"Harper Government" found in contempt of parliament for third time in one year

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

All I hope is that the Conservatives only get a minority once again in another election. That and that Ignatieff and the leadership of the Liberals goes away because they are not very good at their jobs.

If the Conservatives win another minority then I'd rather the Liberals and NDP just form a coalition government without making any deals with the Bloc.

[NBC]

^ Oh dear. The electorate would be back at the polls within 6 months. That coalition would almost certainly not have the numbers to form even a semi-stable government. There was talk in the UK last year about at Lib-Lab coalition in light of the hung parliament, but it would not have had either the numbers (without all the minor parties) or the political legitimacy to pull it off.

I don't see it being any different in Canada this time round.

The real problem here is the inherent lack of political leadership within Canada. Harper, Ignatieff and Taliban Jack seem to have far more detractors than supporters. It is a very acrimonious political landscape these days, but one that is not arcane to Canada.

Dark times indeed.

[Caged Great]

It's one of those times where all of the above suck. Perhaps we could throw everyone out that's in currently and get new people.

[rubecube]

It all depends on the Bloc. A Liberal/NDP coalition could work if the Bloc would just stay the eff out of the way, but we know they won't, and because of this the Torries and the Liberals continue to pander to them. Coalition governments have worked in other countries, but those countries have had the advantage of not having a party whose sole goal is to break up the country as a major player.

[Tinordi]

Good post rube.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by rubecube

For a supposed philosophy major, I find the number of logical fallacies in these posts quite humourous.

I have never taken a single course on logic in my life!

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by NBC

Taliban Jack....it is a very acrimonious political landscape these days....

A-huh. Indeed.

http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/...19/13609.shtml

[NBC]

Originally Posted by rubecube

It all depends on the Bloc. A Liberal/NDP coalition could work if the Bloc would just stay the eff out of the way, but we know they won't, and because of this the Torries and the Liberals continue to pander to them. Coalition governments have worked in other countries, but those countries have had the advantage of not having a party whose sole goal is to break up the country as a major player.

The potential left-wing coalition that Labour proposed in the UK last May would have needed the support of the Scottish Nationalists, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP, all of which advocate the creation of independent Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish states.

Coalitions that tend to be the "strongest" (a pejorative term I know) typically are comprise the party with the biggest share of the seats in the most recent election. In the court of public opinion a formal coalition of parties that received a smaller percentage of seats in Parliament tend to lack legitimacy and do not usually last very long. Now if the parties that are proposing a possible power-sharing agreement merge, as in the case of the Liberal and National Parties of Australia, this can be a more effective method of coalition governance.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

http://kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/...19/13609.shtml

Hardly a shining beacon of unbiased, journalistic integrity.

But I digress...

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Really? This would be the worst time for the opposition to collapse the government. The Conservatives are polling in majority territory, the other parties are broke and ineffectively lead.

I would hope that they have more common sense then to trigger an election right now.

Thank you for not saying this would be the worst time for an election because of the fragile economy and it would hurt the economy, I hate when I hear that excuse!

[burn_this_city]

I honestly don't think the average Canadian cares about all this nonsense. We'll have to see if theres a drop in the polls, but I doubt it.

[ernie]

Ignatieff doesn't have anything better to do then warn the NHL that if they don't do something about the (supposedly) increasing on ice violence than the MPs will. Smiling Jack will never be anything more than the leader of the party that finishes behind the Conservatives and Liberals every election. Contempt of parliament or simply the joys of not having a any real competition in parliament.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by NBC

The potential left-wing coalition that Labour proposed in the UK last May would have needed the support of the Scottish Nationalists, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP, all of which advocate the creation of independent Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish states.

