Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

GG agrees to suspend Parliament: PMO (The coup has failed - off with their heads.)
CBC News ^ | breaking | CBC

Posted on 12/04/2008 8:50:21 AM PST by jerod

Last Updated: Thursday, December 4, 2008 | 11:45 AM ET Comments1330Recommend449

Anti-coalition protesters wave placards outside Rideau Hall Thursday morning as Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with the Governor General. Anti-coalition protesters wave placards outside Rideau Hall Thursday morning as Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with the Governor General. (CBC)

Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean has agreed with a request from Stephen Harper to suspend Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office told CBC News, a move that avoids a confidence vote set for Monday that could have toppled his minority government.

The announcement on Thursday comes after a two-hour meeting with Jean at Rideau Hall in which Harper asked her to prorogue, or suspend, the current parliamentary session until the end of January, when the Tories plan to table a budget.

A no-confidence vote could have precipitated the rise of a Liberal-NDP coalition. If the Governor General had refused the prime minister's request, she could have called an election had the Conservatives lost the no-confidence vote. Or she could have allowed the proposed Liberal-NDP coalition to govern if the no-confidence vote was successful.

But the decision to suspend Parliament only gives the Tories a reprieve until late January, when they plan to table a budget that could set them up for a no-confidence vote.

Harper waved to onlookers after his limousine arrived at Rideau Hall at 9:30 a.m ET Thursday. He was greeted by about 40 chanting supporters, including Conservative staffers. A single anti-Harper demonstrator stood waving a sign reading "Harper Must Go."

Harper has pledged to use "every legal means" to prevent a Liberal-NDP coalition government, backed by the Bloc Québécois, from taking power. Making his case

Harper's visit comes a day after he took to the airwaves to make his case that his government should remain in power.

In a five-minute, pre-recorded statement Wednesday night, Harper spoke bluntly against a proposed Liberal-NDP coalition backed by "separatists," saying the federal government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together in the face of the global economic crisis.

Jean returned to Ottawa on Wednesday after cutting short a two-week trip to Europe.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, who would head the proposed coalition, said he sent a letter to Jean on Wednesday, urging her to reject any attempt by Harper to prorogue Parliament.

Dion responded to Harper's address with his own taped rebuttal in which he defended the notion of a proposed coalition government "as normal and current practice in many parts of the world."

The Conservatives have lost the confidence of the majority of members of the House of Commons — largely because of their, in the opposition's view, inadequate reaction to Canada's financial crunch — and thus, "have lost the right to govern," Dion said. Economic statement lambasted

The coalition sprang up after the Tories released an economic statement that was lambasted by the opposition parties.

They accused Harper of doing nothing to address the current economic crisis and slammed what they saw as ideologically driven measures such as the proposed elimination of subsidies for political parties, a three-year ban on the right of civil servants to strike and limits on the ability of women to sue for pay equity.

Harper has since backed down on those contentious issues, but the opposition has pushed forward with the coalition.

The coalition — which would have a 24-member cabinet composed of six NDP and 18 Liberal MPs — has vowed to make an economic stimulus package a priority, proposing a multibillion-dollar plan that would include help for the auto and forestry sectors.

With 77 Liberal MPs and 37 New Democrats, plus the support of 49 Bloc members, the three parties have more seats than the 143 held by the Tories. With files from the Canadian Press


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
The Coalition of Fear and Loathing has failed.
1 posted on 12/04/2008 8:50:22 AM PST by jerod
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: jerod

AND NOW WE SMASH THE LEFTIST TREASONERS!!!!


2 posted on 12/04/2008 8:51:49 AM PST by Catholic Canadian ( I love Stephen Harper!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fanfan

ping


3 posted on 12/04/2008 8:52:46 AM PST by dynachrome (Barack Hussein Obama yunikku khinaaziir)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Catholic Canadian

An election in February... Us against them and they’re going to lose big time.

Thank you Ed Broadbent and Stephan Dion, you’ve brought Canada closer to finally having a majority Conservative majority. LOL


4 posted on 12/04/2008 8:54:19 AM PST by jerod (They were pro-abortion, for gun control & wanted a cleaner environment at all cost - The NAZI party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: jerod

One of the basic weaknesses of parliamentary democracy...


5 posted on 12/04/2008 8:54:31 AM PST by bobjam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dynachrome; GMMAC; Clive; exg; kanawa; backhoe; -YYZ-; Former Proud Canadian; Squawk 8888; ...
Thanks for the ping, Dynachrome.


6 posted on 12/04/2008 8:57:07 AM PST by fanfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: fanfan

Prayers for our friends in the Great White North. So, y’all shall have another election in February? Hopefully the CPC can secure the solid majority (i.e. 50%+) that they have sought for so long.


7 posted on 12/04/2008 9:02:48 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jerod

Oh YEAH BABY!!!


8 posted on 12/04/2008 9:09:02 AM PST by Catholic Canadian ( I love Stephen Harper!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps; Clive

This doesn’t mean we get an election.

It just means the Government can’t fall before Jan.26th.

Can you confirm this for me Clive?


9 posted on 12/04/2008 9:19:56 AM PST by fanfan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: jerod

Ever notice how you never see the Canadian Governor-General and Michelle Obama in the same room together?


10 posted on 12/04/2008 9:30:00 AM PST by Oratam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jerod

Alberta is welcome to join the USA, I’m sure...

then my gf wouldn’t need to get a visa and a green card...and all the other rigamorole required for people that want to move here legally and be productive, honest members of our society...


11 posted on 12/04/2008 9:32:28 AM PST by stefanbatory (Do you want a President or a King?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jerod
We have a coalition of parties, that on their own, could never form the Government Of Canada and they're seeking to accomplish through a backroom deal what they could never get from Canadian voters: a mandate to govern the country.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

12 posted on 12/04/2008 9:47:21 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fanfan
fanfan wrote:

"This doesn't mean we get an election.

"It just means the Government can't fall before Jan.26th.

"Can you confirm this for me Clive?"

Correct.

All that has happened is that parliament has prorogued until late January. This gives the government time to prepare and deliver the annual Budget Speech which conventionally is delivered in February. Harper remains Prime Minister.

A Canadian Budget speech is not just a matter of taxation and funding the government. It is a major statement of the state of the economy and the government's proposed response to it.

Most of the meat of the Budget speech is not in the oral presentation, but is in the Budget Papers that are tabled as part of the speech. Those papers are simultaneously released to the public.

The budget debate which follows the Budget Speech is a major annual debate. It will be the Opposition parties' first opportunity in the new session to put forth motions of non-confidence.

It will also be the government's opportunity to present its fiscal plans for the nation and to dare the opposition to force the government to take it to the electorate.

13 posted on 12/05/2008 4:59:26 AM PST by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: fanfan; exg; Alberta's Child; albertabound; AntiKev; backhoe; Byron_the_Aussie; Cannoneer No. 4; ...

-


14 posted on 12/05/2008 5:00:39 AM PST by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jerod

Without any seats in Quebec or Toronto and surrounding areas....good luck with that.

Harper effectively lost Quebec and there is no way with him as leader that a majority could be had.

The facts just don’t support the hope.


15 posted on 12/05/2008 5:27:44 AM PST by JNL (uot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Clive

Thanks Clive.


16 posted on 12/05/2008 5:45:35 AM PST by fanfan (Update on Constitutional Crisis in Canada.....Click user name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson