OT: Interesting times

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Well, it probably isn't of much interest to anyone but Canadians. Personally, I think Harper is a bully, and is just getting his just desserts. It wasn't an economic statement, it was a mean spirited, spiteful and divisive document. Also, he didn't need to have called the election back in September which wasted $37M only to come back with another minority. I hope the coalition works.

We'll see if the GG lets him prorogued Parliament, or gives the coalition a chance.

MargW

He is speaking tonight to all of us, however the media have given the same time to the coalition, thankfully.

I was taken aback to hear the House throwing the term 'Separatist' around again last night. I took it from that (I was away in the UK) that Harper did not get the seats he wanted in Quebec.

I felt so mad about it all I had emailed the GG, Harper, Dion, Layton and my own MP telling them to get their finger out and start governing the country and no more posturing and putting themselves first. I realize they don't care what I think but a few thousand critical emails might give them pause for thought, beats apathy anyway !

I just felt it illustrated clearly why most of us didn't quite trust him !

I first read of it yesterday on another stitching group, as a discussion for the Canadian members; later in the day, I got around to reading the Lakeland newspaper, and there was an article about it. Soooo it isn't being totally ignored here in the south of the USA.

I have heard your opinion of Harper, and it seems the other three parties are "ganging" up on him, and want to call for a vote of no-confidence. That would mean another election.... and the Quebecois might be the leader.

Is that it in a nutshell??

Sheena, what is the $1.69 (or some such figure) per head that they were talking about?

Gillian

The Bloc Quebecois is not going to be an actual part of the coalition, but have agreed not to remove their support from the coalition for at least 18 months. This would avoid another expensive election less than three months after the last one.

The leader of the Liberals (Dion) is from Quebec, but is not BQ. He will be the nominal head of the coalition, and if they are able to convince the Governor-General to let them form a government, will be the new Prime Minister.

Poor Harper (not), he decided that his so-called economic statement would be an opportunity to bash the other parties, hit back at the equal pay court settlements that women in the public service had won, and ban public service strikes for three years (despite the fact that there are no contracts coming up for renewal), and then wondered why folks got upset. And as far as economics, didn't do anything.

This is an amount every party gets per vote based on the number of votes they got in the last election. It helps parties, especially the smaller ones, with things like office expenses, and so helps support democracy by leveling the playing field.

MargW

Thanks for the explanation, Marge. I assumed that the Dion was BQ, because he came from Quebec. Shows how easy it is to misinterpret things.

I had read that the GG had returned from somewhere, and is now involved, and that there is to be a speech tonight by Harper. I thought I also read, the other parties would get airtime, too.

Gill

No, not really. Harper (with a minority government) brought forth a totally unsuitable bill that involved cutting off funding to the other parties. If the vote goes against him, it would be a No Confidence vote, (because it involves finances) so the government would fall. The Governor General would be asked to order another election.

However - Harper could prorogue Parliament which is not unusual, but is unusual since Parliament has not finished any business as of yet. Proroguing usually comes after business because Parliament then goes into suspended animation so to speak. The Governor General may not agree to that, or might tell him Parliament is prorogued for a short period of time.

Third scenario is a coalition of three parties, Liberals, New Democrats and The Bloc. They can tell the Governor General that there is no need to have an election because they are capable of governing the country. That is kind of unusual in that The Bloc are members from Quebec who believe in breaking up Canada.

I think we can see now why so many Canadians didn't quite trust Harper with a majority government. They are all crazy, all thinking of themselves while people are losing their jobs all over the place. If ever there was a time when the government needed to get on with the job instead of posturing, this is it. A pox on the whole lot. If there is another $35m election within two months of the last, I shall be working and campaigning for the Green Party and hope there will be a landslide majority !

I don't know about $1.69 figure - it certainly isn't what they get paid per hour, they get way more lol

No, in fact, he is highly disliked by the Pequistes (Parti Quebecois) and BQ, since he was the one that formulated the law that made the wording of any referendum question had to be very clear so there was no doubt about whether you would be voting to take Quebec out of Canada.

