Harper feeling the heat as Opposition leaders threaten non-confidence vote
If you’re the type to get a thrill from Canadian politics, saying it’s been an exciting few days on Parliament Hill would be an understatement.
Within hours of the minority Tories releasing a fiscal update Thursday announcing plans to cut federal funding to political parties, Opposition parties agreed to a non-confidence vote Monday to bounce Stephen Harper from Canada’s top job.
Conservative Party plans to kill public subsidies for political parties would have financially crippled every party but the Tories, who get the lion’s share of their funds from donations gathered by call centres.
The Opposition parties considered that move too hard to swallow and planned to vote non-confidence in Harper’s government in Monday’s Question Period and ask the Governor-General to let them form a coalition government instead of going to the polls again.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, no doubt remembering Joe Clark’s historic 18-cent-a gallon gas tax blunder in 1979 which cost him the confidence of the House and his government after only nine months, seemed scared as he gave a speech Friday night, postponing the vote until Dec. 10 to buy himself some breathing room.
Then on Saturday, the Tories reversed their decision on cutting party funds.
Transport Minister John Baird told reporters the Tories didn’t think the funding issue was worth getting into an election over. "We won't be proceeding,” Baird said.
Then early Sunday morning the word was Finance Minister Jim Flaherty would be announcing an earlier date for the federal budget and not waiting until January as scheduled.
I’m getting the impression Harper’s feeling kinda desperate right now.
Harper was voted his second-straight minority government just six weeks ago, but he’s been pushing his weight around like he has a majority. Big mistake. Maybe the biggest mistake of his political career. All that remains to be seen is if the Opposition leaders have what it takes to stick to their guns and vote down Harper’s government.
Harper’s move to take public funds away from Opposition parties would have effectively turned Canada into a one-party state. You’re gonna hear a lot about democratic this and undemocratic that in the next week, but Harper’s not-too-subtle attempt to bankrupt our Opposition parties was taking undemocratic to a whole new level, even for him.
You’re gonna hear how a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition is a coup against the democratically elected Prime Minister. But for those who don’t know, we don’t vote for the Prime Minister in Canada. We vote for Members of Parliament. Harper won a minority and if he can’t keep the confidence of the House, he’s turfed and it’s off to the polls, or the majority of the House can ask the Governor-General to let them form a government. It doesn’t get any more democratic then that.
To show how hypocritical Harper and his government are, here’s a copy of a letter sent to then Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson September 9, 2004, signed by Stephen Harper and other opposition leaders clamouring for that very thing.
Excellency,
As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program.
We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority.
Your attention to this matter is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
I wonder what Harper's gonna say to get his neck out of this noose? Or is this the end for Stephen Harper?
Within hours of the minority Tories releasing a fiscal update Thursday announcing plans to cut federal funding to political parties, Opposition parties agreed to a non-confidence vote Monday to bounce Stephen Harper from Canada’s top job.
Conservative Party plans to kill public subsidies for political parties would have financially crippled every party but the Tories, who get the lion’s share of their funds from donations gathered by call centres.
The Opposition parties considered that move too hard to swallow and planned to vote non-confidence in Harper’s government in Monday’s Question Period and ask the Governor-General to let them form a coalition government instead of going to the polls again.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, no doubt remembering Joe Clark’s historic 18-cent-a gallon gas tax blunder in 1979 which cost him the confidence of the House and his government after only nine months, seemed scared as he gave a speech Friday night, postponing the vote until Dec. 10 to buy himself some breathing room.
Then on Saturday, the Tories reversed their decision on cutting party funds.
Transport Minister John Baird told reporters the Tories didn’t think the funding issue was worth getting into an election over. "We won't be proceeding,” Baird said.
Then early Sunday morning the word was Finance Minister Jim Flaherty would be announcing an earlier date for the federal budget and not waiting until January as scheduled.
I’m getting the impression Harper’s feeling kinda desperate right now.
Harper was voted his second-straight minority government just six weeks ago, but he’s been pushing his weight around like he has a majority. Big mistake. Maybe the biggest mistake of his political career. All that remains to be seen is if the Opposition leaders have what it takes to stick to their guns and vote down Harper’s government.
Harper’s move to take public funds away from Opposition parties would have effectively turned Canada into a one-party state. You’re gonna hear a lot about democratic this and undemocratic that in the next week, but Harper’s not-too-subtle attempt to bankrupt our Opposition parties was taking undemocratic to a whole new level, even for him.
You’re gonna hear how a Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition is a coup against the democratically elected Prime Minister. But for those who don’t know, we don’t vote for the Prime Minister in Canada. We vote for Members of Parliament. Harper won a minority and if he can’t keep the confidence of the House, he’s turfed and it’s off to the polls, or the majority of the House can ask the Governor-General to let them form a government. It doesn’t get any more democratic then that.
To show how hypocritical Harper and his government are, here’s a copy of a letter sent to then Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson September 9, 2004, signed by Stephen Harper and other opposition leaders clamouring for that very thing.
Excellency,
As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the Prime Minister (Paul Martin) to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program.
We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority.
Your attention to this matter is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
I wonder what Harper's gonna say to get his neck out of this noose? Or is this the end for Stephen Harper?
posted by Street Wise Guy | 10:21 AM
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