So what do you expect from this government?

[HOZ]

It likely has a year at most to survive. So what do you think it will do?

1) I expect the GST to be reduced in the one and only budget passed.

2) I don't see the gun registry disappearing. So how there are people in this country who still think this saves lives and the Liberals will fight hand and tooth to keep it. Scary, scary Harper ya know!!!

3) I think they will do something about the waiting lines. What? I dunno.

[Cheese]

Not much...they are hamstrung.

The only things they might get through are these...

• tough on crime bill...do the crime do the time.
• Drop GST
• maybe the bill on political corruption. (IF it has teeth)

The rest will be too tuff to get thru without big support. They will have to pander to QC, and that might make them look to be supporting the Bloq.

I think a year to 18 months max is all they have....hopefully they keep a muzzle on guys like Anders et al and hopefully the Libs get a lame duck leader or the Tories are done like dinner again.

[CaramonLS]

Some serious discussion/debate about Senate reform.

[transplant99]

ACtually i think they can get some things done. ALL parties are very aware that Canadians don't want to see an election again for a good long time.

Also I think that the rather strong former faction of the PC party now involved with the Bloc can smooth the way for the two to work together for the betterment of Quebec and the rest of the country. Something the Libs/Martin couldnt seem to do.

[Resolute 14]

I'm betting a little over two years for this government. The Liberals have no money to run another election so soon.

As I said in the other thread, I expect a lot of safe bills and motions that the opposition will have to treat like a grenade. No opposition party is likely to step up and vote down a GST reduction, an MP's accountability law, or tougher laws against criminals.

Trashing Kyoto would be an interesting challenge. I would presume that Harper would have to either create a strong Canadian-made environmental policy to replace it, or preferably, get the other parties, industry and environmental groups all together to build such a policy.

Replacing Kyoto would be a good, early opportunity to "build concensus."

[lucid]

Not a Conservative voter myself, I can't say I'm too disappointed with a minority government this go around. It was definitely time for change (as if we haven't heard that a lot these past two months...). We've got some of that, but we're likely to see some "safe bills" passed.

I say it probably doesn't last more than two years.

[firebug]

I think the new gov't has got at least a couple years. THe libs have to get a new leader chosen which may take some time.

Also, as previously mentioned the voters will not take very kindly to a quick election and will punish the opposition party (or the CA if they self destruct), that triggers one too soon.

Harper seems to have some ability to build consensus from opposing viewpoints, so I have some hope. Of course if he can make this Gov't work with the opposition, he can head over to the middle east to solve much simpler disagreements.

[Mr. Ski]

It only falls when 156 members decide that its run it's course. If the CPC are smart (which I think they are at this point) they stick to working through their five points in order of ease:

1) Goverment Accountability - Easy support from the NDP and BQ. Libs will be shamed into supporting it too -- who wants to vote against accountability afterall.

2) GST Cut - Swap out some corporate tax cuts and Layton will be onside. Fiscal liberals should be an OK sell too. Do it early too while no one in opposition wants to risk an immediate election.

3) Crime Bill - Likely sofened somewhat, but all parties talked about minimum sentencing.

4) Health Wait Times - As long as they stick to 'single public payer', this one passes, albeit with lots of negotiation.

5) Child Care Plan - Work a system where Quebec can maintain their provincial arrangement (asymetrical federalism, etc) with the $1200 flowing through the province, and you'll have the QB on side. They'll never turn down extra cash for Quebec when limited strings are attached.

6) For extra credit: Hold the SSM free vote (as a non 'non-confidence' motion), knowing you'll lose it in al likelyhood, and with that put the issue to bed forever. I can dare to dream anyhow.

After that, begin to address the rest of the platform and see where consensis can be built. Don't ever be arrogant, work through the various multi-party committies, and remember its about the country, not the party alone. None of the opposition will pull the trigger if they're all working to the same goals.

Keep to that and you've got at least two years of legs on this one.

