[Canadian] MPs topple Liberal government, trigger election

CBC ^ | November 28, 2005 | CBC

[Heatseeker]

The opposition parties banded together Monday to defeat the Liberal minority government and trigger an election that is expected to culminate in a mid-January vote.

The House passed an historic no-confidence motion exactly one year and five months after Canadian voters elected the Liberals.

Prime Minister Paul Martin will now have to go see Governor General Michaëlle Jean Tuesday morning and ask her to dissolve Parliament.

The Liberal defeat marks the first time a government has fallen on a straight motion of no-confidence in Parliament.

Other minority governments have been forced into elections after losing budget votes or censure motions interpreted as loss of confidence.

Last week, Opposition Leader Stephen Harper officially tabled the motion of no-confidence which read: "That this House has lost confidence in the government."

The Liberals have 133 seats, followed by the Conservatives with 98, the Bloc Quebecois with 53 and the NDP with 18. There are four seats held by Independents.

According to a poll conducted by Environics Research for the CBC, 35 per cent of decided voters said they would vote Liberal. The Conservatives came in at 30 per cent and the NDP were picked by 20 per cent.

With a margin of error +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20, the poll puts the Liberals and Conservatives at a virtual dead heat.

Federal elections have to be held on a Monday and the campaigns have to be at least 36 days long. Martin is expected to call for a slightly longer campaign, setting the vote for mid-January, either the 16th or the 23rd, with an agreement among the parties to take a holiday break and stop campaigning between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3.

An eight-week campaign would be the longest the country has seen in two decades.

The last time a government fell at the hands of the opposition was Joe Clark's Conservative government in 1979.

Monday's vote means a number of bills will die on the order paper, among them an act to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and an animal cruelty bill.

[beaver fever]

Actually the best way to understand the Canadian system is that ridings (precincts or counties)are determined by provincial and federal riding associations and Elections Canada that must approve riding boundaries.

There is a lot of room for gerrymandering in both the US and Canadian systems but the Canadian system is more proportional however it is still winner take all.

Even if a party wins by one seat they get to appoint the entire cabinet and form a government.

The Canadian system is quite unique and can be quite volatile. Sometimes volatile and stable at the same time.

[Heatseeker]

Should this have any effect on our 2006 Mid-Term elections? Or does this effect Canada only?

Unlikely. Even in the worst-case scenario (Liberal Party majority) you wind up with the same relationship we have now so it's status quo. Best (realistic) case (Conservative minority government) things might be much better.

[JNL]

I always though it was based on the British system, far from unique. What it lack (that the American system has) is a system of checks and balances. Having lived in both countries the American system is much more honest and reflective of voter feelings.

[Heatseeker]

Here's my take. I think the Grits will pick up seats in BC, but they are also going to lose them in Quebec, where Gomery has had a much bigger impact and even a lot of erstwhile Liberals will stay home or protest-vote for the Bloc.

So once again it's down to Ontario. Harper needs to pick up seats in 905-land.

[beaver fever]

Actually very much different than the British system. The House of Lords is the equivelant of the Canadian Senate which is appointed by the ruling government in Canada but is determined by aristocratic title in the UK.

Why do you think so many British Rock stars have been knighted?

Ans: because the UK system is becoming more like the Canadian system where the upper house is being diluted by political appointees.

While knights are not landed gentry by title they are buying up the lands and assets of the old aristocracy and will eventually replace them and they are being knighted for political reasons eg. Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Mick Jagger.

The Canadian system is succeeding where Cromwell failed, eliminating hereditary title in favor of political patronage and loyalty.

[Heatseeker]

Actually the best way to understand the Canadian system is that ridings (precincts or counties)are determined by provincial and federal riding associations and Elections Canada that must approve riding boundaries.

Heh heh. Might ask the folks in Etobicoke-Lakeshore about that first part. Sorry, couldn't resist. ;)

[JNL]

Yes I agree that's the Senate but their power in Canada is severly limited. (a couple of old guys complaining about non-bilingual menus in Ottawa). I was more refering to the House of Commons.

