From Dr. Peter Russel, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto…
After the Oct. 14 election, Stephen Harper remained Prime Minister, formed a new government and prepared to face the House. Although his party had improved its seat total it was still in a minority position in the House. This meant that to continue in office Harper would have to win enough support from the opposition benches to secure the confidence of the House.
For a few days it appeared that Harper would reach out in a conciliatory manner and garner the parliamentary support he needs on order to have the right to govern.
But, to put it mildly, on Nov. 27 just a few days into the session, through his finance minister’s economic update, he made an abrupt U-turn. Instead of seeking support from the opposition, his government presented an in-your-face, take-it-or-leave-it position.
The opposition parties – all three of them – decided not to take it. Instead, they announced that they would use their collective majority in the House to vote no confidence in the Harper government and support an alternative coalition government.
The no-confidence vote is to take place next Monday. If the government loses that vote, the rules of parliamentary democracy give Harper two options. He can tender his government’s resignation to the Governor General and clear the way for Madame Jean to ask Stéphane Dion to form a Liberal-NDP coalition government. Or he can ask the Governor General to dissolve the 40th Parliament so that we can elect the 41st Parliament.
The first option – resignation – would be entirely constitutional. It involves no “usurpation” of power but is an honourable way out of the present impasse.
If Harper were to take the second option, the Governor General would have to consider carefully whether to grant his request for a dissolution. Her primary concern must be to protect parliamentary democracy. A steady diet of elections – four in four years – is not healthy for parliamentary democracy.
If there is an alternative government available that has a reasonable prospect of being supported for a period of time by a majority in the House of Commons, she would have reason to decline Harper’s request. Harper would then have to resign, and the Governor General would commission Dion to form a government.
If this happens, again there would be no “usurpation” of power but a proper application of the rules and principles of parliamentary democracy. It has been very disturbing to hear over the last few days, from people who should know better, wild unparliamentary theories about our system of government. Elections are not simple popularity contests in which the leader whose party garners the most votes gets all the power.
Exactly so. If Liberal leader Stephane Dion and NDP leader Jack Layton were truly trying to circumvent our constitution, this coalition would not be supported by precedent or by law. If fact, they are supporting — and saving — our democracy.
Read the full article at The Toronto Star.
yes
I agree.
This is only the first step towards communism.
Welcome aboard Canada !!!
Have some guts, Fidel… Use a real name, so we can debate the issue like adults.
Although I have to say, if that’s the extent of your intellectual arguments against the coalition — that we’re turning to communism — then your screen name may be appropriate.
Because you sound like a washed-up 82 year old ideologue.
I think we have the potential to be more like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and more like the US under Obama. And I think that is a very good thing.
Is it any coincidence that people who are unable to defend their positions always comment anonymously?
Stephen — no surprise there.
I’m glad that many Canadians who I know are not so foolish. We need more level-headed people like this. Its alright to be opposed on the grounds that you like the Conservatives more, but there is no other reason. Why do people fall for lies so easily?
Option 3: Ask the GG to suspend Parliament until the budget comes out in January.
Mr.Harper has manifested this crisis on purpose, he had 7 weeks to provide a economic package and he did nothing. He threw gasoline on the fire when he was going stop funding to Politicial parties during elections. Mr.Harper just exposed his hidden agenda, to bankrupt the opposition parties by going to the polls as much as he can and if he gets a majority he will cut off all funding except donations. Donation refunds is a bigger Government expense than the 30 million proposed to withdraw. Even in America they have two strong parties. We need two strong parties in Canada not one. I guess this is the way they do politics in Alberta.