Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunderball
Peter12 tried to explain this in another thread. Harper made a deal with the NDP and Bloc to vote down the minority government, and since there were no glowing press conferences, handshakes and signed contracts, we can deduce either he was unsuccessful, or he didn't try for more.
When approaching the GG, they have to say all options at disposal... as they are not in a position to dictate to her.
They did not sign an agreement like this, nor did they claim they could run a unified government. It is not the same situation at all, notwithstanding the fact that when the CPCs made a deal to vote down the Government, the sitting government was under investigation for a multi-million dollar SCANDAL. Even Trudeau recognized you can not change the head of government without an electoral mandate.
|
That is not true at all, Harper was desperately trying to avoid an election in August and September of 2004. The Liberals were riding high in the polls, approaching 50%, the public had rebuked the Libs and gave them a slap on the wrist two months earlier and Harper was scared that Martin would let the government fall. Harper was mired around 22-24% in the polls, depending on the poll, having fallen between 6-8 points from election day. Harper was getting crushed in Ontario, about 60-30 in the polls and knew he was going to lose seats.
So he did the obvious, Harper approached the NDP and the Bloc about forming a coalition government. He approached the then GG about accepting the coalition government. Martin and the Libs realized that that government would have every right to govern Canada, and they put some water in their wine. They watered down the October 2004 Throne Speech and included ideas that could get a majority support.
This idea that that letter that Steve, Gilles and Jack wrote in 2004 was to bring down the government and not form a coalition government is just hogwash. They were actively attempting to put together a coalition government. The fact that:
a) Martin backed down, realized he was in a minority government and put a little water in his wine; and
b) The coalition never reached the level of stability and certainty that this one has
does not take away from the fact that all three parties were trying to do the exact same thing in 2004.