For the last few days, I’ve been eagerly following the Canadian news cycle.
As regulars know, I’m thrilled by the American elections, and embrassassed that Canadians gave the Harper Conservatives another shot at governing.
The ridiculous nature of the Canadian electoral system — often called first past the post — means that our current government enjoys the electoral support of only 36 percent of Canadians. The other 64 percent of us, moderates and progressives, have been watching this right-wing government with a sense of ominous foreboding. Over the last three years, they’ve been quietly locking Canada into a fossil fuel economy, to the economic ruin of all, and dismantling our social safety net. They’ve destroyed our international reputation, and they’ve also plunged the country back into a deficit, with nothing to show for their useless tax cuts. They refuse to stimulate the economy, a move that befuddles economists, and they will do nothing to support clean technology and renewable energy, unlike virtually every developed nation on the planet.
Obviously, as an environmentalist, I despise Harper’s callous disregard for climate change, and how he refuses to listen to our top scientists. He’s best branded as George Bush-lite, a man who cleaves to right-wing policy with a frightening conviction.
But frankly, I’m surprised by his utter lack of vision, and how he is married to a right-wing agenda of cutting taxes and laissez-faire deregulation that is now being blamed for the current financial crisis. Canada is on a downward spiral — morally, economically, and environmentally.
When I launch One Blue Marble in the next week or 10 days, I was planning to make the argument for a left-leaning coalition government to bring down the Conservatives in a Vote of Non-Confidence. I was going to further argue that rather than force another election, that these same parties work together to form the next government, as they do in many European nations. Truth to tell, it seemed like a long-shot. I was merely hoping that the idea might gain traction a year from now.
The good news is that I might not have to wait so long. The Liberal and New Democratic Parties are working behind the scenes to do what must be done… right now. Call your MP now to offer your support for this initiative!
Some silly editorialists at Canada’s national newspapers are suggesting that the move will create a constitutional crisis, arguing that Canadians don’t want a coalition government. And that shows that most of them are more out-of-touch than Harper’s Tories.
Jeffrey Simpson nailed it: Harper has no one to blame but himself.
