Conservatives To Slash Federal Funding of Political Parties [Update-CPC backs down]

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Are you serious? Where to begin...

The fact that the 'small group of people' represent over half of the voters in the last election? This small group of people has a democratic mandate? This small group of people is operating exactly within the rules of a parliamentary system? This group is saying that the Government has lost the confidence of parliament. The fact that this is LEGAL! Jeez louise.



No I can't imagine it. You know why?? Because they aren't a parliamentary democracy!! Because it wouldn't be legal! Because the executive doesn't need the confidence of congress. Gawd. It's like saying could you imagine if the Canadian Federal Government took all the resource revenue from the provinces like it the American government does to the States? No I can't imagine because they are different frickin systems!!!!!



The election decided a MINORITY GOVERNMENT. This is completely consitutional! Get that through your collective heads!

Wow.

As you say canadians elected a CONSERVATIVE minority government. Not a Bloc/Liberal/NDP minority government, yet here we are with that exact scenario about to take place. Nope....no problem there at all.

But I ask you again....why are Cretian and Broadbent the ones making this deal when they arent even part of the people that will assume power?

Because it is a coup.....guys grabbing power that have absolutely ZERO authority to do so. Period.

And quit being so condescending....its both annoyuing and unnecessary. There are many a Liberal supporter out there that are questioning this coup as well, this is a direct challenge to Canadian democracy, no matter how much you want to ignore that fact.

[Ronald Pagan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

As you say canadians elected a CONSERVATIVE minority government. Not a Bloc/Liberal/NDP minority government, yet here we are with that exact scenario about to take place. Nope....no problem there at all.

Minority governments have to govern with the confidence of parliament. The fact that the Government has the most seats does not make them immune from that reality. And nobody knows what the Canadians voted for beyond a MINORITY government. All that we can extrapolate is that the Government must act under those constraints. This is not a gross abbrogation of democracy.

But I ask you again....why are Cretian and Broadbent the ones making this deal when they arent even part of the people that will assume power?

Who knows why they are negotiating a deal. Maybe because both of them are respected former party leaders and can gather the trust and confidence of both parties trying to form a coalition. I highly doubt this is some seditious powerplay by Chretien to get back in power. He was asked by both sides to help broker a deal. Just sit and think for a moment why both the NDP and Liberals would want these two helping to hammer out a deal. And refrain from conjuring up conspiracy theories. There are many plausible reasons why.

Because it is a coup.....guys grabbing power that have absolutely ZERO authority to do so. Period.

Actually they have all the authority to pass a no confidence motion. It's a fundamental part of our parliamentary system. This is the last time I want to bring up that fact. Get. It. Through. Your. Head.

And quit being so condescending....its both annoyuing and unnecessary. There are many a Liberal supporter out there that are questioning this coup as well, this is a direct challenge to Canadian democracy, no matter how much you want to ignore that fact.

I don't aspire to come off as condescending and I'm not a Liberal supporter. I'm not jumping for joy at the prospect of a Liberal coalition government. Just playing the contrarian and devils advocate. But the group think mentality around here has me labelled as a dyed in the wool upper canadian Liberal. Meh, I can live with it.

[metallicat]

Have the CPC not backed off on their plans to do what pissed the Liberals off in the first place? So what exactly, has this new government done in this short session of Parliament, to warrant a non-confidence motion?

Maybe I'm just blind, but I'm not seeing any sort of opinion poll on cbc.ca about this. I really want to see what a small representation of the entire country thinks of this. Or let's see some new Angus Reid polls.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

History will tell. Maybe the Conservatives come out of this stronger but it's highly unlikely.

As of right now, this is a major tactical error on part of the Conservatives and Harper in particular. I should give some kudos to Nehkara. He spotted it right away in the opening post.

What the hell do tactics have to do with anything? Is that really what you're all about?

Despite your spin and your incredibly elementary use of the word "minority," the Conservatives were elected with twice as many seats as the next closest party.

Yet... that next closest party is joining up with the other two parties with even less seats than them, and staging a coup to overthrow a platform that Canadians democratically elected just 6 weeks ago.

Canadians went to the polls. We told the Government (by electing the Conservatives) that we did NOT want a panic-induced stimulus package. We did NOT want to start running around tossing money at everything trying to stick bandaids everywhere. We did NOT wants Dion's carbon tax. We did NOT want Layton anywhere near our finances. Canadians wanted our Government to stay calm and collected and lead us through this properly, and in a way that would not mortgage our future for the sake of easing the present.

