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Well folks, here it is for you in black and white right from the order paper for March 25th 2011:
Opposition Motion
March 23, 2011 — Mr. Ignatieff (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) — That the House agree with the finding of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that the government is in contempt of Parliament, which is unprecedented in Canadian parliamentary history, and consequently, the House has lost confidence in the government.
This is the motion that will, it appears at least, bring down the government. The motion is simple really. If one looks at the order paper there are numerous motions of varying length and complexity, so I commend Mr. Ignatieff for crafting a straight forward motion. It appears that all the opposition parties are going to vote for this motion, resulting in our fourth federal election in seven years. But is it a forgone conclusion that all opposition parties will vote for the motion? Perhaps not. We must remember that Ottawa is the place where haggling seems to take place almost daily. Remember when Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison fled from the Conservatives over to the Liberal party? That happened almost without warning. I think that since the NDP said they were not supporting the Budget that the Conservatives have been playing around behind the scenes to find SOME support. I seriously don’t understand how they would want to go to an election on this budget. It offers almost nothing, though the strategy of releasing budget highlights the day before the budget came out sure made it seem like there was enough for the NDP to support. I think that anything is still possible.
Is it possible that Flaherty and the Bloc could suddenly come to an agreement on the HST remuneration for Quebec? Is is possible that more could be added or amended by the NDP that the Conservatives would accept? Who knows? But you can bet your house on the fact that phones between the NDP, the Conservatives and the Bloc have been ringing non-stop since Tuesday.
Cross Posted at Progess Now!
Flaherty’s not lookin’ for any support. Harper wants this election. The polling numbers are too tantalizing for him at this time.
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I know the public face is one that says no, but please remember there is a difference between the public persona of politicians and the ones behind the cameras. Remember Harper saying he wanted to govern, and then the secret tape that showed him decrying to Conservatives how they NEEDED A MAJORITY! Always more to these people then meets the eye.
I’m just trying to counter the huge pro-election meem that’s out there. I think it’s healthy to have two sides to everything. It’s not that I don’t think an election is here. Quite the opposite actually. I think we are headed for it like a freight train that’s lost it’s brakes. But I’m also attempting to remind everyone that 11th hour changes to the playbook are always possible.
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ck Reply:
March 25th, 2011 at 9:16 AM
Countering the pro-election meme? Why? That just encourages apathy. We should be thankful we have elections. The cost of not having ‘em would be far greater. I can’t stand the attitude of media types screeching the “unnecessary election” mantra and making it sound like it’s worse than a colonoscopy or having teeth pulled with a dull spoon. In fact, it infuriates me.
Folks in the Middle-East are literally risking life and limb, taking to the streets, attempting to oust their long standing dictators and demanding democracy while we not only can’t be bothered with it, but whine about it.
Stevie is the only PM in Canada or even leader in a democratic country to have ever campaigned on a slogan of “Action! No Elections!” (Harpercon November 2009 by-election sign slogans; saw them in Hochelaga riding). Even more frightening and infuriating is that it’s a campaign slogan that might just sell like hotcakes to Jane and Joe Frontporch. Despicable.
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Logan Reply:
March 25th, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Don’t get me wrong, I think elections are great. I actually think we should have elections every two years for the senate and parliament in the same way they do in the US. Far more democratic, more current and with the times and something that cannot be pre-empted by a shifty PM. I’m more just stating that I think the Ottawa media get all wrapped up in their own spin cycle that they don’t see he forest for the trees. This election will not be good for any party (yes, yes, I know, polls polls, blah blah blah). But the average Canadian DOESN’T want an election, want’s parliamentarians to work for them and will likly send another minority government to Ottawa. Another 300 million wasted for what? No, instead, I think politicians need to grow the heck up and stop acting like children in the sandbox fighting over the dumptruck (this happened today with my students and I just thought of the parallel).
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ck Reply:
March 25th, 2011 at 11:13 AM
I wonder if folks realize how self-contradictory they can be? On the one hand, they panic at the very word ‘coalition’ (at least, an all progressive one) and on the other, they claim they want paliamentarians to work together. However, when the opposition parties agree with one another to vote against or for a motion, the ‘coalition’ rallying cry begins. Again, a ‘damned if you do; damned if you don’t’. Hell, a few evenings ago, following the budget vote, Don Martin on Power Play pretty much egged Iggy on about having a coalition going on because he seemed pretty awe struck at the idea of all 3 opposition parties announcing they’d vote against the budget.
CARP, that seniors’ group of 55+ just had a poll recently. I don’t have the numbers off hand, but some of the prog blogs do. Check ‘em out. Basically, they felt that this budget didn’t do enough for seniors and felt the opposition should vote against that budget.
Let’s face it, $1.50 / day for Canada’s most impoverished seniors really isn’t sufficient.
And no election is a waste of money, like I said, think of the cost if we didn’t have them anymore.
Just want to add that, should an election come, it is really important that we all recognize the excellent work by speaker Miliken. Not enough can be said for the incredible service he has done for our country. My hats off to him.
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I don’t like Harper’s agenda of, Global Governance for Canada. I am not sure who I will vote for. I only know, it won’t be Harper. I want Canada to stay sovereign. To avoid tough questions, he prorogued Parliament twice in one year. Now the Conservatives, are held in contempt by the House. Harper is sneaky and underhanded. Canada isn’t safe with, him at the helm.
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