Liberal/NDP/Bloc Coalition
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/12/02/question-period.html
In case you've been living under a rock, or don't live in Canada, our three opposition parties are planning to form a coalition and overthrow our minority government.
To those calling this move 'unconstitutional' or 'undemocratic', it isn't that simple. Our constitution allows for coalition governments to be formed, though they are rare and have so far always been minor. Secondly, the Liberals, NDP and Block together got more votes than the Tories, so technically there is no issue of democracy either. The argument becomes that a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition is NOT equal to Liberal + NDP + Bloc in votes. Many supporters of all three parties individually will not want to vote for those parties as a group given the chance.
Personally, I feel this is a big mistake on the part of the Liberals. I'll get to them in a moment. The NDP don't have much to lose. They did terribly in the last election and a poor economy gives them good grounds to work from with their particular audience. Joining this coalition gives them a chance to put their ideas forward and puts Layton in the public eye. Layton is strong competition for the cameras for any leader, but with Dion it's no contest. The Bloc don't have much to lose either, and much to gain. A separation referendum in Quebec right now would fail, but a separation referendum in very shaky Canadian economic times in a year or two has more chances. The Liberals may unwittingly help the Quebec separation movement to finally succeed.
The Liberals are the ones that have the most to lose. They are trading possible short term gains for long term pain. They will lose the support of many voters over this, not only for shaking up the government in bad times, but also for throwing in their lot with the communists and the separatists. Dion has already promised to resign as of the last election, so he appears, if that were possible, a weaker leader than he did before. A sore loser as well. Finally, they will lose support form voters who feel that despite wherever their personal loyalties lie, the Liberals are leading a coalition that may lead this country without being formally elected as a coalition party. That situation will not sit well with many Canadians, as it shouldn't in my opinion.
The Governor General is in a difficult position to say the least, and her actions in the next few days will be watched very carefully. Looking at the silver lining, this has at the very least served to educate some people about just how much power the GG has over our government.
I feel that this is the wrong time for this to happen, if there was ever a right time, and that bailouts are a bad idea as they only prolong the pain while weakening the dollar and making the eventual recovery more difficult. Though I didn't support Harper in the last election, I'd definitely support the Tories if it came to a vote between them and a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition.
In case you've been living under a rock, or don't live in Canada, our three opposition parties are planning to form a coalition and overthrow our minority government.
To those calling this move 'unconstitutional' or 'undemocratic', it isn't that simple. Our constitution allows for coalition governments to be formed, though they are rare and have so far always been minor. Secondly, the Liberals, NDP and Block together got more votes than the Tories, so technically there is no issue of democracy either. The argument becomes that a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition is NOT equal to Liberal + NDP + Bloc in votes. Many supporters of all three parties individually will not want to vote for those parties as a group given the chance.
Personally, I feel this is a big mistake on the part of the Liberals. I'll get to them in a moment. The NDP don't have much to lose. They did terribly in the last election and a poor economy gives them good grounds to work from with their particular audience. Joining this coalition gives them a chance to put their ideas forward and puts Layton in the public eye. Layton is strong competition for the cameras for any leader, but with Dion it's no contest. The Bloc don't have much to lose either, and much to gain. A separation referendum in Quebec right now would fail, but a separation referendum in very shaky Canadian economic times in a year or two has more chances. The Liberals may unwittingly help the Quebec separation movement to finally succeed.
The Liberals are the ones that have the most to lose. They are trading possible short term gains for long term pain. They will lose the support of many voters over this, not only for shaking up the government in bad times, but also for throwing in their lot with the communists and the separatists. Dion has already promised to resign as of the last election, so he appears, if that were possible, a weaker leader than he did before. A sore loser as well. Finally, they will lose support form voters who feel that despite wherever their personal loyalties lie, the Liberals are leading a coalition that may lead this country without being formally elected as a coalition party. That situation will not sit well with many Canadians, as it shouldn't in my opinion.
The Governor General is in a difficult position to say the least, and her actions in the next few days will be watched very carefully. Looking at the silver lining, this has at the very least served to educate some people about just how much power the GG has over our government.
I feel that this is the wrong time for this to happen, if there was ever a right time, and that bailouts are a bad idea as they only prolong the pain while weakening the dollar and making the eventual recovery more difficult. Though I didn't support Harper in the last election, I'd definitely support the Tories if it came to a vote between them and a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition.
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