Yet... Jean Cretian and Ed Broadbent have decided that they don't want that, and so they, themselves, are going to choose our next Government and they, themselves, are going to decide what's best on behalf of all Canadians.


THAT is what you are supporting. There is a time and place for discussing tactics and presentation, and for being entertained by a good show, but THIS is not it.


Edit: And don't bother trying to educate me on what a minority Government is. I know what it is. The thing is, there's a difference between a minority Government where there's only a handful of seats separating the top two parties... and a minority Government where the elected party has two times the number of seats of the closest party, and is only 9 seats away from a majority. Yes, in a black and white world, we have a minority Government, but acting like the Liberals are only a millimeter away from forming their own Government without anyone else is just sheer stupidity. The majority of Canadians did NOT choose to elect Dion as the Prime Minister, nor did they choose to elect Layton as his deputy... and they most certainly did NOT choose to elect a separatist party to be in a position to create policies!

[CaptainCrunch]

If the Libs/NDP/Bloc are so convinced that the Canadian people will agree with them that the government has lost confidence with the people then they should vote no confidence and take it back to the poll.

The whole argument about popular vote is irrelevant since Canada's democratic model is not based on a popular vote model, its based around seats.

You can say that the majority of individuals didn't vote for the conservatives. However, the Conservatives received 37% of the vote, the Liberals 26% of the votes, the NDP 18% of the vote and the bloc vote. So the conservatives also received more of the popular vote then the other individual parties. Unless your saying that there was massive vote planning on the left to split the vote to make sure that the Libs didn't get to many votes.

Fact is the Canadians said that they wanted Harper as Prime Minister and increased his seat count and slightly increased his popular vote, the told the Liberals thats they sucked by reducing their seats and reducing their popular vote share, The NDP received more seats and more votes at the expense of the Liberals in terms of overall numbers, not in terms of the Conservatives.

Dion was polled as the worst possible choice as PM by the Candian voters, now there is the possibility that he is going to be installed not voted into power by the Liberal/NP/Bloc which based on numbers is against the will of the people of Canada.

The Liberal party lost seats and lost votes which is a message from Canadians that they didn't want them in power, yet the Liberal/NDP and bloc are going to install the Liberal's into power.

I'm wondering how many of these Liberal and NDP MP's have asked their consitituants if throwing down the government and seizing power is what they want. They know that if this goes to an election that they will be destroyed by the voters so they're working around the voters.

The polls that were shown earlier in this thread show that Canadian's are going to be incensed if this grab for power happens.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

Actually they have all the authority to pass a no confidence motion. It's a fundamental part of our parliamentary system. This is the last time I want to bring up that fact. Get. It. Through. Your. Head.

Fine then pass the non confidence vote take it to an election and let the Canadian people decide if they have confidence in the government and the opposition, don't decide on Canada's government in back room deals between a party that doesn't give a about Canada, a vindictive corrupt ex prime minister and a political non entity.

[Ronald Pagan]

And in fairness, I am very doubtful that this coalition has any legs at all. This was a game of brinkmanship that the Conservatives lost. The Liberals and NDP are in no place to govern legitimately. They did win this round. Parliament is going to be a much more sensitive place and the two parties will have much greater sway.

[Ronald Pagan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Fine then pass the non confidence vote take it to an election and let the Canadian people decide if they have confidence in the government and the opposition, don't decide on Canada's government in back room deals between a party that doesn't give a about Canada, a vindictive corrupt ex prime minister and a political non entity.

They could take it to an election. But the GG is required to ask if anyone else can form a government. If they can then she is obliged to honour that. The Conservatives bet that the parties would roll over. They didn't.

[transplant99]

Minority governments have to govern with the confidence of parliament. The fact that the Government has the most seats does not make them immune from that reality

No question about that. I agree fully.

however....what this entire non-confidence motion is about is that the liberals and their new bed buddies, are saying that the Conservatives have not done enough to deal with a world wide financial crisis and their as of yet unannounced "plan" isn't good enough for them. Yes or no? If the answer is yes, then why are they lobbying to remove a government that was elected by the people of Canada to only replace them with a nother group of officials who have no plan announced whatsoever??? How is that anything but a gross abbrogation of democracy.

