Oh.... Canada....

With the world economy crumbling and war being waged throughout, it's a good thing Canada has such strong, uncompromising and reliable leadership.

Oh.... right.

We're not even two months into Stephen Harper's second Conservative minority government, and already the opposing parties have taken the surprise step of forming a coalition government; one that is ready to govern immediately, should Governor-General Michaelle Jean ask them to. Not that they've actually voted Harper down yet, but that seems to be a technicality at this point (right now, he'd get a no confidence vote on a bill to give us all flying cars.)

The alternative to this controversial coalition, it would seem, is for Parliament to be dissolved and.... it hurts just to say it... to call another election. That is, unless Harper ducks his fate by breaking Parliament until the new year (the political equivalent of sneaking out the back door of the school when the bully is waiting for you at the bike racks).

Now, I didn't vote for the Conservatives. And neither did the majority of Canadians. But having said that, within the structure of the electoral system our country has, they did win the election, and they did earn the amount of parliament seats it takes to form the government "at the behest of the people." So I have a hard time seeing how the majority of Canadians (the ones that voted anyway) will be better served by this coalition. The country did speak, and the way our system shakes out, they said "Conservative minority: Now go away and don't bother us for a few years." I may have added that last part.

So the Conservatives won fair and square, right? Right. They won an election that Stephen Harper broke his own law to call, so sure was he that he could snag a majority. Let's not forget that detail!

Did anybody else in Canada want an election? No. And does anyone want a second one, say, a month from now? I don't think "No" is a strong enough word. Not only would it further damage our economy (the last one cost us $300 million, after all), it would make our country look pretty stupid on the world stage.

But before we go calling this coalition unfair, let's listen to the words of the Governor-General herself, who assures us all this is a move well within the opposing party's legal rights.

"I think what is happening right now is part of the possibilities in our democratic system and I think that people can be reassured that as I turn to what is happening, I am myself looking at my constitutional duties. People can be confident."

In other words, this scenario is allowed for in our constitution, fair or not.

To be honest... I don't know if I'd support this coalition government, which I didn't vote for, any more than I support the Conservatives, whom I didn't vote for.

To be honest... this whole charade is making me wish Barack Obama was getting ready to lead MY country, not the one down south.

Comments

[Mike Pavich]

Is a coalition govt really any different then what Harper has now?

To pass a bill, he must get at least some of the other party's members to vote in favour.. At least thats the way I understand it..

If the above is true. Then we all ready have a coalition goverment. Which makes all prior arguements about it being undemocratic etc etc invalid.
As to the whole Bloc thing, much to do about nothing. I am from the west, I remember Harper, and his ilk in the Reform party. Not a lot of difference folks. None at all in fact.

Mike