Canada governor-general returns to tackle crisis | International | Reuters
RallyforCanada.ca – Protect Canadian Democracy — Can someone explain what is happening in Canada. People are calling the situation a coup d’etat. Yes? No?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, trying to prevent opposition parties from defeating his minority Conservative government in a confidence vote next Monday, could move to shut down Parliament temporarily but needs Jean’s permission to do so.
Jean, who is in Prague, will fly back on Wednesday rather than Saturday. She is the personal representative of Queen Elizabeth, Canada’s head of state.
“This decision has been made in light of the current political situation in Canada,” her office announced.
The opposition Liberals, New Democrats and separatist Bloc Quebecois signed an unprecedented deal on Monday to bring down Harper and create a coalition government that would keep them in power until at least June 30, 2010.
The opposition says Harper is not doing enough to tackle the financial crisis.
Speculation is mounting that Harper — facing his worst crisis since first winning power in January 2006 — will seek to shut down Parliament until a budget the government has promised for January 27.
Ottawa says the coalition deal showed the opposition were twisting the rules of democracy. The Conservatives won a strengthened minority in an Oct 14 election.
first rumblings posted here on the blog.
let me get this right…. canada wants to secede from itself???LOL…. search ” My Discount Bag ” on google to get the same designer bags with Karolina. ” My Discount Bag ” is just for fashion ladies, wow! Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Coach, Miu Miu, Dior, Hermes, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana
@ #18
Ron it is not the same thing, in 75 the Gov General actually kicked the gov out, here the PM wants the GG to supend parliment for a time.
Still a crisis, but quite different in detail.
A lot of people dis America’s two-party system, but at least it avoids crap like this.
And the one leading the pack is Stephan “It’s difficult to plan a budget” Dion
20,
You want to make savings you make big ones. You don’t push a completely partisan agreement through that cuts funding to the opposition and maintain your own funding. That’s not a smart thing to do. I guess you enjoy it when you’re boss says “it’s tough. I’m cutting your salary to zero. Mine? Well, I’ll just add yours to it.” But, that’s how Americans like it apparently. And that’s why Wagoner refused to take a symbolic $1 salary when his total compensation for the year is $15 million, of which $1.5 million is his base pay. Yes, Wagoner said $13 million is not enough.
Looks good on Harper. He was acting like he had a majority Gov. But he forgot, he didn’t. Now he is paying the price for that poor judgement.
A little on the funding cuts proposed by the Conservatives…
Not long ago, federal legislation was passed that allowed for taxpayer funding of federal political parties. This funding was based on the number of votes each party received in the previous federal election (between $1 and $2 per vote). This was motivated by evidence that special interests (think: lobbyists) were beginning to have an inordinate amount of influence (think: $$$) over MP’s and federal parties. The scheme to replace special interest funding federal parties with taxpayer funding was simply a method of reclaiming the political agenda for the benefit of the citizens and not for industry, unions, religious associations, or whatever. It is seen by many to be the lesser of evils.
“Can someone explain what is happening in Canada.”
Yes, Canada has not quite taken over the reigns of government from the UK. So, the Queen, via the Gov General has to monitor the gov and make sure they don’t screw up too badly.
At some point, when Canadians feel ready, they will declare independence.
The real crisis here is lack of leadership in the major political parties. Looking back on the last election Gilles Duceppe won the French debate and Elizabeth May the English. That should tell you something right there.
Dion would be an interim PM which is crap. Harper is a political moron. Jack Layton is just plain weird. So we could get a government which is focused on Quebec’s south shore and the UAW. Great.
All because Stephen Harper hates Stéphane Dion.
I didn’t vote for any of these idiots. I vote Green Party, and it doesn’t matter, because they never get any votes, but at least they don’t have the mentality of five year old children. I watch Parliament on public television, and all I ever see is a bunch of children bickering and whining and accusing each other back and forth. They do so little work. Assholes. I vote no confidence in ANY of them.
Let’s invade. Wecan offerQuebec independenceif theydon’tfightback,and maybetheWestwill support us.
I’m not entirely sure what is happening or it’s one of those things only a Canadian can understand. Either way, CHANGE can come to Canada too, eh!
I certainly can understand how getting rid of the conservative party is a good first step and urge my norther friends do it by force if you have to.
#32
Dion is not CHANGE so much as spare change. But he’s better than the robot that we have in office currently, not much better however
How can I introduce chad into this process. I am looking for a big laugh.
#29 Only Harper hates Dion?
#30 Funny, that’s the same impression I got.
#32 What change, the same secretary of defense? Bill Richardson as commerce secretary? Please!
#35
Harper hates Dion more than anyone. Harper’s cheap shots at Dion’s wife and kids during the election shows why he isn’t fit to be PM.
The conservatives need a real leader asap.
It IS a coup d’etat, just the Canadian version which means no murders and no violent protests
The Governor General is empowered to chuck them all out and hand select a ruling cabinet from the parliament floor. It happened in Australia in the 1970′s. Don’t f**k with the Governor.
#14: Rick Mercer gets it right and in plain English too – easy to understand: Conservatives == bad
If it wasn’t for the Bloc, I’d be 100% committed to the coalition. It’s a shame that they need them for this to truly work out. I guess all those sponsorship scandals are about to be even more wasteful with the Liberal/Bloc association.
Commitment: 90%
#35 “..What change, the same secretary of defense? Bill Richardson as commerce secretary? Please!…”
Pedro, Pedro, Pedro… so sad. You ned to register with http://WWW.Change.Gov and get with program. Change is about leadership and direction.
Democrat Richardson is a fine, experienced selection and Hillary replacing that Jamaican bitch Condolizard Rice, is applauded universally.
The reason for Gates for defense is two fold:
(1) Thanks to your Bush, we are at war now. makes sense to keep some stability, no?
(2) Only Gates has seen the deep abyss that your Bush has dug the country into. We need his flashlight to get the hell out of it. no?
I’m sure this is difficult to understand but your job is simple – just watch TV and let the right party run this time the nation.