Seb146 From United States, joined Nov 1999, 5071 posts, RR: 15 Posted (2 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 814 times:
I am sick of politics all together, but I saw an interesting short piece in the Oregonian today. Apparently, Stephen Harper is thinking of dissolving Parliament and calling elections in October. The article also said the three major opposition parties want to call a no-confidence vote when Parliament convenes this month. What happened?
ScrubbsYWG From Canada, joined Mar 2007, 991 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (2 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 807 times:
harper believes he cannot govern anymore with parliament and feels that the coming parliament session will just force an election when a non-confidence vote happens. He decided it is probably best to let the people decide if they think the conservatives should still be in government. Of course, the governer general officially has the last word on if she takes his advice and dissolves parliament.
of course, the liberals and NDP are saying harper is jsut doing this for political posturing.
In reality, it is probably a little of both.
It looks like he will drop the writ this weekend and the date being thrown around is an election on october 14.
I personally can't see the make up of the government changing, save for a few seats here and there. I think it would still be a conservative minority.
Counties I've visited: France, England, Monaco, Ireland, USA, Bahamas
This is the thing I love most about Canadian politics, while I am quite interested in politics and what not, I am very greatful that our election process is very efficient. While I understand differences between Canada and the States, I find it very tiring after awhile with the drawn out process the US election is.
While I don't see much changing, I really hope the Conservatives can get an Majority!
Czbbflier From Canada, joined Jul 2006, 289 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (2 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 743 times:
Personally I think it's frustrating that we're about to have an election. Our friends to the south, and Seb I can certainly feel your pain about the endlessness of your election.... are about to decide the fate of the world and take us one step closer to the end of the Bush administration. However our election is going to boil down to whether Stéphane Dion, a self-made geek, can RULE THE WORLD... uh- govern Canada.
He can't and so he won't win the election. Stephen Harper, on the other hand, a self-made nerd can't govern the country either so we will be having an election between two losers to decide the status quo. It's a sad situation all 'round.
Thankfully, once our election is over, we can turn our attentions back to the United States and watch the candidates and their parties tear each other to shreds and then finally have a huge party on November 5th once the battles are over and a new President is elected.
Ah- for the pursuit of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness!
Learning how to fly will cost about $100. Learning how to land will cost an additional $6,500.
Seb146 From United States, joined Nov 1999, 5071 posts, RR: 15 Reply 4, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 710 times:
Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 3): finally have a huge party on November 5th once the battles are over and a new President is elected.
Oh, how little you know about American politics. There is another election coming just around the corner from the November 5th election. November 2010. We need to start slinging mud on November 6th now to guarantee a seat in the House that November! Plus, Oregon (where I live) can hold elections up to four times a year. That means there could be campaigning for ballot measures starting on November 6th for elections in March.
Anybody know of an island in the South Pacific I can move to?
Czbbflier From Canada, joined Jul 2006, 289 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 645 times:
Quoting Seb146 (Reply 4): We need to start slinging mud on November 6th now to guarantee a seat in the House that November
How true- but at least it's just a sort-of background din for a year or so. As for a South Pacific island- I suggest Fanning Island, in the Republic of Kirabati. Tourism website. I'll see you there.
Learning how to fly will cost about $100. Learning how to land will cost an additional $6,500.
A332 From Canada, joined Feb 2005, 1275 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 619 times:
It's a good move on the part of Harper and the Conservatives since Dion isn't considered an ideal leader in the eyes of most Canadians and his loss to Harper will likely spell the end of his term at the helm of the Liberal party.
I'm hoping for a Conservative majority, but it is unlikely. As long as the Conservatives remain in power and keep the Liberals out, we're good.
Seb146 From United States, joined Nov 1999, 5071 posts, RR: 15 Reply 9, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 595 times:
So, two more questions:
I also thought I read there are three opposition parties. I thought the party with the second most number of seats is the official opposition. How can three parties sit in opposition? Also, what are the three opposition parties? Liberal, NDP, and Bloc?
A332 From Canada, joined Feb 2005, 1275 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 592 times:
Members from any party who are elected to parliament but do not belong to the sitting government are a part of the opposition, with the 'official opposition' title reserved for the party that holds the 2nd highest number of seats, or the runner-up from the election.
