Posted on 12/01/2008 9:01:18 PM PST by Chet 99
TORONTO: In a political coup, Canada's three opposition parties have joined hands to oust the just elected minority government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
In a deal signed by the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP) and backed by the separatist Bloc Quebecois in Ottawa on Monday, the first two parties will form a new government, with the third supporting them from outside.
Under the deal, Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion will become the new prime minister till May when his party chooses a new leader to replace him.
Dion has sent a letter to Governor-General Michaelle Jean - who is away in Europe - about the decision of the combined opposition to defeat the current government in the House and form a coalition government.
The coalition deal will last till June 30, 2011, when the two parties will review their relationship. But the Bloc Quebecois, which is supporting them from outside, said it will back the coalition only till June 30, 2010, and then review the arrangement.
The cabinet will have 18 ministers from the Liberal Party and six from the NDP. It will be the first time since 1926 that a Canadian government will be replaced without an election.
In the 308-member House of Commons, the ruling Conservative Party has 143 MPs, the Liberal Party 77, the NDP 37 and the Bloc Quebecois 49.
In the Oct 14 general election, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative Party was returned with a tally of 143 seats in the 308-member House of Commons. But it fell short of the 155-seat majority mark, leading to the current crisis.
Curiously, the man (Dion) who will be Canada's new prime minister had led his Liberal Party to its worst-ever defeat in decades, reducing its tally from 95 to 77 in parliament.
He is scheduled to step down in May when his party chooses a new leader who will then become the prime minister.
What brought the opposition parties together was the last week's economic update by the ruling party which failed to announce any package to stimulate the economy and cut public funding for political parties.
An outraged Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canadians will not like the overturning of ``the results of an election a few weeks later in order to form a coalition nobody voted for and everybody denied.''
Referring to the Bloc Quebecois which wants French-speaking Quebec province to break away from Canada, the prime minister said, ``And to have a coalition like that that can govern only with the veto of the people who want to break up this country.Do they really believe that is in the interests of this country?''
They haven’t even held a vote of confidence yet, and the Times of India is presenting this as a done deal?
My Deepest Sympathies
I know little of Canadian politics, but the Conservatives should make this new bloc’s life a living hell. Oppose them in every way possible and make it untenable to rule.
This is becoming the MO of the left. I mean, look at what Franken wants done in Minnesota with help from the Senate.
It’s funny my first thought at reading the headline was, “I didn’t know Celine Dion was in Canandian politics?”
uh...eh?
>``And to have a coalition like that that can govern only with the veto of the people who want to
>break up this country.Do they really believe that is in the interests of this country?’’
Good closing quote, eh?
I was going to make fun of our neighbors to the North but then it dawned on me ... this happened in the US in 2001, courtesy of Jumpin Jim Jeffords. Also, Joe Lieberman has held control of the Senate in his hands ever since his election as an independent.
Wow, a month ago they were sounding the dirge for Dion’s political career!
We’ve got Obama bin Laden as President. The Canadians are getting off easy.
and cut public funding for political parties.
yeahhh that was a pretty dumb move when you don’t even have a majority.
It appears that North American government has been reduced to fraud, skullduggery, and bamboozlement. Enough is enough already. There’s still the route of new elections, but hey.
Of course, I could just be fooling myself.
Gee, and here I was thinking that Canada might be a good refuge should the 0bama Civilian National Security Force decide that I am an ‘unrepentant capitalist’. Guess I’ll have to look elsewhere for safety.
Well, Mr. PM, people here in the States don't seem to mind it when the candidate who gets fewer legitimate votes claims victory and assumes power. It's been happening a lot recently. And no one seems angry enough to do anything about it.
I'm interested to see how the Tories end up handling this, to see if anything may be applicable here. One thing: it's going to prove tough to keep together a coalition of three, with the vetoing party being the most radical.
An outraged Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canadians will not like the overturning of ``the results of an election a few weeks later in order to form a coalition nobody voted for and everybody denied.’’
The downside of a parliamentary system which allows for the majority, even if it comes from several smaller minorities working together, to take over. I hope the electorate let those in Ottawa know what they think of this coalition. My guess is that when it falls apart, Harper will come out of the next election with a majority and some of these interlopers will be defeated.
That’s a good idea-can’t the OUTRAGED; (along with most Canadians, I would assume-even rank and file members of those opposition parties since this did not happen in an election) so can’t the conservatives pick off a few oposition members every vote (even if the coalition comes to rule?). Aren’t there a few “conservative leaning” members of the Bloc Q??
As to the comment that it was a dumb move to try to cut off government funding that is a red herring argument. Harper already backed off and the NDP has been planning this for at least 3 weeks now - this was all planned long before the funding question.
If the Governor General allows this it will absolutely be unprecedented. I beleive it needs to go back to the electorate or she should allow harper to suspend Parliament. This is NOT good for this country. These are ALL Morons. Two of them could NEVER win an election and the third one couldn’t either but then he is interested in separating Quebec from Canada and becoming his own country? Oh- Vey!! God Help us all. CO
I agree Sam. And yes, The Governer General MUST do what is RIGHT for the country. This is just plain wicked. If it goes to another election, it just might backfire and the Conservatives win a Majority. At least I can wish huh? CO
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