An Interesting Development in Canadian Politics

Sean P Kelly · 11-29-2008, 05:21 PM

A little over a month after the Conservatives were reelected in an election that didn't result in a majority, but was strong enough to seriously cripple to Liberals (in one of their largest losses), there is now talk that the Liberals and New Democrats are planning to topple the government and form a new coalition government.

Apparently this all stems from Stephen Harper seriously dropping the ball on the economic situation.

For more information, check the CBC link.

Harper moves to avoid political showdown

Perrin Aybara · 12-01-2008, 08:53 AM

That is very interesting.

Very.

-jay

***Ace Mercury*** · 12-01-2008, 04:48 PM

Everyone's still swooning over Obama. Even the Canadians.

Sean P Kelly · 12-01-2008, 08:18 PM

The coalition agreement was made official today.

The Liberals and NDP would form the government, and they'll receive support from the Bloc Quebecois.

Now all that's left is the confidence vote on the 8th to see if this actually happens.

Then there's a the whole thing of the new Liberal leadership being decided in May, which is another issue.

Interesting Fact: The last time there was a (federal) coalition government in Canada was during World War I.

Laika Come Home · 12-02-2008, 08:18 PM

Canadian coup d'etat:

"Mr. Harper, please step away from the desk, but if you don't want to, that'll be fine too."

Sean P Kelly · 12-03-2008, 07:57 PM

I believe that a side effect of Canada being so close to the United States (and their different electoral system of only electing one individual) has resulted in one of the biggest criticisms of the coalition: Canadians elected Stephen Harper and he should be given a chance and not have power taken from him.

However, Canada uses a parliamentary system, where 308 individuals were independently elected and the Conservatives are only in power because they currently control the most seats (143)

The coalition isn't taking power, it's just the opposition parties joining forces, so that they control more seats than the Conservatives (a combined 163).

EDIT: Actually here's a quote from an interview with an expert in the Toronto Star that explains what I said above a little more professionally:

Quote:

Is this a coup d’état?
That’s the way the Harper government would like to portray it. But it’s fundamentally confusing a Republican system with a Parliamentary system. In essence, we have an indirect election of government - rather than a direct election. In a Republican system, voters in the U.S. got to decide, `Do I want McCain or Obama.’ And then secondarily: `Who do I want as my local rep or my state rep?’ Whereas in the Canadian parliamentary system, like the British parliamentary system, you only get to vote for whoever your local rep is, and then the majority of members of that legislature then get to decide who forms that government. And they’re free to change their minds over the course of a parliament. And in a circumstance, that we have in modern parliamentary system with party discipline, they tend to vote along party lines, which means you generally only get this when you have a minority situation.

El Barto · 12-06-2008, 02:46 PM

I think we should just let Rick Mercer lead.

Rick Mercer.com

Prince Toad · 01-08-2009, 02:05 PM

Topic title = oxymoron.

***CaptHayfever*** · 01-08-2009, 02:29 PM

^

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

11-29-2008, 05:21 PM	#1
Sean P Kelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,789 Thanks: 19 Thanked 58 Times in 46 Posts	An Interesting Development in Canadian Politics A little over a month after the Conservatives were reelected in an election that didn't result in a majority, but was strong enough to seriously cripple to Liberals (in one of their largest losses), there is now talk that the Liberals and New Democrats are planning to topple the government and form a new coalition government. Apparently this all stems from Stephen Harper seriously dropping the ball on the economic situation. For more information, check the CBC link. Harper moves to avoid political showdown

12-01-2008, 08:53 AM	#2
Perrin Aybara Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Alone....so terribly alone... Some... where... out... there... dies Gender: Posts: 12,760 Thanks: 194 Thanked 504 Times in 235 Posts	That is very interesting. Very. -jay

12-01-2008, 04:48 PM	#3
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Everyone's still swooning over Obama. Even the Canadians.

12-01-2008, 08:18 PM	#4
Sean P Kelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Gender: Posts: 3,789 Thanks: 19 Thanked 58 Times in 46 Posts	The coalition agreement was made official today. The Liberals and NDP would form the government, and they'll receive support from the Bloc Quebecois. Now all that's left is the confidence vote on the 8th to see if this actually happens. Then there's a the whole thing of the new Liberal leadership being decided in May, which is another issue. Interesting Fact: The last time there was a (federal) coalition government in Canada was during World War I.

12-02-2008, 08:18 PM	#5
Laika Come Home Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Gender: Posts: 615 Thanks: 214 Thanked 77 Times in 45 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Canadian coup d'etat: "Mr. Harper, please step away from the desk, but if you don't want to, that'll be fine too."

12-06-2008, 02:46 PM	#7
El Barto Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I think we should just let Rick Mercer lead. Rick Mercer.com

01-08-2009, 02:05 PM	#8
Prince Toad Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rookery Gender: Posts: 11,720 Thanks: 50 Thanked 65 Times in 56 Posts	Topic title = oxymoron.

01-08-2009, 02:29 PM	#9
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,661 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	^ And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"