BTW If anyone who can appoint Senators is reading this I am ready to send in my Resume LOL.

[LZ_Bayonet]

" Its as much geographical as it is ideological. "

Urban areas running the whole show. Goes to show you the value of an Electoral College.

[JNL]

Yes it does, why do you think the Dims want to get rid of it.

[beaver fever]

Your rite Harper is going to have to pick up in Ontario but I think Layton got suckered. He only got one extra seat in the last election.

He may actually lose his own seat along with his wife because he allowed himself to become the giant killer. But he is no David and Martin is not Goliath.

As for BC the BC Liberal party is not Liberal. It is in American terms a free enterprise RINO rump movement and Campbell is politically weak at this point.

The BC Liberals and NDP share no common ground with the Federal Liberals and NDP. It's like they exist on different planets.

As far as Gomery and Quebec, Quebec has historically been the most corrupt province in terms of bribes and patronage,
(the Duplessis Era). The Quebecers are only angry because the brown envelope didn't end up in the Bloc's bank accounts.

[glock rocks]

teriffic. they gonna unregister the guns now?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Watching Martin speaking to his caucus now. Bad choice of a backdrop there Lil' Paulie, when they zoom in on the Maple Leaf flag like that it looks like you're standing in front of a big red-state 'W'. ;)

LOL!

Maybe CNN can superimpose a flashing “W” over his face on television, but don't hold your breath...

[M203M4]

The only pro-life party in Canada is Heritage. They are like the Constitution party.

Actually, if they were more prominent, it could very well make the Conservatives seem more palatable. I doubt it would drain much support from our ranks either - those dudes are pretty messed up haha. Gotta make a new boogieman.

Another thing is, Harper is generally regarded (truth vs perceptions...) as being to the right of Alberta's premier, Ralph Klein. I don't expect Canadians to want to elect a more conservative government than the average Albertan.

Harper can make gains by hammering the Libs on ethics and promising not to rock the boat. It's hard to convince a populus that is well-fed, employed, and generally content that the country is going in the wrong direction.

Women don't seem to like him especially. Harper, you need to get a puppy.

what? :)

[MC Miker G]

There might be SOME room for gerrymandering here, but it's nothing like it is in the US. Ridings boundaries are set by a non-partisan body, based on population and geography. This is why you have ridings in Toronto that incorporate the wealthiest neighbourhoods and the poorest.

Also, in the US, House elections are generally decided not on election day, but whenever the district boundaries are decided. Canadians aren't as reliably loyal to a particular party. Sure, there are safe seats, but they said that before the 1993 campaign as well.

[northernlightsII]

Ontario voters are stupid enough to believe that they wield power, they haven't run anything in any liberal government since Trudeau came to power. Every PM has been from Quebec since then (short monthly stints by Clark Turner and Campbell excepted), and all their principal lieutenants were/are from Quebec. Not a clown from Ontario was consulted by Chretien before he launched his money for nothing sponsorship program.
End result Westerners despise Ontarians for cowtowing to Quebec and Quebecers despise Ontarians for their gullibility.
Maritimers just keep on begging...

[beaver fever]

The most agregius example of gerry mandering was 'Gracy's Finger' where the BC Socreds redistricted Grace MacArthy's riding to include a 'finger' of land 20 miles wide and 150 miles long that coincidentally gave her a majority in the up coming election.

She was deputy premier at the time and was not doing well in the polls.

At the Federal level it's more difficult to cook the boundaries.

[beaver fever]

I feel your pain and I'm not from the Maritimes.

By the way is it anyones wonder why the Newfies are so pissed?

[Sthitch]

I have all the confidence in the world that the Canadian Conservative party will wrestle defeat from the jaws of victory.

[Alexander Rubin]

As a member, I think I may have to agree with you. Except I think "snatch" defeat from the jaws of victory is more accurate.

[1066AD]

Why are the Newfies upset ?
I thought there was some sort of scheme where wealthier provinces like in the west were effectively subsidising the Maritimes and so on.
Must admit I've not followed it very closely I'm afraid.