I will have more to say about this in the very near future, but for the time being, let me say that I am very upset that the Prime Minister of Canada is lying to the people of this country about the way our system of government works.
In our system of parliamentary democracy, a government is formed by the leader of the party that can command the confidence of the elected legislature – traditionally, the leader of the party with the highest number of seats following an election. In situations where the government is formed by a party with a plurality – but not a majority – of the available seats, we have a minority government. Minority governments depend upon the support of others for their continued existence; should the government lose a vote on a “matter of confidence” (typically, but not always, a vote concerning money), the government is defeated because it has lost the confidence of the House.
If this happens in a time period shortly after an election, the Governor General has a responsibility to the country and to the elected House to see if someone else – another leader – can form a government that will command the confidence of the House.
That is precisely the situation that is unfolding in Canada this week. Stephen Harper is telling Canadians that there is something anti-democratic, unconstitutional and un-Canadian going on here. He is wrong and he knows it. It is shameful that a sitting Prime Minister would stoop to such despicable tactics in a naked attempt to hold on to power for power’s sake. He has shown himself to be an ideologue who cannot be trusted to act with integrity and respect for our system of government and its traditions.
He has to go. Resign, Mr. Harper. Now.
Mr. Harper has been lying to Canadians for a very long time and does not seem able to stop. I agree with my wise brother (and not just because he is my brother) that Prime Minister Harper must not delay and accept that the bonehead move(s) that he has made has revealed him to be someone that not only can the Parliament of Canada not trust but the people of this great nation cannot trust him either.
Plus, if he were a time travelling Napolean and I was Deacon from the movie Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure I would totally ditch him at the bowling alley ‘cuz “He’s a dick!”
I agree with Junior too and not just because he is my husband either!!! And I love your Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure analogy Doug!
It’s time for Stephen Harper’s Adventures in Autocracy to come to an end!
Stephen Harper has to go!!!
[…] licks, go to the bench and tend to your wounds like a man. Don’t be a dick. I’m with Junior over at HiR:tb over this. Stephen Harper must […]
I have to say that I am pissed and I want to slap that smarmy little grin off of that guy’s face. I also wish that Stephane Dion would just speak in french from now on. He comes across as a complete tool when he stumbles in English. The sooner he is out the better too.
By ‘that guy’ I mean Harper. Not Dion. He’s just a guy who can’t speak english.
I have to admit that my picture of Canadian politics is so dated that there’s a Brian Mulroney poster hanging up in the attic of my mind. Some anecdotes — picking who you get to ask press conference questions puts me in mind of Talon News and Jeff Gannon — make me wonder if the smirk isn’t just like the unpleasant smile of Dick Cheney, satisfied he’s pulled yet another one over on us.
It’s as though politicians have twisted the phrasing public servant to servant public, you know?