translation: “Please! No federal election!”
August 27, 2008 · By Charles Anthony
Stephane Dion’s statements yesterday sound like he is afraid of an election call or at least before the up-coming by-election. If the Liberals (or any of the opposition parties) wanted an election, they would say so.
The opposition parties understand the threat. If they stymie legislation, they will get an election. I would suggest that the Conservatives just continue to govern.
Another BT that wants the Conservatives to continue to govern…You all might be decent bloggers but I would’nt necessarely hire you as strategists.
It is a bit odd that the title of this thread would be a Liberal party begging for “Please! no election” which also translates to: “We are not ready and we will get creamed” and you want the Conservatives to hold off(?)…Until when? Until the economy sours even more?, More Afghan casualties?, a new and improved Lib leader after christmas? All to be wrongly blamed on the current Gov or cheered if it’s good news for the Libs by an always willing MSM?
This is absolutely the best possible time for Harper to pull the plug. The reasons are many and I am sure you know them all so I won’t bother writing them but the main reason is because it is currently a minority…Now’s the best time to get a majority.
ELECTION NOW!
As much as I despise the Liberals, I actually do not think they would get cremed. I think we would just get a new minority parliament because there is a perpetual core of Canadians who will vote Liberal no matter what.
I think the Liberals’ biggest fear is the expense of going to an election — not the result.
Hey, Grind a Grit: I like your attitude.
Harper is making the right call. But I wonder at the lack of backbone among his so-called supporters on these blogs. He just put his government into the history books as the longest-surviving minority ever, and it’s not enough — he should drag it out longer to let the enemy rebuild?
The Liberals are broke, demoralized, fighting among themselves and — despite what the media claim — have almost no election groundwork prepared.
The Tories are more than ready to rumble, and I want to see Harper take his gloves off. My fantasy would be hearing him say what he thinks, in blunt fashion. I wanna hear some trash talk.
oooooooh, new Crop poll
Cons 31%
Bloc 30%
Libs 20%
NDP 14%
Where did that poll come from, Wilson?
I favour an early election, but not the optics of Harper breaking his word on fixed election dates. If the Liberals are stupid enough to think they can win back power, let them. I think that is what Harper is continuing to say, only stronger this time. He is continuing to call Dion’s bluff, which seems to happen every 3 months. Dion blusters about toppling government over some issue. Harper says, “Bring it.” Dion wimps out and votes in favour of whatever it is. Only difference this time is Harper is saying, “This is getting old. Bring it or I will bring it for you.”
Thanks Owl…I agree, it is time to go NOW!
Wilson’s poll is a reflection of Quebec only which BTW will be the Province with the most new blue seats that will probably give us our majority or at worst combined with the new blue seats of the Maritimes and Ontario…You can mark my words on that. I have a frozen crow in my freezer ready to roast if need be.
Shane, there is NO BREAKING THE LAW! It’s a minority Government, if the opposition can bring down the Conservatives with a confidence motion, Harper can also desolve parliament if he judges it to be too dysfunctional. Also, throw in the fact that this minority is the longuest (2 1/2 years+) serving ever with lots accomplished is nothing to be ashamed about. The law was specifically designed for abusive PM’s like Jean Chretien who conviniently pulled the plug 2 1/2 years into a 4 year term MAJORITY when the opposition was down and the polls was in the Libs favour…Now that’s wasting taxpayers dollars and self serving if not almost criminal and anti democratic.
Shane, there is NO BREAKING THE LAW! It’s a minority Government, if the opposition can bring down the Conservatives with a confidence motion,
Go read the legislation, and show me where it makes an exception for a minority government.
The fact is that Harper made the promise, wrote the legislation and now is claiming that it doesn’t apply because it’s inconvenient for his political goals.
So…just how much is his word worth?
The fixed-date law was an amendment to the Parliament of Canada Act, which says Parliament may be dissolved any time, if it’s deemed to be non-functioning.
The amendment was to prevent majority governments from calling a snap election like JC did.
The amendment was to prevent majority governments from calling a snap election like JC did.
Horsefeathers. There is NOTHING in the legislation that makes an exception for minority governments.
In fact, there’s nothing in that legislation that actually triggers the dissolution of parliament - about all it does is compel Elections Canada to set up polling stations across the country on a given date.
It does nothing to oblige the PM to request that parliament be dissolved, and has absolutely no consequences for a PM who chooses not to abide by that date.
Further, it does nothing whatsoever to prevent a Prime Minister from requesting that parliament be dissolved at any time.
In short, PMSH’s little ‘electoral reform’ gambit is about as useful as a fart in a hurricane.