Quote:
Originally Posted by Rerun
This would be my wish too... if not for the fact that I really believe that the GG would refuse to disolve parliament and she would allow the coalition a chance to govern.
Going to the GG and asking for the disolution of parliament is a huge gamble and I think the odds are against getting another election.
Prorogue is the safer way to go. Harper will get that and then he will have a chance to introduce a budget that is full of goodies and economic stimulus. Then the opposition will have to make a decision on whether or not to defeat a great budget in order to grab power (they certainly don't want an election) and then go to the GG and say they want a chance at governing Canada.
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According to a constitutional lawyer that was just on the radio, the GG HAS to do what the PM recommends. The Queen has apparently already said as much in relation to a similar situation in Australia, and the GG is the Queen's representative in Canada. I honestly don't know, because I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but this guy seemed pretty positive of his stuff. If the PM asks for a prorougue, she has to give it to him. If he asks for dissolution and another election, she has to give it to him. No choice. She can talk, she can debate, but at the end of the day, what the PM requests from the GG, he gets.
His example was extreme... let's say Canada is attacked by a foreign country and the PM needs to declare a state of war. The PM goes to the GG and says 'we need this to mobilize the troops, etc'... the GG can't say "well, let me think about it - maybe ask the other party leaders what they think, and I'll get back to you".
His other example, if the PM asks for a election and it was the wrong thing to do (according to the people of the country) they can punish him at the polls. If the GG says no, I'll let the other guy try, and that is the wrong decision (again, according to the people of the country), there is no accountability to the GG. She (or he) never stands for election, ever.
His basic point was that once there is a PM the GG has to listen to the advice of that PM. To not do so would take us back to a state where the crown (the monarchy) is exerting its will on the country.
If he's right, we'll see a prorouge shortly. Then we'll see a budget at the end January and if this coalition magically manages to hang together that long (not likely) and if they defeat it at that time, we'll go to an election.