago.
With Harper as her principal advisor, Jean went for it, suspending parliament until the end of January.
“Harper was seeking a suspension of Parliament in order to avoid a confidence motion scheduled for Monday that would have likely toppled his government,” says CTV, going on:
“The Liberals and NDP have agreed to form a coalition, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois, and have signaled their intention to bring down the government over the fiscal update that was introduced last week and would have come before Commons for a vote on Monday.
“They had hoped Jean would deny the prorogation request and let the confidence motion go ahead. If it did, and the government fell, Jean would have to decide whether to send Canadians to the polls for another election, or grant the coalition the chance to win the confidence of the House of Commons and possibly take over government.”
He may have succeeded in bamboozling Canadians this time around, but this isn’t the end of the game.
He’ll still face another confidence test when the House returns, “setting up the prospect of a fierce battle for public support over the coming weeks,” says the Canadian Press, continuing:
“Prorogation ends a parliamentary session and allows the government to start again at a later date with a fresh throne speech. It typically happens when a government has exhausted its legislative agenda, not before it’s even begun. But it also limits the government’s spending powers at a time of economic crisis.
“In an extraordinary televised address to Canadians Wednesday night, Harper argued against the legitimacy of a coalition government. But he admitted no errors in judgment and offered no new economic measures to placate the opposition.
“Harper, whose provocative, trip-wire laden economic statement last week precipitated the political meltdown, used his TV speech condemned the participation of the Bloc Quebecois in supporting the formal Liberal-NDP coalition.
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p2pnet - Close parliament, Harper asks governor general, December 4, 2008
CTV - GG approves PM’s request to suspend Parliament, December 4, 2008
Canadian Press - Governor General agrees to suspend Parliament, December 4, 2008
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December 4th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I find it humorous that the 1 time harper decides to go on television to “address the country” was when he needed to save his own skin. These are the same people who repeated over and over “the fundamentals of our economy are strong” how can you expect him to admit blame? The attack ads have already begun and the neo-con spinners are in full force on every blog. Its even more humorous to read justifications for harpers actions of delaying a confidence vote. My vote from the beginning was destined to be Anything But Conservative. The hypocrisy in the hole thing is that conservatives tried to paint the liberals/NDP as “in bed with separatists”, meanwhile they tried do the very same thing with the bloc to the liberals in 2004. Laughable and yet… frightening.
Dictator harper will not come out on top this time.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
At least nothing (as far as stupidity goes) is gonna get done with parliment not happening… I hope
December 4th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Heh, way to run away from the problem.
Also, I would like a month (or more) off from ‘work’ too please (particularily when things are going badly)
December 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Diktator Harper wants to stay in power for longer.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Clever move by Harper.
He now has 7 weeks to put together a comprehensive budget, do some PR work with the voters, and even try to find some kind of bridge that some opposition MPs can agree with the Conservatives on. He doesn’t even need very much support because the Conservatives are so close to a minority. Plus he is holding a Premier’s meeting for getting some input on the budget, addressing regional concerns and interests across Canada. In the meantime, the rest of the MPs will be at home over Christmas getting an earful from their constituents, which may cause some cracks in the coalition to appear.
And with all this time for strategizing and gathering diverse bits of input for the budget, if the budget is voted down by the opposition in January it will be evident that they haven’t “lost confidence” in Harper. Rather it will give the impression that they are just being stubborn and purposely blocking Parliament for their own grab at power. The Governor General might be inclined to just call an election if this is what she senses.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
^^ Yup.
Cheers!
December 4th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
@ Clever Move by Harper,
Yep, If Harper plays nice, then he would look like a hero and the opposition would look like the 3 stooges ’cause no one would remember the stunt he tried to pull with the financial statement (which is anything but)
The big question is, will he play nice.
But I was the opposition, I would be doing the same thing and make a lot of noise about it, so if the rit is dropped, I would have something to campaign on
December 4th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I don’t think Dion could convince voters that puppies are cute. He is the Achilles heel of the coalition, and probably why even some of the anti-Harper crowd is unhappy with it. I think the Liberals need a new leader soon and go into a full rebuild mode.
And like him or hate him… if Harper stays in power through this, and if he wins a majority in the next election (if he is still Conservative leader by then and if Conservatives gain more confidence from the voters), he will go down as one of the greatest political strategists in Canadian history. But if he’s ousted next year, he’ll just be another “coulda been” for the Conservatives.
December 4th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Simply put, ALL MPs need to take a pay cut ASAP. They are not performing 100% of their duties, they should not be getting 100% of their already impressive wage!
December 5th, 2008 at 12:38 am
first, you think harper would be ready to fire his advisors at this point, you also think that he would go on tv and say that maybe he was premature and wrong in his proposed economic plan, and that maybe he would ask the canadian people what they think OUR country should do
secondly if he wants people to trust him then maybe he should ditch the pc party and lose the mulrooney haircut
thirdly i hope the coalition goes into power soon, since tomorrow i am telling my manager i am issuing a motion of non confidence in his abilities so in the worst outcome possible, there will be an increase in social spending and in EI payments
December 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Although I did vote NDP and was saddened by the fact the Conservatives won I dont agree with what the oppostion parties are doing. It is in a sense a coup attempt. They are trying to over throw a voted in government. It would set in a precident that well if the oppostion doesnt like who won they will just team up and over throw the government. With a political system of 5 parties there isnt going to be a majority government anymore. Its no longer left or right.
The whole election thing was a joke. All the money they spent on that should have went else where. Not everyone is for bailing out the forest and auto industry. Seeing construction is down are they going to bail out all the out of work carpenters??? I didnt think so.