In esscence it's "we don't like the fact that you won the last election so we are bringing you down on a motion that applies to us as well".

How can ANYONE possibly be OK with this? It's absurd, frightening and most of all a complete slap to the face of every single Canadian who voted Conservative in the last election. it sets a precedence that will have to continue from here on out...meaning governments will never ever get a chance to actually do what they campaign and get voted in for. As soon as some sleazebag back room party shills get enough booze in them to agree to work together, every single government faces the possibility/probability to be toppled. Its beyond ludicrous.

in this particular case its even more absurd when you consider that Dion CAMPAIGNED AGAINST a coalition with the NDP just 2 months ago. Now because its constitutional to do so...everything is OK?? Again...nothing but a power grab by senior officials in the Liberal and NDP parties along with their greasy backroom boys/girls. Then you add in to the mix the Liberal nationalistic party getting into bed with the Bloc to form the most agregious menage a trois since Pam/tommy/Kid Rock, this becomes nothing short of despicable.

Just because something is 'legal" it does not make it anywhere close to being allright. It isnt.


As I mentioned way back in this thread...people vote FOR a party to govern, not AGAINST a specific one. Even if that was the case, then more people voted AGAINST the Liberals and Bloc and NDP than the Conservatives.

Get. It. Through. Your. Head.

Again with this crap. Just stop it already.

[FanIn80]

Excellent post, tranny. Unfortunately, I'm all out of thanks so I can't flag it as such.

[CaptainCrunch]

At the end of the day, if the government falls before the budget I doubt the GG will agree to form a coalition government when this government has already said that all of the provincial recommendations and G20 recommendations concerning the stimulus will be in the official budget in 6 weeks. I find it hilarious that the "loyal" opposition didn't want to wait for the budget because they knew that they would have no chance after that.

Again, I have heard nothing from the opposition that makes me think that they can prove that they're a better choice to govern based on both their performances during the elections that they lost, and even with their empty rhetoric now.

I'm almost hoping that this goes to election so that the Canadian public can punish the Libs and the NDP for this selfish greedy power play during a time when the Canadian people are more concerned with the economy.

[ikaris]

Originally Posted by transplant99

however....what this entire non-confidence motion is about is that the liberals and their new bed buddies, are saying that the Conservatives have not done enough to deal with a world wide financial crisis and their as of yet unannounced "plan" isn't good enough for them. Yes or no? If the answer is yes, then why are they lobbying to remove a government that was elected by the people of Canada to only replace them with a nother group of officials who have no plan announced whatsoever??? How is that anything but a gross abbrogation of democracy.

If the Conservative government refuses to negotiate the mini-budget with the opposition parties (and by Flaherty's statements, that does seem to be the case) then the opposition parties are well within their rights to create this coalition. Let's not forget that this is a minority government. Every single thing has to have the support of at least one of the opposition parties in order for it to proceed. In the interest of our country, the Conservatives need to be flexible. Currently they have refused to do so and this is why the opposition is on this path. It's frankly offensive that the Conservatives think they can lead this government with an iron fist as if they've earned the right to. If they had a majority, then I would understand.

Originally Posted by transplant99

In esscence it's "we don't like the fact that you won the last election so we are bringing you down on a motion that applies to us as well".

How can ANYONE possibly be OK with this? It's absurd, frightening and most of all a complete slap to the face of every single Canadian who voted Conservative in the last election. it sets a precedence that will have to continue from here on out...meaning governments will never ever get a chance to actually do what they campaign and get voted in for. As soon as some sleazebag back room party shills get enough booze in them to agree to work together, every single government faces the possibility/probability to be toppled. Its beyond ludicrous.

Until the Conservatives allow for some discussion, this response is understandable (although I do not really like it either). They are essentially forcing the opposition to react by being inflexible. Another election is not feasible as it would just be likely a similar result.

Originally Posted by transplant99

As I mentioned way back in this thread...people vote FOR a party to govern, not AGAINST a specific one. Even if that was the case, then more people voted AGAINST the Liberals and Bloc and NDP than the Conservatives.

Not necessarily. I have never voted Liberal in my life. Not because I do not support them, but rather in my riding there is simply no hope and I will vote for another party that at least has a chance. I know I'm not the only person that feels this way out west.