Or, maybe I'm a crazy CPC idealist. Who knows.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Not unlike the last gov, hopefully without the stealing.

They'll pass a few no-brainers as others have suggested, but I'm guessing they'll spend much of their time working on foreign affairs and provincial relationships. Neither requires a lot of parliamentary votes.

[JBR]

I expect:

Soldiers...

With guns...

In our streets...

In Canada...

I did not make this up..

[browna]

Originally Posted by JBR

I expect:

Soldiers...

With guns...

In our streets...

In Canada...

I did not make this up..

Harper should be Marhsall of the Stampede parade this year, and have a batallion of our fully geared Armed Forces walking behind him.

[Neeper]

Are the Bloc right or left wing?

[Freeway]

I expect compromise, pragmatism and the Senate holding up as much as it can.

Man, I hate the Senate.

[Zarathustra]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Are the Bloc right or left wing?

Left.

[Daradon]

I see the GST thing making it through, some version of he crime bill (every party was tlaking tough on that towards the end) governement accountability and senate reform would definitely be nice, though I don't know if much will be done about the last one. I am also excited about the posibility or greater understanding with Quebec bringing them back into the fold, so to seak, but in a way where there is something sustainable and positive for everyone, every province.

I think hiting hot issues like SSM and Kyoto would be asking for trouble. Doesn't mean I don't think he'll do it though. I like the idea of Kyoto AND keeping our international promises. Various report cards came out this year that actually show Canada far far behind the States in smog reduction.

Issues like missile defense and abortion would probably blow the commons apart.

This government will probably last 2, 2 and a half years, with Harper getting more and more aggressive at the end. After that, who knows what.

I seriously see 6+ years of various minotiry rule in our future. This is a land divided, and the funny thing is the people seem to be urging the leaders to try and work together. I think the electorate for the most part, is far more willing to compromise than the leaders.

[Lurch]

I seriously see 6+ years of various minotiry rule in our future. This is a land divided, and the funny thing is the people seem to be urging the leaders to try and work together. I think the electorate for the most part, is far more willing to compromise than the leaders.

I'm the polar opposite on this - I see either the Conservatives doing a good job, muzzling idiots, passing their widely supported positions and getting a solid majority next time around OR a ton of mistakes from a rookie Cabinet with no experience that hands the Liberals an easy majority in the next election. I really don't see that the Liberals will have much influence on how this goes - its up to the Conservatives to succeed or fail on their own terms.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Lurch

I'm the polar opposite on this - I see either the Conservatives doing a good job, muzzling idiots, passing their widely supported positions and getting a solid majority next time around OR a ton of mistakes from a rookie Cabinet with no experience that hands the Liberals an easy majority in the next election. I really don't see that the Liberals will have much influence on how this goes - its up to the Conservatives to succeed or fail on their own terms.

I agree, the ideal way to go about this is to pass the "safe" bills first - GST, Accountability Act, Health wait times, Crime bill, Parents' $1200. Get these things done and you'd already have 60% of the country on your side given that Harper would've fulfilled more election promises than the Liberals did in the past 12 years. Maintain good relationships with the provinces and don't do anything stupid like giving the Maritimes the shaft (a la Martin & Newfoundland). Call an election in October 2008 and get a majority, then you can call the free vote on SSM and trash the gun registry, and of course who can forget Kyoto, burn it and replace it with something that actually works. By then Hilary Clinton would be president and they can talk about Missile Defence then.

[Incinerator]

As for Senate reforms, they gotta get rid of the Liberal senate first before that can be passed, it's gonna be a tough fight. Electoral reform also couldn't hurt, more ridings in Alberta!

[troutman]

I expect this government to stop saying "God Bless Canada" after every speech.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by troutman

I expect this government to stop saying "God Bless Canada" after every speech.

I love it, I'm sick of all this political correctness heck, print it on our money too! There's already God Bless the Queen in UK! Either that or get rid of the monachy altogether!