On October 14, 2008, Canada had a Federal Election that returned Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Constrictive Government to power leading a minority government for a second term. The major political parties preformed as following in the election.
Stephen Harper, Conservative 37%
Stephane Dion, Liberal 26%
Jack Layton, New Democrats 18%
Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois 10%
During the month of November, the Conservative party tabled a number of policy's that greatly upset the opposition parties. The response of the Oppisition was a plot headed by Jack Layton, of the New Democrat Party and Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois. Stephane Dion, of the Liberal Party eagerly joined because it would leave him the great prize. The plot called for the three opposition parties to join in a coalitions and topel the Conservative government by voting non-confidence in the Government. This would cause the government to fall. The two parties, Liberal and new Democrat would then go to the Governor General, Michaelle Jean and ask that their coalition be given the right to form a Government since they together now have a majority government. Stephane Dion would be the new Prime Minister, and Jack Laton would get a top cabinet post. Gilles Duceppe, would not take an active part in the coalition because he heads a Quebec separatist party. He would pledge to vote with the coalition there by giving it a +50% vote and a parliamentary majority.
The problem with this coalition plan is that when the people voted on October 14 there was no talk of a coalition. All the parties were name calling each other, and only talking about how great their own policies were and how bad the other were. The Liberal party did poorly and lost a number of seats. Another problem is that Stephane Dion has been a totally ineffective leader and incapable of uniting the Liberal Party. Also, he has not been able to inspire confidence in the general public. This may have to do with the fact that when he speaks English his accent is so strong that it is difficult to understand him. After loosing the election it was understood that he would be replaced as Liberal leader as soon as a leadership convention could be called.
When we heard the news last week that a coalition of the three loosing parties were planning to vote non confidence in the government, and then form their own government with Stephen Dion as Prim Minister, I and many others were outraged. I did not go and vote for a coalition of losers to run the Federal Government. If this had been their plan the three leaders should have run on that platform.
The argument that Stephen Harper was trying to pass legislation that was financially harmful to other parties and that he was not doing enough to stimulate the economy does not wash. In a minority Government you already have the power to stop or influence all legislation. So Harper could not pass legislation that a united opposition felt strongly against.
Stephen Harper, Conservative 37%
Stephane Dion, Liberal 26%
Jack Layton, New Democrats 18%
Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Quebecois 10%
During the month of November, the Conservative party tabled a number of policy's that greatly upset the opposition parties. The response of the Oppisition was a plot headed by Jack Layton, of the New Democrat Party and Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois. Stephane Dion, of the Liberal Party eagerly joined because it would leave him the great prize. The plot called for the three opposition parties to join in a coalitions and topel the Conservative government by voting non-confidence in the Government. This would cause the government to fall. The two parties, Liberal and new Democrat would then go to the Governor General, Michaelle Jean and ask that their coalition be given the right to form a Government since they together now have a majority government. Stephane Dion would be the new Prime Minister, and Jack Laton would get a top cabinet post. Gilles Duceppe, would not take an active part in the coalition because he heads a Quebec separatist party. He would pledge to vote with the coalition there by giving it a +50% vote and a parliamentary majority.
The problem with this coalition plan is that when the people voted on October 14 there was no talk of a coalition. All the parties were name calling each other, and only talking about how great their own policies were and how bad the other were. The Liberal party did poorly and lost a number of seats. Another problem is that Stephane Dion has been a totally ineffective leader and incapable of uniting the Liberal Party. Also, he has not been able to inspire confidence in the general public. This may have to do with the fact that when he speaks English his accent is so strong that it is difficult to understand him. After loosing the election it was understood that he would be replaced as Liberal leader as soon as a leadership convention could be called.
When we heard the news last week that a coalition of the three loosing parties were planning to vote non confidence in the government, and then form their own government with Stephen Dion as Prim Minister, I and many others were outraged. I did not go and vote for a coalition of losers to run the Federal Government. If this had been their plan the three leaders should have run on that platform.
The argument that Stephen Harper was trying to pass legislation that was financially harmful to other parties and that he was not doing enough to stimulate the economy does not wash. In a minority Government you already have the power to stop or influence all legislation. So Harper could not pass legislation that a united opposition felt strongly against.
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