Who had the ninny idea that the BQ should run Canada?
In their zest to grab the levers of power, the New Democrats have finally given the Bloc Quebecois a reason for being. For the next ten years, BQ candidates will be able to address each and every Quebec town hall meeting with a simple vignette:
Remember when we decided who would be in power in Ottawa? Remember what we were able to achieve on your behalf as a result?
Any politician who thinks Canadian unity is well served by this unholy coalition needs to have the rocks in their heads removed. They’re clouding your judgment. Whatever personal short term benefits come your way by wrestling power away from the Conservatives can’t possibly outweigh the costs of this gambit to our Nation.
I’ve joined the Facebook groups that are against the NDP/BQ alliance (57,000 strong at this point). And there are at least two online petitions to sign as well, if you’d like to come on board. Canadians For Democracy, and No Coalition Government for Canada. The first petition had 94,000 online signatures when I signed it.
Minority governments always run the risk of being replaced or defeated, depending upon the circumstances. But to give the BQ a reason for being is shortsighted of the architects of this four-headed political coalition.
If the Governor General does what I think she’s about to do, this will ironically be the defining moment in the beginning of a process that will ultimately see Canada become a Republic. For it is the kinds of people who vote Conservative, not the BQ or NDP, who have ensured that the Queen’s ties to Canada have gone untouched — not even discussed — for the past 20 years, even as other Nations cut their apron strings (see prior posts “Support builds for the idea of a Canadian Republic” September 6-07 and “The Canadian Republic” March 28-07).
MRM
A coalition? How un-American. Welcome to the civilised world. European governments (including the East) have been functioning just well, thank you, for many years now, with coalition governments.
Slovakia lasted eight years with a right/christian/left/Hungarian-Separatist coalition. It wasn’t easy but they turned around the country including NATO and EU membership. The Hungarian separatists are now in the opposition, and the “world hasn’t ended for Slovakia” as predicted by so many when the coalition was being formed.
Coalition governments at least form a truer representation of the people. Minority governments are a joke. How many elections does Canada plan on having before Harpo gets his majority? As long as the constitution provides for coalitions, why the whining?
Didn’t Harpo entertain thoughts of a coalition with Le Bloque back when the Libs held the key to the executive washroom? He certainly doesn’t have a right to rule with less than majority. So where then is the coup-de-etat?
Also…
Voter Turnout: 59.1%
Conservative Popular Vote: 37.65%
Eligible Voters voting Conservative: 22.25%
Not even 1/4 of all eligible voters voted Conservative. This is no mandate.
As for commentary regarding the queen and republics, I won’t be touching that with my ten foot pole…but I will be reading those two posts.
It’s interesting how different people with the same goals and/or political views (political not party) have so many different takes on the current situation.
I, for one, am happy to see this happening. The liberals finally have the moral gumption (I’d use the word balls but it’s too early for alcohol on the west coast) to stand up for what they believe in. If Dion had acted like this in the last 18 months instead of “We disagree with harper but we won’t vote it down because Canadians don’t want an election” he might have done better. For the same reason I don’t blame Harper – history has shown he could push the opposition around, why should he think this time would be any different?
I did NOT like his financial update for the following reasons:
1) Throwing out currently negotiated contracts – hello, don’t you remember what the BC Liberals went through?
2) Selling government assets – when prices are at an all time low – hello a second time.
3) No stimulus, when the rest of the world is giving their industries an unfair advantage – hello a third time. (On a personal level I think infrastructure is a suckers bet – SNC stock looks exactly like the market to me).
4) I LIKE the current political party funding, it was agreed to by everyone and theoretically it keeps union, special interest, and business influence on government in check. (Admittedly it’s a brilliant tactical move).
I should admit that I’m one of those people that believe Keynes’ theories have never really been put into practice throughout an entire business cycle and that if they were followed they would work.
Me.