At the end of the day, the Conservatives asked for this as a result of their partisanship. Not going to get any sympathy here.

[Ronald Pagan]

I don't necessarily disagree with you Tranny.

I disagree with your conjecture that this is motivated but a bunch of backroom shills. The motivation of any party is to gain power. If they see a window where they can do that then they will. The Conservatives would do the same thing in a similar situation were they in opposition. It is enshrined in our system, minority governments need to be aware of that.

I just question the altruism that many people hold the Conservative party around here. They are no different in aspiration that any other party. They want power. They thought that the subsidy cut would further them to more power. That was the ONLY motivation for doing so (disguised a fiscal prudence item). It blew up in their face, badly. But now you and others deride the other parties for acting in a similar manner of gaining power.

The difference is the Conservatives have a larger electoral mandate, but they do not have a majority in any sense. The coalition would have a majority of voters which does give them some legitimacy. If they didn't have that, then they would have no grounds for forming a coalition. Unfortunately the Conservatives made a bad bet and didn't understand that repercussion.

Will it lead to a coalition government? I'd bet that it wont. The opposition parties have given no historical reason to demonstrate why they'd be a stable government. The opposition parties also have weak leaders that will not inspire confidence of the electorate. There's too much for them to lose at this point, even considering their bad performance from the previous election.

In either case they still win, they sent a low shot across the bow of the Conservative ship and they'll be much more careful from here-on-in. Also, you would have to think that Harper has suffered politically as well. His caucus is likely very unimpressed and the average Canadian is probably equally so. The beans were spilled on the whole subsidy cut. Anyone with half a brain recognizes what it was, a boorish partisan ploy. That wont play well, not now, when most people have much bigger things to worry about and the appearance is that Government is playing pithy political games. People will remember the Conservative blunder much more than the coalition talks, IMO.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm almost hoping that this goes to election so that the Canadian public can punish the Libs and the NDP for this selfish greedy power play during a time when the Canadian people are more concerned with the economy.

The more I think about this, I can't see this going any other way. If the Libs and Dips go through with this, I think we'll see another election with a landslide Conservative majority by Easter.

I honestly believe that the only reason there wasn't a Con majority in October was because Harper was the one who forced the election. If the other parties had forced the election, I think the Cons would have won at least the extra 9 seats they needed.

If this government collapses, I think we'll see a very angry electorate the next time and this time the ones to blame will clearly be the Libs and Dips. I don't know if it will be as bad a slaughter as 1993 was for the PCs, but I don't see it being much better.

I can't imagine any federalist in Québec voting Liberal next time if they get into bed with the Bloc here. I also can't imaging anyone who voted Conservative last time changing their votes, but I think a lot of people who voted Liberal would change theirs.

You could argue that the reason the Cons have been kept to 2 minorities is the lingering effects of the Libs' "scary Harper" campaign. But that goes out the door when the Cons can counter-attack saying that Canadians don't have to fear what the Libs and Dips might do when given power because we've seen what they will do to seize power.

I'm no political expert, but it seems like it would be a very easy campaign to plan for the CPC.


Of course, I've lived in SW Calgary for over a quarter century, so I'll never claim to understand the mindset of many voters in Ontario and Québec, so maybe they won't see it the way I do.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

??

Explain.

I can tell you that if I voted for either the Liberals, NDP or Bloc I'd be happy that the party I supported formed government.

But the party they voted for isn't forming government in the normal sense, it's a coalition made up of other parties whom those voters may not support, or even detest.

I asked this question to two liberal supporters last night (not gonna lie, I don't know many). One said they'd definitely vote conservative over a liberal-lead coalition that included the Bloc. The other waivered and wasn't sure what she'd do.

If the NDP and Liberals were able to form a coaltion and have a majority, I can see their supporters being ok with it. But I think you're underestimating the opposition that many liberal supporters would/do have towards a seperatist party being part of the deal.

[transplant99]

If the Conservative government refuses to negotiate the mini-budget with the opposition parties (and by Flaherty's statements, that does seem to be the case) then the opposition parties are well within their rights to create this coalition. Let's not forget that this is a minority government. Every single thing has to have the support of at least one of the opposition parties in order for it to proceed. In the interest of our country, the Conservatives need to be flexible. Currently they have refused to do so and this is why the opposition is on this path. It's frankly offensive that the Conservatives think they can lead this government with an iron fist as if they've earned the right to. If they had a majority, then I would understand.

