Potential Coalition Government for Canada?

There is a phrase that I want banned: Canadian politics is boring. Canadian politics is no more boring than any other state's; like all political ecosystems it is by turns tedious and alarming. The key difference between American politics (which usually wins the competition of interest), and Canadian politics, or American politics and Finnish politics even, is money. Power too is pretty significant - when you're the world's lone hyperpower, people are bound to be fascinated by your political goings on. But money is the big difference between the American political scene, and everyone else's. Every part of their political process, from the budgets at stake, to the media conglomerates that play a big part in determining the national agenda, has more digits before the decimal in play. Even Britain, France and India, with their sophisticated and powerful media, can't quite match the Americans. (Ching-ching?) ( Read more... )

Before this most recent election, I said that public opinion to the contrary, this one was important. With the Conservatives now barely keeping their heads above water, and the Liberals, Bloc and NDP preparing to form a coalition, I think I've been proven right. *g* Canada may soon have its first coalition government since the First World War, the united Right is showing strain, and the fragmented Left is considering alliance. The vilified Stephan Dion is now being touted as the next Prime Minister of Canada. A shocking upset that shouldn't be a shock to people who have been paying attention to the pressure cooker the House has become. Harper has spent his time in government running roughshod over media elites, opposition politicians and even his own party. The recent move to end public funding to political parties is only the latest salvo, in a sustained cold war with the Left.

As complacent as Canadians have become since Harper first became PM, his government has never been rock solid. His ability to govern as though he had a majority, despite the Conservatives consistently taking only a minority of seats, has been the result of a fragmented and confused opposition, made up of the NDP, who've never really held power, the Bloc, who don't exactly want it, and a Liberal party ravaged by two decades of bloody infighting. But now, thanks to Flaherty's laughable economic report, the move to end public financing of political parties and eliminate the right of public employess to strike, the Conservatives have handed their opposition the greatest gift of all: issues around which all three parties can form a consensus that will serve as the foundation of a broader agenda. Harper has been saying for years that the Left should unite (for various reasons that I won't get into), but now he's managed to get them united in precisely the worst possible way for him, and at the worst possible time.

Hilariously, the Conservatives are trying the mesmerize the Canadian public into supporting them with blatant lies about our political system. Are you ready to debunk some myths? Let's go. ( Read more... )

Now, the coalition is not a done deal. Harper could still prorogue Parliament. The Governor General could call yet another election (sigh!). Needless to say, I think that any suspension of parliamentary activity to support a faltering Conservative government would be the worst sort of hypocrisy, from a party that continues to campaign on ethics (ha!).

This story has more details.

Liberals, NDP, Bloc Sign Deal On Proposed Coalition
December 1, 2008
CBC.ca

The six-point accord includes a description of the role of the Liberal and NDP caucuses, which will meet separately and will sit next to each other on the government benches in the House of Commons, Dion told a news conference alongside Layton and Duceppe.

The proposed coalition cabinet will be composed of 24 ministers and the prime minister. Six of these ministers will be appointed from within the NDP caucus.

The accord will expire on June 30, 2011, unless it is renewed. It includes a "policy accord" to address the "present economic crisis," which states that the accord "is built on a foundation of fiscal responsibility."

An economic stimulus package will be the new government's top priority, while other policies include a commitment to improve child benefits and childcare "as finances permit."

There is also a commitment to "pursue a North American cap-and-trade market" to limit carbon emissions.

The Bloc Québécois would not officially be a part of the coalition, but the new government's survival would depend on its support.