Fall Election Looms
| 8/22/2008 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Once again, the election drums are beating. Such is life when there is a minority government in power. What makes this time rather interesting is that Harper is the one that is adding fuel to the fire. So much for his oft repeated declaration that he intends to govern until October 2009 which is when the law, that he brought in, sets for the next federal election.
Harper is claiming that the opposition parties are obstructing the function of parliament and that unless he has some indication that he has a functioning parliament, he will bring about the dissolution of parliament. He really can’t get himself off the opposition benches can he? Maybe an election will put him back in his more natural location, on the opposition benches — he appears to be more comfortable there.
When it comes to bogging down parliament and more recently parliamentary committees, none do it better than Harper and his Conservatives. When he was in opposition, his tactics had more to do with bogging down parliament and getting lots of news sound bites than any reasoned debate on the business of parliament. He’s not much different from the government side of the house.
I find it most interesting that Harper is musing about dissolving parliament on one hand and on the other hand he and his cronies are allegedly actively encouraging party members who have received summons to the Ethic Committee hearings on the so called in and out scheme that Elections Canada has blown the whistle on by refusing to reimburse about 60 ridings involved in the scheme.
If an election is called, the current hearings die in progress and would have to be restarted after an election. I certainly hope that the oppositon parties don’t take their eye off that ball. If the Conservatives were as clean on this as they claim, they would be trotting their people into those hearings and having them lay the facts on the table, instead they are engaged in discouraging some to appear and having other, bull dog types, show up and demand immediate hearing when they haven’t been scheduled. Quit playing games and clear the air if you are innocent.
While I consider Harper and many of his closest cronies to be nothing but a bunch of bullies, Dion isn’t exactly coming up smelling like roses. I’ve been less than impressed at the Liberal tactic of just not showing up in the house for the several confidence votes that have been held. Course, I’m not real impressed with Harper’s use of confidence votes to try to ram through legislation but it is a legit tactic.
I suppose in the big picture so is not showing up, it just shows a whole different level of avoidance of an issue. Personally, I’d rather that Dion stay mum on when or how he wants to bring the government down than what seems like constant ‘teasing’ with it. Keep your counsel and then take action when the time is right. Sometimes it is the better approach than an all talk, no action approach.
I don’t know about this Green Shift proposal that the Liberals are putting forward. I don’t really understand how it will work, I do get it that it is a pretty gutsy and risky move on the Liberals part. To have a leader that is perceived as weak taking such a gutsy move is pretty surprising. WIth the viciousness of Harper’s response to it, I’m suspecting that Dion might just be on to something.
As always though, the proof is in the pudding. If he is allowed to make it.
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