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Canada's leadership in crisis

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Sheriff Roland:
We may be heading for real rocky times here in Canada.

Seems like all three opposition parties are ready to bring down the governing Conservatives.

And Harper seems to believe that that will mean there will be another election. I thought he knew his History better than that.

Of couse it's possible for a coalition to govern. His statement that (paraphrasing here) 'Liberal leader Dion doesn't have the right to become Prime Minister because the electorate didn't give him a mandate to do so' - is full of sh!t.

Mind you it's not going to be an easy coalition - which will include the Block Québecois (and the New Democratic Party). But at least it will have the support of more than 60% of the electorate - unlike the current Conservatives that got about 35% of the vote.

Stay tuned. We're in for very interesting times.

oilgun:
What were you doing up so early, Sheriff?
I don't know my history either  :-\  so if the opposition parties bring down the government, it doesn't mean another election?

Sheriff Roland:
Whatchu mean realy early. EVERY one's up at 5 these days aren't they?  ;D

In the mid 80's Ontario voted in a minority government in which the 2nd and 3rd parties (Liberals and NPD) combined to form a coalition government under Peterson as PPM even though the Conservatives got the largest share of seats.

Bringing down the Conservatives so early after an election leaves the Governor General with the option of asking another party to try and form a coalition government rather than sending us back into an election. Since that's exactly what the three opposition paries are planning, Harper will have no say in a coalition government (except as leader of the opposition). He can ASK the Governor General to call an election but he doesn't call it himself. The Governor General has the option of asking another party to try and form a coalition.

Somehow Harper doesn't GET that no party's gotten a majority in the past 4 elections and anyone who wants to lead the country has to share the stage. He ran the last election saying (and reiterating after getting yet another minority) that he would run the country as though he had a majority.

Well all I got to say to him is ... don't let the door hit you on your way out. (Think he has a chance of staying on a leader if all this develops as I believe it will?)

oilgun:
Thanks Roland!  I hope your prediction is right.  Michaëlle Jean disappointed me last time because she could have refused to call an election because there really was no evidence that Harper's government couldn't function.  Let's hope she does the right thing now. 

Sheriff Roland:
Here's a pretty concise article about the situation in Canada, 7 weeks after our last elections.

It's in french though ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gO-NUDZSoEtBfoAEzMl2c3K6jEow

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