I am a coalitionist!
Last edited by homeless; 12-01-2008 at 10:13 AM. Reason: more info: www address
I disagree with the timing of this coalition agreement. We just finished elections in the fall, those elected should try to work together to solve many of the problems we are facing. Do not look at the results of the elections and decide the public doesn't know what is best for them, let's just form a side agreement with other parties.
I would be an upset federal liberal voter if I heard they were joining forces with the NDP and/or Bloc in order to have the real power in Ottawa. The country just voted for the parties/people they want in power. A NDP voter may not have voted for them if they had known the NDP would be joining forces with two parties with different agendas.
This stinks of a poor loser. Work with the results and try some give and take with the Conservatives, rather than just ways to defeat them. And the Cons have to be able to budge a bit, or we could just end up facing another election if this coalition was to lose any members, the government could face a vote of no confidence quite soon. WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER ELECTION!
I would prefer that the Conservatives, Liberals, NDP and Green party work together to do something to prevent the Bloc from gaining as many seats as it does. It is almost mathematically impossible for any government to form a majority as long as the Bloc gets their seats in Quebec. They are not a national party because they do not run candidates in other provinces.
Any coalition government with the Bloc involved would only work to gain an advantage to Quebec and not the rest of the provinces. If the NDP and Liberals want to jump in bed and form a coalition party they would only have 114 (116 if they got the independents) seats compared to the 143 that the Conservatives hold.
The Bloc with their 49 seats hold the balance of power by either joining the Liberal/NDP or the Conservatives.
The Conservatives got seats (143) in every province including Nunavut except Newfoundland/Labrador.
The Liberals were elected (77) in every province including the Yukon except Alberta.
The NDP were elected (37) in every province including the NWT except PEI and Saskatchewan.
Two independents were elected, one in Nova Scotia and one in Quebec.
The Bloc only got seats (49) in Quebec!
Since the Bloc first became a party we have had three majority governments, all Liberal. Only due to the disaster of the PC party and the NDP in 1993 was Chretien able to muster a majority government. Since the amalgamation of the Progressive Conservatives and the Reform party we have had a minority government.
Blue,
we are in a coalition right now! With the support of the others, harper is able to Govern. He picked the fight that has caused this mess, just like he caused the last election. Either you agree with Democracy, majority rules, or you don't. Plain and simple. He should resign and let some other leader or the cons try to get the confidence of the house back!
I highly doubt Harper would resign, considering there have been no real leadership troubles in the Conservative Party. Now getting Stephan Dion out of the Liberal Party is a real must, that party cannot survive without a leader with a much broader appeal.
I also disagree that we are in a coalition government right now. If that is the case any minority government is leading a coalition, which is not the case. They lead a minority government that needs some support from a few members of the other parties, they do not need full support.
I am very upset at the idea of my vote for one party not really being that. It was in reality a vote for any of the losing parties. I do not think this proposed coalition would benefit many citizens of Canada, it would help the opposition parties and Quebec citizens, but as far as the regular joe, I don't think so. Helping party politics doesn't guarantee it will help the people.
I am up in the air about this coalition dilemma.
Harper made one of the stupidest moves I have seen in politics. He's on a par with Bush for dumb acts. He went in wanting the trust of the other parties then he tries to sewer them in the name of saving the Canadian economy.
Then the other parties go and start publicly discussing coalition (it has always been discussed behind closed doors as long as there are minority governments.)
I would be for the coalition if:
1. It wasn't so soon since our last election.
2. If the Bloc was not involved.
3. The proposal of a big buyout for the big three appalls me.(They got themselves into that mess so they can figure a way out of it.)
I hope that within the next week that this mess can be resolved in a way that will be agreeable to all parties. I don't think that is possible just because of the players..
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(='.'=)
(")_(")
Now lets think this through....
The Bloc could hold the balance of power regardless. This is not good for any federal system whereby any one localized/special interest group can do that.
The Liberal/NDP coalition could put into power what is essentially the severed head of the Liberal party. So in Canada I guess the loser can come 1st.
How does putting the coalition in power through the vote of the Bloc and Dion preserve democracy?
On the subject of the removal of the political party subsidy... Why subsidize the parties? If they have enough interest then the people should be willing to voluntarily give their money. It is not just your tax dollars that go to the political parties but mine as well. Frankly I consider them all to be a bunch of immature children playing in the sandbox.
Yes, Harper et al should have considered some sort of economic stimulus if they were going to enter some legislation at this time. However, I want the stimulus to be well thought out not some quick fix attempt that just ends of costing us nothing but money. Do you think the brain surgeons in the states have thought through the spending of $700 billion in a month or so? Nope.. they did it to placate the political foes.
We know that a Liberal-NDP coalition doesn't have enough MPs to form a majority. And I simply find it difficult to believe that these two national parties are going as far as to hand in the balance of power in the government of this great nation to the Block, whose main purpose is to separate Quebec from the rest of the country. As ridiculous as it may sound, given the current conditions in national politics, we would be better off having another federal election, and perhaps so many people will be so disgusted and disappointed with the circus in ottawa that they will send someone with a clear, definite, majority mandate to implement government policy. It's fairly obvious that the kids in Ottawa for the moment cannot do anything else but play. It's just too bad that the destiny of Canada is at stake.
The biggest issue I have with the above letter is " A majority of Canadians and Quebecers voted for our parties on October 14, 2008. Our Members of Parliament make up 55 percent of the House of Commons. "Monday, December 1, 2008
To our fellow citizens,
Canada is facing a global economic crisis. Since the recent federal election, it has become clear that the government headed by Stephen Harper has no plan, no competence and, no will to effectively address this crisis. Therefore, the majority of Parliament has lost confidence in Mr. Harper's government, and believes that the formation of a new Government that will effectively, prudently, promptly and competently address these critical economic times is necessary.
The contrast between the inaction of Mr. Harper's government and the common action taken by all other Western democracies is striking. We cannot accept this.
A majority of Canadians and Quebecers voted for our parties on October 14, 2008. Our Members of Parliament make up 55 percent of the House of Commons.
In light of the critical situation facing our citizens, and the Harper government's unwillingness and inability to address the crisis, we are resolved to support a new government that will address the interests of the people.
Today we respectfully inform the Governor General that, as soon as the appropriate opportunity arises, she should call on the Leader of the Official Opposition to form a new government, supported as set out in the accompanying accords by all three of our parties.
Respectfully,
Hon. Stéphane Dion Leader, the Liberal Party of Canada
Hon. Jack Layton Leader, the New Democratic Party of Canada
Gilles Duceppe Leader, the Bloc Québécois
We are all Canadians, and this letter pushes the separatists issue of the Bloc. I doubt if NDP and Jack Layton can survive this pact, just as Dion (who already has resigned as leader) will not survive. Once again, the Bloc, a non-national party) is controlling the country. When will it all end?
I think it's a joke that that a non-national separatist party is even PERMITTED to have representatives in a NATIONAL parliament. However, after watching the Grey Cup festivities from Montreal I cannot believe the majority of those in Quebec really want to separate....
Perhaps our GG can force the parliament to work like this: Motions must be for one item only, and all MP's MUST vote, in secret or public, on the merit's of each individual motion, perhaps considering the wishes of their constituents, irrespective of party!!!....ooops, isn't that the original arrangement??
I predict a huge slide on the TSX today....
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