DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Canadian GG suspends Parliament at Harper's request

**Eromereorybig** · 05-13-2008, 04:19 AM

The Tories are having a heck of a time keeping their minority government in power up in Ottawa. The governor-general -- a Liberal -- honored his request to suspend the parliament. I know Harper wanted to fend off the no-confidence vote by the opposition parties, but I think he might have ended up winning if he had let it go.There seems to be some anger at the Grits and the Dippers for inking a pledge with the separatists, and, according to one national poll, the Tories' approval numbers have actually risen since the controversy began.

(On the substance of the matter, I agree with Harper on the need to cut federal dollars to the parties, at least until there is a different formula for the BQ. While the Liberals, PCs and NDP run nationally, BQ runs in only one province. The effect is that federalist Canadians are subsidizing the separatists to a greater degree than the other parties, which is nuts.)

Dion had a couple of television appearances that could be charitably be called train wrecks. Combine that with the need for the members of the coalition to explain why they're forming an alliance with the BQ just weeks after promising not to make a deal with them, and I think this could have turned into a significant win for Harper. It looks like more Liberals are beginning to see it that way as well. Harper could still call for an election before the Liberals' convention, forcing them to run with Dion still as the head of the party. If the Tories really are polling at around 44 percent, as the poll suggests, they would come out of the election with a clear majority.

Some prominent Liberals also seem to be thinking that the coalition will be a political mess and may end up costing them support even if they succeed in appointing Dion as PM. (At least a few seemed to welcome the cooling-off period created by the suspension.)

Harper still needs to be careful. Having Dion and Duceppe as two of the faces of the coalition has reignited tensions between anglophone and francophone Canada. It has also reignited western indignation at the political strength of Ontario and Quebec. He doesn't want to govern the country through an economic meltdown accompanied by a political meltdown.

BTW, it looks like the crisis has boosted Jean Charest's Liberals in Quebec, and they will cruise to another majority in that province's parliament.

Pretty wild, huh?

05-13-2008, 04:19 AM	#1
Eromereorybig Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 469 Senior Member	Canadian GG suspends Parliament at Harper's request The Tories are having a heck of a time keeping their minority government in power up in Ottawa. The governor-general -- a Liberal -- honored his request to suspend the parliament. I know Harper wanted to fend off the no-confidence vote by the opposition parties, but I think he might have ended up winning if he had let it go.There seems to be some anger at the Grits and the Dippers for inking a pledge with the separatists, and, according to one national poll, the Tories' approval numbers have actually risen since the controversy began. (On the substance of the matter, I agree with Harper on the need to cut federal dollars to the parties, at least until there is a different formula for the BQ. While the Liberals, PCs and NDP run nationally, BQ runs in only one province. The effect is that federalist Canadians are subsidizing the separatists to a greater degree than the other parties, which is nuts.) Dion had a couple of television appearances that could be charitably be called train wrecks. Combine that with the need for the members of the coalition to explain why they're forming an alliance with the BQ just weeks after promising not to make a deal with them, and I think this could have turned into a significant win for Harper. It looks like more Liberals are beginning to see it that way as well. Harper could still call for an election before the Liberals' convention, forcing them to run with Dion still as the head of the party. If the Tories really are polling at around 44 percent, as the poll suggests, they would come out of the election with a clear majority. Some prominent Liberals also seem to be thinking that the coalition will be a political mess and may end up costing them support even if they succeed in appointing Dion as PM. (At least a few seemed to welcome the cooling-off period created by the suspension.) Harper still needs to be careful. Having Dion and Duceppe as two of the faces of the coalition has reignited tensions between anglophone and francophone Canada. It has also reignited western indignation at the political strength of Ontario and Quebec. He doesn't want to govern the country through an economic meltdown accompanied by a political meltdown. BTW, it looks like the crisis has boosted Jean Charest's Liberals in Quebec, and they will cruise to another majority in that province's parliament. Pretty wild, huh?
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