Consider this scenario.
(b) Should the Governor General appoint the Hon. Stephen Harper as Prime Minister of Canada, because his party has the most seats in the House of Commons?
- The Conservative Party of Canada receives the most seats in the House of Commons — 135 out of 308.
- The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin of the Liberal Party of Canada decides to attempt to secure the confidence of the House, and continue to govern — and succeeds, with their 105 seats, the 32 seats of the New Democratic Party, and 21 seats from more left-wing members of the Bloc Québecois.
- The Hon. Stephen Harper believes that, simply due to a plurality, he should automatically become Prime Minister, and that the Conservative Party of Canada should be named to the Government.
- Her Excellency the Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean finds herself in the midst of a crisis, and calls a conference of the party leaders to discuss the situation in the House of Commons.
- The NDP, the Liberals and a representative for the Bloc members supporting the current Government make it clear that the Liberal Government of Canada has the confidence of the House of Commons, and that the same would not be true with a Conservative ministry.
- The Hon. Stephen Harper demands that, as the Leader of the party with a plurality, he be named Prime Minister immediately.
(b) Should the Governor General appoint the Hon. Stephen Harper as Prime Minister of Canada, because his party has the most seats in the House of Commons?