Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
The most democratic action would be to dissolve the house and go to an immediate election. The Coalition taking power in terms of pure democracy would be the least democratic as the people wouldn't have had the opportunity to vote for this form of government.
Harper used the consititution and the house rules, its not any less democratic then the prospect of a coalition taking power if your going by the rules that are being used.
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Interesting comments here.
I agree with you that an immediate election would be the most purely democratic result: Conservatives propose budget, non-confidence vote ensues, government falls, election takes place.
I disagree with you that the Coalition taking power is the
least democratic option. Our parliamentary system contemplates coalition governments, so in that sense this is part of the democratic process. However its after-the-fact nature raises all sorts of issues, since the new government that would form wouldn't have strictly even been an option during the election.
The least democratic option is the Governor General having any say whatsoever in what happens. Thus Harper asking her for and getting a prorogue was among the least democratic possible results. It is, of course, within the constitution, but the GG's power lies outside of democracy. It is the power of the monarch which, by definition, is undemocratic.
This whole situation is a real test of our constitutional monarchy and our democracy. How this resolves could have long-standing consequences for the fundamental structures of our country.
Or it could all amount to nothing.