Coalitions that tend to be the "strongest" (a pejorative term I know) typically are comprise the party with the biggest share of the seats in the most recent election. In the court of the opinions of people who don't understand the "majority" part of "majority rules", a formal coalition of parties that received a smaller percentage of seats in Parliament tend to lack legitimacy and do not usually last very long. Now if the parties that are proposing a possible power-sharing agreement merge, as in the case of the Liberal and National Parties of Australia, this can be a more effective method of coalition governance.

fyp

To me, a good coalition is one that includes a solid block of the political spectrum. (E.g. Liberal-NDP and no Conservatives is okay, Conservative-NDP with no Liberals is not okay.) Ignoring the shenanigans caused by first past the post, one logical result of this is that the median voter is included. Of course, in Canada, things are complicated a bit the Bloq, as I'm not sure where "destroy Canada" falls on the political spectrum.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by rubecube

If the Conservatives win another minority then I'd rather the Liberals and NDP just form a coalition government without making any deals with the Bloc.

Having the NDP or the NDP in Liberal clothing is a terrifying prospect for anyone who works outside of government or a union. The spending that is proposed will tax the entrepreneur out of the economy and will be done on the backs of small and medium business.

I know it sounds great to have all these social programs, but someone is going to have to pay for it. That someone is largely Alberta and Calgary in particular.

If the NDP form government, I will seriously look at immigrating to another country.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by SebC

fyp

To me, a good coalition is one that includes a solid block of the political spectrum. (E.g. Liberal-NDP and no Conservatives is okay, Conservative-NDP with no Liberals is not okay.) Ignoring the shenanigans caused by first past the post, one logical result of this is that the median voter is included. Of course, in Canada, things are complicated a bit the Bloq, as I'm not sure where "destroy Canada" falls on the political spectrum.

Judging by this post so long as the PM is a Liberal its good.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I honestly don't think the average Canadian cares about all this nonsense. We'll have to see if theres a drop in the polls, but I doubt it.

+1

I'll actually "One Up" that statement. The average Canadian doesn't even know about this nonsense.

Realistically, what Joe and Mary Canuck care about are results in the areas of Economy, Health Care, Infrastructure and Family (perhaps Crime as well). These continuous shenanigans (worn by EVERY party) have been pathetic and has led to increased partisanship and decreased productivity.

It isn't that people don't want to see how the sausage gets made, it's that nobody actually cares how it's made. Just fill the freakin' plate.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

+1

I'll actually "One Up" that statement. The average Canadian doesn't even know about this nonsense.

Realistically, what Joe and Mary Canuck care about are results in the areas of Economy, Health Care, Infrastructure and Family (perhaps Crime as well). These continuous shenanigans (worn by EVERY party) have been pathetic and has led to increased partisanship and decreased productivity.

It isn't that people don't want to see how the sausage gets made, it's that nobody actually cares how it's made. Just fill the freakin' plate.

The only people who seem to care are the CBC Liberal cheerleading commenters who make it seem like Stephen Harper with a majority is going to open the gates of hell. I find it quite funny the way they go on and on about a stupid letterhead or a stamp, or all this other nonsense. The average Canadian hasnt forgotten how the Liberals filled their pockets in Quebec with Adscam.

[starseed]

I would honestly be fine with a conservative minority government, so long as Harper, Jason Kenney, Stockwell Day, Cheryl Gallant, and the rest of the very social conservative party members did not have a major influence in public policy.

Personally, I think the media is the most at fault for the mostly aimless direction of the country. Why are they focused on talking about the minor shiht? Let's talk about the ideas like enhancing our education system, building better trade partnerships with China/India (lessen our dependence on the US), fixing healthcare etc. Why do they not protest louder about how it is much harder to access information about what the government is up to?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by peter12

I have never taken a single course on logic in my life!

Oh, well then allow me to suggest a good introductory textbook for you:
The Power of Critical Thinking by Lewis Vaughn and Chris McDonald.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

The only people who seem to care are the CBC Liberal cheerleading commenters who make it seem like Stephen Harper with a majority is going to open the gates of hell. I find it quite funny the way they go on and on about a stupid letterhead or a stamp, or all this other nonsense. The average Canadian hasnt forgotten how the Liberals filled their pockets in Quebec with Adscam.

I watched CTV and Global last night and both made a pretty big deal of it. Are they Liberal cheerleaders as well?