Belinda Stronach appointed to Cabinet

She's a politician and she's made no noises about quitting. That leaves only one reason why she'd do such a thing...she thinks it's her best shot at getting re-elected.

Stronach has always been more of a Progressive Conservative than a Harperite anyway. She doesn't hate people because of their sexual preference or skin colour. Paul Martin has always been more of a Progressive Conservative than a Liberal. About the only reason I can see for him being in the Liberal party is that his father was. Paul Jr. is not nearly the man that Paul Sr. was though.

Now that I think about it, I'm surprised that Belinda didn't cross the floor earlier.

Are you aware that during the last election when people were mumbling about a Conservative minority, Harper said that the only thing he would consider a confidence vote would be a money bill?

What ever Rev.

If that's true, it sounds like Stronach had herself a personal 'non-confidence vote'...against Stephen Harper.

Given her statement on the radio, I have to say that's exactly what happened, sno.

So? That’s his prerogative.

It wasn't a confidence vote as you pointed out, but it still passed, and the liberals should step down, even if only to get re-elected.

I would say the same thing if the conservatives were faced with the same results. This isn't a partisan issue.

But according to Harper's own words, he wouldn't step down in the same circumstances. Either he was lying then or he's being extremly hypocritical now.

I don't doubt that Belinda has ulterior motives. But I applaud her for crossing the floor. Lets pass the budget and get on with business.

Harper talks about economic damage caused by the instability in government. More damage would be done if the budget fails to pass, elections are held and another minority government emerges.If you were a foreign investor, would that scenario make you comfortable? Canadians elected a minority government and those sitting in the house should WORK TOGETHER in the best interests of the country.

Stephen Harper is out of touch with what most of us want, and this could bring on more defections. As I suspected, there isn't much unity in the new Conservative Party. Otherwise, they would have emerged from their policy convention with a party platform. Were they hoping to wing it through another campaign without putting their policy in writing? The Conservative Party still appears to be an unlikely alliance of old PC's and Reform wing nuts.

As I have said before, I don't support any of the parties. I think they are all a different shades of the same colour. But we have to work with what we have. There are so many important issues that affect us all, and these have been but on the back burner so that the politicians can argue over things that don't matter. Are the Liberals guilty of corruption? Hell yes! But the enquiry should run it's course and then we shall see. Meantime, lets get on with business. The instability Harper refers to is caused by his refusal to put his own political ambitions aside and do what is best for the country.

I know what your saying, this is only my personal feeling as to how we should govern ourselves.


Atleast Canadian politics is interesting....sorta.

Canadian politics are a scam while they put on this dog and pony show they pass laws that merge are military with the US pass laws that take our rights away ,.You guys think were free here ? This is all a grand illusion by design fellas

"You guys think were free here ? "

not really.

I'm with you, mrmom2. Partisan politics is just a drug that dupes us into thinking we are free and sovereign.

Politics...getting involved and trying to influence the direction of things...is also the only way we can achieve freedom.

Hunter Thompson called politics the art of controlling your own environment. I've seen nothing to indicate that he was wrong. Our freedom is lessened when we don't participate in politics because we are no longer trying to control our own environment. That leaves a vacuum that is inevitably filled by people who are all too happy to control our environments for us.

So like automatons every 4 years we march off to the polls and thats freedom Unless you have wads of cash your out of the loop Rev You can talk till your blue in the face unless you have money you have zero power.It's called corporate rule

Oddly enough, when you join a party you get to have some say. All you have to do is show up at meetings. Once you get involved, you find that people do want to hear your opinions. Even if your candidate doesn't win, the party you support will be represented on committees. in proportion to the number of seats they hold. Committees are where the real work gets done. They are where policy gets set.

Even parties that win no seats influence policy. As the Green Party has grown, the Liberals have begun to pay more attention to environmental concerns, for instance. That isn't an accident, they saw a trend and wanted to appeal to a certain group of voters. That sucks for the Greens, who lose votes because of it, but it is better for the environment than if the Greens never existed.

It's the same with participating in polls. When the phone rings and it's Ipsos-Reid on the line, tell them what you think. Politicians live and die by the polls and if they see things are moving left, they shift their policies accordingly.

The big poll happens when you vote though. If the NDP pick up a higher percentage of the popular vote this time, you can expect to see Liberal and, to a lesser extent, Conservative policies shift towards NDP policies. If the Conservatives make significant gains, then you'll see a shift towards their policies.

In your BC election, if Campbell sees a significant drop in his popular support, he will most likely soften his policies to make them more acceptable to the general public.

By not participating you are effectively saying that you don't care what they do to you. By not participating when there is a vote to change your electoral system, you are saying that you like things just fine the way they are.

I see the dollar even rallied on this announcement here

How come the Conservatives never notice that what they are doing is hurting the dollar? The upswing was predictable...the money boys hate instability and there are few things less stable than Stephen Harper.

Are you serious with that comment?? haha

That's comedy...the Conservatives, eh. Go to take a economics course.

Must agree with you there. The best case in point in recent history is the Reform Party. They went from formation in the late 80's to (if I recall correctly) being the official opposition at one point. Quite an achievement. Of course they've now evolved into the current conservative party, which again came within a whisker of forming the government. Says tons about showing up.

It is unlikely they will ever form government though, Facts...at least in any effective manner. Stronach crossing the floor just emphasizes that. Harper and the Reform/Alliance/Conservatives are far to the right of most Canadians, especially on social policy.

Well if the Conservatives are too far right, and the NDP is to far left, then I guess were looking at Liberal governments for many years to come.

Oh great Corupt admited thieves wonderful

I think we'll see a collapse of the right again, Jay. All indications are that Canadians are moving to left. That includes a lot of people who used to consider themselves conservatives, but have been alienated by the Harperites.

Belinda sent a signal today. Maybe the right should listen instead of doing the kind of ranting that Harper has been up to since her announcement.

I still think there is a rift between the old PC's and Reformers. I watched Newsworld and it seems public opinion is split, maybe a little more positive than negative on her leaving tories. Most opposition, naturally is from Alberta.

In fact more by Harper himself. Maybe his policy and PR guys that motor him. He lost me last time by trying to make abortion an issue and calling Martin a child molestor. My vote disappeared on just those two silly little things. He lost me last week when I saw a commercial calling the Liberals monsters, and saying "Canada needs an election". Umm, no. I'll think for myself thank you very much.

Looks like the conservatives may have some extra time to win my vote now.

Harper is not a happy camper. He even hinted Belinda's and Peters relationship is in trouble over this.

I think it is a stretch to say that Canadians are moving to the left. Health care is being slowly moved into a direction of blended private and public delivery, and even the province of Quebec has the most private healthcare in the country, and they aren’t exactly considered a right wing province. Taxes are being cut, debt is being paid down, and globalization is in full force. The NDP (being the furthest legitimate left party) is loosing seats federally, and in Ontario at least, they haven't even been achieving official party status.

Belinda did send a signal today, I agree, and perhaps it's for the best.

The right does have a troublesome time these days selling its platform, but you must admit that withdrawing yourself from the spend policies of the left (as has happened recently) doesn't help buy Canadians votes.

A lover’s quarrel spilling into the public domain, how fun. Maybe it will peak peoples interest in politics though…

Hey maybe they can make a reality show out of it Pete and Belinda a Political love story :P

Why would you say that, Jay? Aurora is maybe a little harder than Newmarket to gain votes, but it's not hard. Her constituency feeds off of Toronto culture, so I don't see it as impossible Newmarket voting Liberal. Last election was CLOSE between Libs and Cons.