- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 950
Well, the issue of a Coalition has been settled, at least for now, and we can all relax for a bit. However, I am dubious that this is over, and that we will be having these same discussions again 6 weeks from now. Respect for Harper, and confidence in his government in all likelihood will not improve during that time. The feelings in Ottawa are running too high.
My arguments have not been on behalf of one party or another, but on behalf of our democratic system. Our governments change from one party to another every few years, and the world continues. We all wake up the next morning and discover the sun is still there. To say our economy will tank, or jobs will be lost, etc. if a coalition takes over, is scare mongering and just false, IMO. The economy is tanking and jobs are being lost with the current government in power, and a coalition has nothing to do with those circumstances. Too many people are running around saying, "The sky is falling. The sky is falling."
IMHO, the GG made a mistake this morning in allowing prorogation because a precedent has been set for ANY PM to avoid a Confidence Vote by proroguing Parliament. That goes completely against the system that has been developed since the Magna Carta was signed. Our system allows for the defeat of a Government on a Vote of Confidence, and for either an alternative government to be formed, or a new election being called.
Having said that, no matter what the GG decided on this issue today, she would be criticized. She was in a no win situation.
However, what this whole mess points out is that Canada needs electoral and parliamentary reform. We need to take a serious look at Proportional Representation. PR is a system that works in other countries, New Zealand being one, if my memory is correct. We need fixed term elections, which Harper set in his previous government, but then renegged on because "Parliament is dysfunctional" (read he had opposition to his plans). An elected Senate should be looked at. Free votes are a necessity.
My arguments have not been on behalf of one party or another, but on behalf of our democratic system. Our governments change from one party to another every few years, and the world continues. We all wake up the next morning and discover the sun is still there. To say our economy will tank, or jobs will be lost, etc. if a coalition takes over, is scare mongering and just false, IMO. The economy is tanking and jobs are being lost with the current government in power, and a coalition has nothing to do with those circumstances. Too many people are running around saying, "The sky is falling. The sky is falling."
IMHO, the GG made a mistake this morning in allowing prorogation because a precedent has been set for ANY PM to avoid a Confidence Vote by proroguing Parliament. That goes completely against the system that has been developed since the Magna Carta was signed. Our system allows for the defeat of a Government on a Vote of Confidence, and for either an alternative government to be formed, or a new election being called.
Having said that, no matter what the GG decided on this issue today, she would be criticized. She was in a no win situation.
However, what this whole mess points out is that Canada needs electoral and parliamentary reform. We need to take a serious look at Proportional Representation. PR is a system that works in other countries, New Zealand being one, if my memory is correct. We need fixed term elections, which Harper set in his previous government, but then renegged on because "Parliament is dysfunctional" (read he had opposition to his plans). An elected Senate should be looked at. Free votes are a necessity.