The Conservative government will soon introduce legislation to implement fixed dates for federal elections, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday.
Harper told the Victoria Chamber of Commerce his minority government will introduce a bill next week calling for fixed election dates every four years. Senate reform legislation will also be introduced next week, he said.
But Harper steered away from questions about elected senators, saying it was his government's ambition to have an elected senate, but that will take time.
Harper said the fixed election bill will propose the next election take place in the fall of 2009.
"Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage," he said. "Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar. They level the playing field for all parties. The rules are clear for everybody."
Harper said fixed election dates are part of his democratic reform measures.
British Columbia, Ontario and Newfoundland-Labrador have fixed election dates.
Harper said fixed election dates don't mean a government stays in power until the set date.
Governments can be toppled in non-confidence votes or by Opposition forces, he said.
"Under fixed election legislation, nothing prevents the Opposition from defeating the government at any time," Harper said.
But he appeared to be suggesting his minority government should stay in power until 2009.
"Unless we're defeated or prevented from governing, we want to keep moving forward to make this minority parliament work over the next three-a-half years," Harper said.
"Hopefully in the next election we can run on our record and we won't need the manipulation of the electoral calendar."
Bill Graham, interim leader of the Liberal party, said it's ironic that a government with the slimmest minority in Canadian history is proposing four-year terms.
Graham said his party will review the idea to see if it's appropriate for Canada's democratic system.
"There are those in our party who see merit in the idea, there are others who believe that we have to move very cautiously if we're going to tamper with the very basics of the way in which a parliamentary democracy works," he said.
"Mr. Harper and his government owe it to Canadians to not rush into radical changes at a time when we need reflection, when we need to understand how they're going to work for the benefits of all Canadians in our democracy."
The May 2005 B.C. election was the first fixed provincial election date in Canadian history.
Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberals promised fixed election dates before they were elected to their first term in May 2001.
Campbell has since said fixed-election dates are here to stay, but has mused about changing the time of year the elections are held to the fall every four years from the current spring elections.
In British Columbia, the Opposition New Democrats accused Campbell's Liberals of firing up their election machine at least six months before last May's election, launching a multi-billion-dollar spending spree that saw the government promise new roads and recreation centres across the province.
The Liberals countered by saying the fixed date also allowed traditional New Democrat support groups like big labour and social organizations to mount huge anti-government advertising campaigns months prior to the vote.
Harper said nothing can stop a government from doing what it believes is governing.
Fixed election dates are a useful democratic reform that include advantages and disadvantages, he said.
"This a significant advantage for the government that we are willing to give up," said Harper.
The Senate reform law his government will introduce next week is the start of what Harper called a move toward reforming an institution in need of modernization.
"This institution should be reformed to better reflect the modern democratic needs of all of Canada's regions," he said.
He said his government has begun to tackle issues that British Columbia raised during the election campaign.
"The very first bill our government introduced had to do with government accountability," he said.
"It signals our commitment to clean up Ottawa after the sponsorship scandal."
Harper said he wants British Columbia to have its fair share of federal seats, but wouldn't say what he considers a fair number.
He said he would want more seats up for grabs in British Columbia by the next election.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n052669A.xml
I support Fixed election dates, but I think that is for majorities so they have four years in power and that they fall or stay after four years. I don't think minorities should have 4 year terms. Or fixed elections.
Harper told the Victoria Chamber of Commerce his minority government will introduce a bill next week calling for fixed election dates every four years. Senate reform legislation will also be introduced next week, he said.
But Harper steered away from questions about elected senators, saying it was his government's ambition to have an elected senate, but that will take time.
Harper said the fixed election bill will propose the next election take place in the fall of 2009.
"Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage," he said. "Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar. They level the playing field for all parties. The rules are clear for everybody."
Harper said fixed election dates are part of his democratic reform measures.
British Columbia, Ontario and Newfoundland-Labrador have fixed election dates.
Harper said fixed election dates don't mean a government stays in power until the set date.
Governments can be toppled in non-confidence votes or by Opposition forces, he said.
"Under fixed election legislation, nothing prevents the Opposition from defeating the government at any time," Harper said.
But he appeared to be suggesting his minority government should stay in power until 2009.
"Unless we're defeated or prevented from governing, we want to keep moving forward to make this minority parliament work over the next three-a-half years," Harper said.
"Hopefully in the next election we can run on our record and we won't need the manipulation of the electoral calendar."
Bill Graham, interim leader of the Liberal party, said it's ironic that a government with the slimmest minority in Canadian history is proposing four-year terms.
Graham said his party will review the idea to see if it's appropriate for Canada's democratic system.
"There are those in our party who see merit in the idea, there are others who believe that we have to move very cautiously if we're going to tamper with the very basics of the way in which a parliamentary democracy works," he said.
"Mr. Harper and his government owe it to Canadians to not rush into radical changes at a time when we need reflection, when we need to understand how they're going to work for the benefits of all Canadians in our democracy."
The May 2005 B.C. election was the first fixed provincial election date in Canadian history.
Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberals promised fixed election dates before they were elected to their first term in May 2001.
Campbell has since said fixed-election dates are here to stay, but has mused about changing the time of year the elections are held to the fall every four years from the current spring elections.
In British Columbia, the Opposition New Democrats accused Campbell's Liberals of firing up their election machine at least six months before last May's election, launching a multi-billion-dollar spending spree that saw the government promise new roads and recreation centres across the province.
The Liberals countered by saying the fixed date also allowed traditional New Democrat support groups like big labour and social organizations to mount huge anti-government advertising campaigns months prior to the vote.
Harper said nothing can stop a government from doing what it believes is governing.
Fixed election dates are a useful democratic reform that include advantages and disadvantages, he said.
"This a significant advantage for the government that we are willing to give up," said Harper.
The Senate reform law his government will introduce next week is the start of what Harper called a move toward reforming an institution in need of modernization.
"This institution should be reformed to better reflect the modern democratic needs of all of Canada's regions," he said.
He said his government has begun to tackle issues that British Columbia raised during the election campaign.
"The very first bill our government introduced had to do with government accountability," he said.
"It signals our commitment to clean up Ottawa after the sponsorship scandal."
Harper said he wants British Columbia to have its fair share of federal seats, but wouldn't say what he considers a fair number.
He said he would want more seats up for grabs in British Columbia by the next election.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n052669A.xml
I support Fixed election dates, but I think that is for majorities so they have four years in power and that they fall or stay after four years. I don't think minorities should have 4 year terms. Or fixed elections.