The three big auto companies that want bailout need to go work at Toyota and Honda and see how a real company survives.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Well it is nice to see the separatists supported coalition now falling apart. I was classified as a coalition supporter because my union is a supporter. I am anti-coalition.
Of course Dion with his well produced video is now the laughing stock that he was the night he lost the election with the lowest Liberal support in the country.
I don’t have an issue with coalition governments but if they do get the Governor General to accept them, then all three signatories need to be in cabinet based on their seats in the commons. This would give the Bloc more seats than the NDP. If the coalition cannot agree to this, then they don’t have enough members to govern Canada.
It is funny that the coalition who are in a tiff because Harper didn’t give them all the money they wanted were saying that they would bring out a budget about the same time Harper always said he would. Also they complain about Harper being a puppet of the USA but they want a bailout just the same as the USA which Harper won’t do. Who is now following USA policies?
Also from all the press I am reading, the coalition have the support of the Bloc because they are willing to give Quebec more money than Harper.
I wonder how many of the coalition supporters would scream if the USA government refuses to bailout the auto industry and we did only to see the money disappear into executives pockets.
This has nothing to do with the economic policy as the deal was starting to be formed before parliament even sat. It is about power and attacking the west.
If this was about the economy, why was there a statement about bring Kyoto back into play with Kyoto is a major hit on the economy?
I wonder how the election next spring is going to go for all the leftists coalition supporters.
Look at the facts. Canada is not in a recession. Our economy grew in the last quarter unlike many around the world that have shrunk.. Our banks are complaining about lower profits, unlike the USA and UK banks that are complaining about losses. The coalition kept saying we need to bailout the industries as they are doing in the USA. WE ARE NOT THE USA AND DO NOT NEED USA POLICIES!
Our biggest problem is the falling dollar as it causes inflation on imported items but this goes with the Liberal/NDP election pledges for a lower dollar so I guess they are happy.
It was also reported that many industries are feeling the effects of the USA aid packages and this is part of the reason we saw an economic growth.
No matter how you look at it. The majority of employees that are supporting the coalition work for businesses that depend on the USA for their income (auto industry and lumber) and no matter what the Canadian government does, it will never be enough.
In March when Flarhety reported that Ontario could become a have-not province, the NDP and Liberals both said that it was impossible. Well, Ontario is now a have not province. Then the Liberals and NDP said that the Conservatives wouldn’t give Ontario transfer payments. Well the Conservatives are giving Ontario Transfer payments.
When the Conservatives brought in policies to limit the amount of debt that you and I could get into, the NDP and Liberals said it was not a good policy. Now that is showing to be a benefit as individuals are not as indebted as our southern neighbours.
Also, during the election, the NDP and Liberals were against the corporate tax break for businesses that the Conservatives had proposed. Well the coalition said that this policy would stay.
Who would you rather have in charge to fix the economy, a politician bent on power, a politician bent on socialism or an economist?
This is not the time to be playing politics on the backs of people that are suffering as the separatist Bloc/NDP/Liberal coalition are doing. Their move is about power, not helping those that need it.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
One more comment.
I heard this yesterday. Would those that support coalitions taking over from the elected government that is in power be happy if the coalition was right leaning instead of left?
Pro gun ownership, business, capital punishment.
Something to think about.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:08 am
@robin
the seperatist notion has already been debunked. The conservatives tried to do the same thing to the liberals in 2004 to the martin govt. No I would not be happy if it was right wing coalition but thats democracy. 62% of those few who actually decided to vote in the sham election voted left. Deal with it.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Politics and more politics. This is nothing but a trap for you and everyone to get stuck in.
Government’s thinking is to give you something to play with while they rip off our money, property, happiness, blood, kids and anything they can get. They abuse, kill, jail, torture, mane, rape and anything else they can get away with. Worse than any Mafia on Earth.
More eloquently explained by “stefbot” on youtube. It’s the stuff they don’t teach you about at school on purpose, and which you MUST know to be free as a Canadian. Till now, 14 episodes but worth every minute of it.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22True+News%22+stefbot&search_type=&aq=f
Don’t be fooled, watch and learn how your government, any government, screws you and how to get out of it.
Enjoy
December 8th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
@Fellow who replied to Robin.
62% did not just “vote left”. They voted for specific parties. This kind of thinking only moves us closer to a more american, 2 party style government. Enough with the Red vs. Blue, Left vs. Right mentality. Learn to see grey areas.
December 8th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
“The conservatives tried to do the same thing to the liberals in 2004 to the martin govt” Well….kinda, there was allegedly some talk about it, but certainly nothing that was ever asserted publicly. And regardless, if there had open been talk of the PCs being involved in overthrowing a sitting Lib government, admit it, you would have screamed bloody murder. It may not be technically against the parlimentary rules, but damn, it’s in no way in the spirit of them.
“the seperatist notion has already been debunked.”
Well, someone forgot to tell Duceppe that. The NDP and Libs can’t get him to shut up long enough to get this absurd coalition installed. Duceppe already said the coalition was good for Quebec, and therefore a step towards sovreignty. Absolute nonsene, the three parties have nothing in common ideologically, and are simply making the play for power. Look, the Libs actually LOST seats, some in traditional liberal ridings this outing; the NDP fared no better, and the Bloc, due ONLY to the rediculously uneven distribution of seats, cleaned up. The majority of canadians clearly do NOT support the liberals, nor the NDP, and certainly not the f’ing BLOC. The only reason these clowns made this bizzare call for the GG to install them as the government is because they know that there’s no chance in hell of any of them pulling as much support as the PCs in a straight out election right now. If there’s really no confidence in the sitting government (wow, after, what, two months?) then as much as I loathe the idea, put it to another election and shut up when the results return a conservative majority this time.