Yes, she is back from Europe. Harper has pre-recorded a statement, and the coalition has asked for equal time. The Conservatives are already flooding the airwaves with ads, saying that the idea of a coalition is unconstitutional (which it is not), and that the BQ are part of the coalition (which they aren't). But lies have never bothered these guys. They took Canada to a unnecessary election in September saying that Parliament was 'dysfunctional' when they were the ones who made it so.

Harper is known, even in his own party, for not allowing any dissent.

Sheena is right - interesting times, indeed. MargW

Harper is a hypocrite (what a surprise - not!), as well; he conveniently neglects mention the fact that he was all in favour of a coalition back in 2004 when he was in Opposition:

?[If Paul Martin's Liberal minority government falls, you should] consider your options?.We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation??

-Stephen Harper, September 2004, in a letter to then-Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, calling for her to ask him to form government in the event that Martin?s minority collapsed?

... yet now, when the shoe is on the other foot, he's calling it the "destruction of democracy". Letters to the editor in my newspaper today are even going so far as to accuse the Liberals and NDPs of committing treason. Talk about ignorance piled on top of hyperbole!

\>> Sheena is right - interesting times, indeed.

It's a Chinese curse as you probably know "May you live in interesting times"

Hopefully he will hang himself tonight, once and for all. I can't imagine how a woman could vote for him because we know where he really feels we should be.

Harper was trying to govern as if his party had a majority, thinking that because the liberals are due for a leadership convention that he could get away with it. He is such a mean spirited sob I hope to hell they do bring him down. He is so arrogant. a real Bush. Of course now he will bring out the dirty tv adds and throw around lots of bull shit and hope he can make the others back down. I wish to hell we could get some decent leaders in this country . But our our wonderful constitution gives 10% of the population the upper hand in that anyone even thinking of running for the leadership must be fluent in french. which leaves out a lot of talent. ruby

I hope so; he makes my skin crawl and I've never understood female support for him, either. I'd be happy to see the end of him, not to mention the majority of his Cabinet members, especially those who were part of the Harris government in Ontario. I don't think Canada has seen a more blatantly self-serving, disingenuous and dishonest bunch in Ottawa in a long, long time.

I read somewhere recently that Harper was actively trying to force the Opposition to bring down his government in order to force an election before the Liberals hold their leadership convention. The guy kills me; first he gets a law passed that entrenches fixed election dates, then calls a snap election in direct contravention of that law, apparently because he arrogantly believed he'd win a majority and now, not even two months later, is apparently prepared to do much the same thing again. Arrogant indeed. None of it is surprising, though, when you consider his history and how he and his buddies got control of the Conservative Party in the first place; dishonest and dishonourable to the core, he and his lot are.

What we really really need is more women in government. I like Elizabeth May, I am going to support her and her party whenever the opportunity comes round. I hope she can convince a lot of women to run with her. We have slipped in that regard since Mulroneys time.

Stephen Harper was completely and utterly stupid, IMHO. It reminds me of Edgar Bergen and Mortimer Snerd (the hayseed). Edgar Bergen "How can you be so stupid?" Mortimer Snerd "Well, it isn't easy". Jim.

Jim, I am fairly sure you and I are at different points on the political spectrum, and would have to agree to disagree (how Canadian can you get???) but on this one, you are deadly accurate. Too funny.

Dawne

Bring on the Election - either the country is worth a few bucks or it isn't!!!

Hopefully the Canadian Association of Political Scientists will to return to their labs and clean the rogues and prorouges out their beakers and retorts. Another election campain I can take, two months of Scientific Political retort-oric would make me gag.

Fred

It was disgusting - he sounded like he was reading a story to little children and trying hard to put it in words of one syllable.

As for all the interviews afterwards how foolish could his minions be denying they knew what he would say to the GG today (if that was so it further points to a dictator) when all they needed to say was "Obviously I can't tell you that" ! They all keep reiterating the same old lies over and over but it isn't making the lies come true.

I really like her too; I was very disappointed that she didn't win her riding.