Canada's Opposition Parties:
Liberal (official)
Bloc Québécois
NDP
Green (recently gained their first seat in parliament)
A332 From Canada, joined Feb 2005, 1275 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 583 times:
Quoting Seb146 (Reply 11): It must be frustrating to not have an official majority, but that is a reason to disolve parliment, I guess.
A minority government is advantageous due to the accountability factor, but it does also lead to alot of posturing.
More election promises have been kept in the last couple years under the minority Conservative government than during the preceding 12 years of Liberal majority rule, so it certainly is not a negative situation.
Jamincan From Canada, joined Aug 2006, 515 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 574 times:
Quoting Seb146 (Reply 11): It must be frustrating to not have an official majority, but that is a reason to disolve parliment, I guess.
I actually like it a lot. I certainly don't agree with Harper's assessment that it's getting in the way of governing, unless he's unhappy that some of his more controversial ideas won't fly in this parliament. If that's the case, thank god we have a minority government and not a majority.
AC888YOW From Canada, joined Jan 2005, 397 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 565 times:
Quoting A332 (Reply 12): More election promises have been kept in the last couple years under the minority Conservative government than during the preceding 12 years of Liberal majority rule, so it certainly is not a negative situation.
Exactly. For that reason alone the Conservatives deserve to earn at least another minority. I'd prefer a majority so we can start getting some real work done around here, but sadly the odds of that are nil. It makes me want to ask the typical Canadian who is currently better than Stephen Harper to lead the country? Stephane Dion? Give me a break. Jack Layton? Heaven forbid.
Quoting Seb146 (Reply 11): It must be frustrating to not have an official majority, but that is a reason to disolve parliment, I guess.
It becomes reason when the opposition parties take a hard line and join forces to vote down every proposal by the minority government. When this happens parliament grinds to a halt and nothing gets done any longer. The only solution is to go back to the people for a fresh mandate.
Ronglimeng From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 305 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 475 times:
Well, I was sorry to see the current Parliament come to an end. I don't mind minority government. As someone mentioned above, it makes the party in power more accountable (and less likely to be arrogant).
I follow Canadian politics with a modest amount of interest, but off the top of my head, I don't know what proposals the Conservatives have that they can't get by the other parties. No opposition party will defeat a bill that can be seen to have obvious benefits for the country. The government has to be very sensitive to scandal and incompentence - that's what really brings a government down.
I don't like Harper. He seems stiff and smarmy, like the smartest kid in the class who has no friends and won't share his homework answers. With the benefit of hindsight, I can see it was a mistake for the LIberals to pick Dion as their leader. Jack Layton is just a guy who can make big promises without ever having to worry about delivery. The only guy I like is Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc, but he's trying to break up my country!
I'm hoping for another minority government. I feel we do okay with them.
StarAC17 From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 1342 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (2 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 468 times:
Quoting Czbbflier (Reply 3): He can't and so he won't win the election. Stephen Harper, on the other hand, a self-made nerd can't govern the country either so we will be having an election between two losers to decide the status quo. It's a sad situation all 'round.
I find it funny that Jack Layton is seen as a better choice for a PM by about double the polling points as Dion but the NDP has far less support than the liberals at the moment.
Quoting Seb146 (Reply 18):
That is another question I have: Does the Bloc have any support in the West? Are there any Bloc candidates running anywhere in the West?
Just in Quebec, which means there should be a law banning them from all federal politics and having Ottawa finally not meet some of Quebec's demands from the feds and simply say "Just Separate". This won't happen because of the larger immigrant population in Quebec since the last referendum in 1995 which weakens the separatist movement.
Greasespot From Canada, joined Apr 2004, 2621 posts, RR: 24 Reply 20, posted (2 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 458 times:
Quoting StarAC17 (Reply 19): ust in Quebec, which means there should be a law banning them from all federal politics
Why?...If I want to run as a independant do I have to run a candidate in every riding n the country?
Whether you argee with their politics or not does not mean they should be running....They won the election in their riding and that gives them the right to sit in the commons.
If they were advocating breaking up the country violently that would be different.
GS
They were charged with taking care of our families..Now it is our turn to take care of their families.."For the fallen"
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