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political shenanigans in the canuckosphere
Dec. 2nd, 2008 09:24 amAs an outreach program of sorts for the Americans on my FL (or at least in an effort to give Kyla a mild headache) I offer the following tale of harrowing political drama:
Stephen Harper, our current Prime Minister, was elected two cycles ago having promised to institute fixed election dates. The intent was to bring some structure to our electoral processes and remove some of the political advantage for the party in power being able to call a snap election while they were ascendant in the public eye.
He then proceeded to ignore his own law and call an election, hoping to gain some political advantage while being the party in power and somewhat ascendant in the public eye. (You likely missed all this, it happened basically during the ObamaFest). The net result was a minimal shift to the right, and the former Conservative Minority government remained a Minority (albeit somewhat strengthened). Depending on your political leanings, this was either a Clear Mandate From the People, or a Gigantic Waste of Taxpayer Money...
Cut to last week. The Conservatives made announced a change in the funding formula for political parties which would put all the opposition parties at incredible disadvantage. This was largely interpreted as an act of bullying and unnecessary political grandstanding during a time when there appear to be larger economic issues for the government to confront. Then, the most amazing thing happened: the opposition parties grew a pair. (Well, three pairs).
Which brings us to the present: The Liberals (centre/left), NDP (left/left) and Bloc Quebecois (separatist!) have formed a coalition which is (a) highly improbable, and (b) because of the Conservative's minority position, gives the combined opposition a majority of votes. This coalition is now petitioning to be able to oust Stephen Harper and form the government, and they claim to have agreed to 18 months, minimum, of harmonious performance.
Now, from what I can tell this is all completely within the rules of the Parliamentary Procedures game...the right wing press is absolutely frothing at this "illegal theft of a legitimately elected government". The left is rubbing their hands in collective glee at the prospect of bringing down he whom they view as an arrogant idealogue; Harper may be out...but still has some tricks up his metaphorical sleeve.
Interesting times.
Stephen Harper, our current Prime Minister, was elected two cycles ago having promised to institute fixed election dates. The intent was to bring some structure to our electoral processes and remove some of the political advantage for the party in power being able to call a snap election while they were ascendant in the public eye.
He then proceeded to ignore his own law and call an election, hoping to gain some political advantage while being the party in power and somewhat ascendant in the public eye. (You likely missed all this, it happened basically during the ObamaFest). The net result was a minimal shift to the right, and the former Conservative Minority government remained a Minority (albeit somewhat strengthened). Depending on your political leanings, this was either a Clear Mandate From the People, or a Gigantic Waste of Taxpayer Money...
Cut to last week. The Conservatives made announced a change in the funding formula for political parties which would put all the opposition parties at incredible disadvantage. This was largely interpreted as an act of bullying and unnecessary political grandstanding during a time when there appear to be larger economic issues for the government to confront. Then, the most amazing thing happened: the opposition parties grew a pair. (Well, three pairs).
Which brings us to the present: The Liberals (centre/left), NDP (left/left) and Bloc Quebecois (separatist!) have formed a coalition which is (a) highly improbable, and (b) because of the Conservative's minority position, gives the combined opposition a majority of votes. This coalition is now petitioning to be able to oust Stephen Harper and form the government, and they claim to have agreed to 18 months, minimum, of harmonious performance.
Now, from what I can tell this is all completely within the rules of the Parliamentary Procedures game...the right wing press is absolutely frothing at this "illegal theft of a legitimately elected government". The left is rubbing their hands in collective glee at the prospect of bringing down he whom they view as an arrogant idealogue; Harper may be out...but still has some tricks up his metaphorical sleeve.
Interesting times.