Fine....now how about addressing what I actually said?

Until the Conservatives allow for some discussion, this response is understandable (although I do not really like it either). They are essentially forcing the opposition to react by being inflexible. Another election is not feasible as it would just be likely a similar result.

No its not understandable in any way whatsoever. Again this entire motion was supposedly based on the Cons pissing off the Liberals with the public money funding slash. That has gone away. Now they are being nothing but acting like a pouting child. WHEN has ANY oppositon been AOK with a minority governments budget? Hell...we arent even sure what it contains, nor what it is exactly that the Liberals are opposed to except that the "plan" for the financial crisis isnt good enough for them. Too frickin bad...should of got ELECTED and tabled their own "plan", which doesnt even exist at this point.

Not necessarily.

Yes....necessarily. More people voted for the Conservatives than any other party. Indisputable. Just because you didn't means squat. But again, using the logic that more people didnt vote for them than did...the same applies to every single party in canada and by a much much wider margin.

At the end of the day, the Conservatives asked for this as a result of their partisanship

No...they asked to elected...and were. Now that mandate, as weak as it may be, is being ripped from them in a power grab never before seen in federal government history. The only coalition that ever worked was on the common cause of conscription during a war that was fought almost 100 years ago. Quite the precedence huh?

Not going to get any sympathy here.

Not really looking for any.

[Ronald Pagan]

I swear I didn't read this article before I made the last post:

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpo...e-cdd574b17de0

The coalition presumably could have any elected MP, including Dion, as its head, since Canadians don't vote on who their PM is. That's for the coalition partners, not Stephen Harper to decide.
It's strangely ironic that Harper, who never met a non-confidence vote he didn't like during his last term of office, is now decrying the attempt to topple the government in a non-confidence motion as anti-democratic.
Finally, after umpteen provocations to overthrow his minority government in a non-confidence votes, the opposition finally screws up enough courage to call Harper's bluff and he folds like a tent.

But the opposition parties are playing a dangerous game as well. No Canadian federalist wants to see a coalition government with the Bloc Quebecois as members, even temporarily.
A coalition government with BQ Leader Gilles Duceppe as a potential cabinet minister is not something that most Canadians would want to contemplate, let alone support.

Having rushed to brink and gaped into the abyss, perhaps all of our political leaders will encouraged to sit down at a table and work out some sort of compromise that will be in the best interest of all Canadians.
It goes without saying that a coalition government with BQ members, or an arrogant Conservative minority government that behaves as though it has a majority or, God forbid, another election is not in the best interest of Canadians.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

A lot of people are treating this with too much emotion--and I think part of it is that there's some who are conflating what should be done politically with what can be done constitutionally. There's nothing out of the ordinary about the minority parties forming a coalition in order to govern. The Bloc does create some bad "optics," but the fact is that the constitution doesn't stipulate as to which platforms are acceptable for a governing party, it merely sets the rules. A coalition government is within the rules as they are laid out, and to suggest that somehow this is going to turn Canada into a banana-republic dictatorship is just fearmongering. Only a conservative partisan could think that a party with a significant minority of votes and of seats has a greater mandate under our system than a coalition with majorities of both. Did Canadians vote for a coalition? Of course not--but if we accept that we must also accept that Canadians didn't really vote for a conservative government either. It's up to parliament to form a stable government under current conditions, and I for one would rather they did that (however they do it--and I agree with the poster who suggested that Harper's next move is to recruit disaffected MPs from other parties--he has the strongest mandate of any single party leader, and that's his last remaining advantage.)

However, two things ought to be clear to partisans on both sides.
1. Harper has massively overplayed his hand, and has lost. The outcome of this is very likely that he will remain PM, but will be forced to include the opposition parties much more meaningfully in his government. There's no winning play for him any more, only damage control.
2. The Liberals have probably won this round, but they must be careful. To attempt to form a government would in my view be an incredibly risky play for at least two reasons. a. It may seem undemocratic, and at best will polarize partisans on both sides, which won't help them in the next election, at worst it will play poorly among voters across the country, leaving them in the wilderness for a decade a la the PCs in the 90s. b. This is not a good time to take the reins of government and to make yourself responsible for the bad economy. The smarter (if more crass and cynical) play is to let Harper hoist himself on his own petard for 24 months and then bring a more unpopular, failed government down at a time when Canadians might be readier for a change.

