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-   -   Canada no-confidence vote topples Harper government (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=247309)

Netto Azure March 25th, 2011 11:56 AM

Canada no-confidence vote topples Harper government
 
Canada no-confidence vote topples Harper government

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51847000/jpg/_51847868_011616950-1.jpg
Stephen Harper, seated, said most Canadians were disappointed at the prospect of a new election


Quote:

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government has fallen after a no-confidence vote passed in the parliament.

The vote, engineered by the opposition Liberal Party and backed by two other opposition parties, triggers an election expected in early May.
The move stemmed from a ruling on Monday that the minority government was in contempt of parliament.
But the Conservatives are thought likely to keep power in a May election.
With the House of Commons adjourned, Mr Harper on Saturday will ask Governor General David Johnston to dissolve parliament.
Following that, an election will be held after a minimum 36 days of campaigning. Canadian analysts expect it will be called for the first week in May.

'Historic moment'

After the confidence vote, Mr Harper said he suspected the forthcoming federal election, the country's fourth in seven years, would "disappoint" most Canadians.
He said he and Conservative MPs would remain focused on nurturing Canada's economic recovery.
"Our priority will remain to ensure stability and security for Canadians, in what remain extremely challenging global circumstances," he said.
Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff hailed the "historic moment", and called for a focus on healthcare, education and retirement support.
"We want to form an alternative to the Harper government that respects democracy, that respects our institutions, that respects Canadian citizens," he said.
Mr Harper's Conservative Party holds 145 seats in the dissolving parliament, shy of a majority of the 308 seats.
Recent polling suggests the Conservatives will enjoy a lead at the start of campaigning, with the Liberal Party in second, the New Democratic (NDP) Party third and the Bloc Quebecois, which campaigns only in Quebec, fourth.
The Conservative Party is likely to emerge from the May election in power, with some polls indicating it could even gain seats.
Analysts say Canadian voters have shown little desire for an election, although Mr Harper's minority government had set a record for its tenure.
"The political calculations driving this election have nothing to do with making Canada a better place for Canadians," CTV television political analyst Don Martin said ahead of the vote.
"The opposition parties see a moment of weakness."
Well the coalition failed the first time. But hey, I don't know what the Liberal-NDP-Bloc Quebecois will do any different from the Conservatives, what, stop the development of the Alberta Tar Sands? Canada remained relatively unscathed in the Great Recession. So yeah.

And then again another election in what 2 years? Jeez, when will Canada get another Majority government?

TRIFORCE89 March 25th, 2011 7:04 PM

The budget wasn't perfect, I don't think it's possible for a budget to be perfect. But, it was a pretty "safe" budget. Did what it had to do, no more, no less. Continued with some stimulus spending, while cutting down on other parts of it. We weathered the recession better than almost any nation, and it's time to lay off. Some minor tax breaks. Some catering to the NDPs, hoping they'd support the budget. And plans to bring us back into the black within a decade or so.

The Bloc turned down the budget because they did not receive any money in it for bringing the HST to Québec. Why would Québec deserve any money for that? The Provinces that switched to the HST (instead of GST+PST) end up saving money because the tax collection and handling is then handled by the Federal level instead. They wanted more money because they saved money, which is idiotic.

Speaking of idiotic, the Liberals brought on this election when not only are they way behind the Conservatives - but they're even behind the NDP in the polls! Holy crap! How is that even possible!? And why on Earth would you call an election when you're doing that badly?

The Liberals have their panties in a knot over two issues, a)The budget, which again was fairly safe, b)Parliamentary ethics. Ethics. The party who lost power because they threw away $100million+ is complaining about ethics.

Not that I don't care about the parliamentary ethics. But, quite frankly, in my day-to-day life, I don't care all that much if the Conservatives (or whoever may be in power at the time, pretty much) don't confine to bureaucracy and forget to dot their I's and cross their T's. Yes, it's a problem and should be addressed and solved. But it's just such a non-issue, I can't believe they want to make this an election issue. Ethical or not (wasn't illegal, mind you), money wasn't lost. So, no one cares.

NDP... hey, they're up in the polls over the Liberals. So, all power to them.

The election is needless. The issues at hand are ridiculous. And we'll end up either with a narrow majority, or the largest minority yet for the Conservatives. Not worth the time or cost involved.

As stated many times in past Canadian political threads here, I'm not a strong supporter of the Federal Conservative party. At the moment, it is mostly made up the old Reform party. Personally, I'm a Progressive Conservative. A Red Tory. So, the federal Conservatives don't presently align with my own ideology. And, I think there are better issues that the opposition party could bring up as a reasoning for this election other than the budget and "ethics".

How about the HST? Or the F-35s? Or the G-20 summit? Energy (which was suicide for the opposition last time around, but still)? Health care (not really a Conservative problem, mind you. But something that should be addressed all the same).


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