The real winners here? The Bloc. They clearly will now hold the balance of power in either a continued Conservative government OR in a new coalition. It's unlikely that the Liberals will form a coalition government (in my view) because I think that would be a massive overplay of their hand. But even if they don't, the CPC has to govern knowing that the Bloc can bring down their government to-morrow if they choose, and that a new coalition is ready in the wings should that happen. Either way, the Bloc wins. To sum up this situation for each party:
1. Harper: Lose-Lose. He needs to choose the devil he'd rather deal with now, and I suspect he'll get in bed with the Bloc in order to keep the reins of power. He has massively overplayed his hand, and needs to decide which flavour of **** sandwich he'd rather eat.
2. Dion: Lose-Lose. He's on the outs anyway. Best case is a very temporary stint in the PM's office at the worst possible time to take over.
3. Ignatieff (probably): Win-Lose. If he plays this right, he can preside over a strengthened opposition and take on a weakened Harper in the next election. If he and the Liberals overplay their hand, they could easily find themselves staring down the barrel of an election that they're guaranteed to lose.
4. Layton: Win-Push. He has nothing to lose--he stakes nothing on the coalition, loses nothing if it fails, but stands to gain less either way. The NDP is pretty much in the wilderness anyway.
5. The Bloc: Win-Win. This game is over as far as the Bloc is concerned. They now hold the balance of power no matter what happens.

[metallicat]

I just read elsewhere, not in an article, but on another forum, that instead of having a leadership convention now, the Liberal caucus will select a new leader, Michael Ignatieff, to lead this new coalition.

Anyone else seeing this somewhere? I don't think this dire situation is getting nearly the play it is needed to get in the national media.

[ikaris]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Fine....now how about addressing what I actually said?

How didn't I? You questioned why the opposition parties want to remove the authority of minority government... something about a "gross abbrogration of democracy"

I clearly stated why the opposition parties are going this route because they really do not have any other options because of the inflexibility of the Conservatives. This essentially forces the Conservatives to compromise on the mini-budget by just even threatening a coalition government. Likely this will avert any reality of a coalition government as well, see Ronald Pagan's recent post which pretty much summarizes why it wouldn't happen.

Originally Posted by transplant99

No its not understandable in any way whatsoever. Again this entire motion was supposedly based on the Cons pissing off the Liberals with the public money funding slash. That has gone away. Now they are being nothing but acting like a pouting child. WHEN has ANY oppositon been AOK with a minority governments budget? Hell...we arent even sure what it contains, nor what it is exactly that the Liberals are opposed to except that the "plan" for the financial crisis isnt good enough for them. Too frickin bad...should of got ELECTED and tabled their own "plan", which doesnt even exist at this point.

You're right, very rarely does the opposition support a minority government budget. Then what happens is compromise is reached on certain facets of the budget where the minority gets principally what they wanted through except with some tweaks that an opposition party demanded in order for their support.

What is happening here is that the Conservatives are refusing to discuss the budget. Minority governments simply do not have this luxury.

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yes....necessarily. More people voted for the Conservatives than any other party. Indisputable. Just because you didn't means squat. But again, using the logic that more people didnt vote for them than did...the same applies to every single party in canada and by a much much wider margin.

Contrary to what you believe, my vote and many millions of others' votes do mean squat. A coalition between the Liberals and NDP are closer idealogically other than major fiscal policy issues (which to me would represent the most significant reason as to why this coalition would never happen). The BQ, that's another story. Although it seems they really aren't asking much and they wouldn't actually be apart of the coalition government (just wanting help for Quebec's forestry and manufacturing industry, help that would likely be supplied nationally).

Originally Posted by transplant99

No...they asked to elected...and were. Now that mandate, as weak as it may be, is being ripped from them in a power grab never before seen in federal government history. The only coalition that ever worked was on the common cause of conscription during a war that was fought almost 100 years ago. Quite the precedence huh?

Don't worry, it's not going to happen as long as the Conservatives are willing to negotiate. This will be a good lesson for the Conservatives either way. The Liberals know that a coalition would be detrimental to their future status so it's just posturing.