The Throne Speech Two Step

[Colpy]

Because he desperately wants an election right now, but he knows he can't call one without looking like a huge hypocrite on his fixed election date law. I see no need to have an election over every issue. The people of Canada have their say every election. If the majority of elected MPs vote against something, why is there a need for an election (unless of course it is something major like a budget, which needs to be passed)??

But government needs to work, to be able to carry out a legislative agenda. To support the aims of the Throne Speech to avoid an election, and then to attempt to undercut the gov't by gutting the bills that move towards the aims declared in the Speech, or to hold them up endlessly in committee, or to simply vote them down, is at the very least duplicitous, and is, IMHO, a slap in the face to the people and democratic principle.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GOV'T'S AGENDA, GO TO THE PEOPLE!

It is that simple. It is called democracy.

Most minority gov'ts only last 18 months.....by the time an election came about if declared now, this gov't would have in over 22 months.

 

[Tonington]

Most minority gov'ts only last 18 months.....by the time an election came about if declared now, this gov't would have in over 22 months.

Hey, that will make a great soundbyte for the PM come election time.

 

[gc]

But government needs to work, to be able to carry out a legislative agenda. To support the aims of the Throne Speech to avoid an election....

If it were up to me, the throne speech wouldn't be a matter of confidence. I'm glad Dion is not going to topple the government over a speech.

...and then to attempt to undercut the gov't by gutting the bills that move towards the aims declared in the Speech, or to hold them up endlessly in committee, or to simply vote them down, is at the very least duplicitous, and is, IMHO, a slap in the face to the people and democratic principle.

I agree with some of what the government is doing, BUT we recently had an election and, like it or not most Canadians voted for parties who disagree with these bills/aims. Respecting Canadians wishes would be to not let these bills pass. However, it's not that simple because it would mean an election, and while I don't mind have elections often, most Canadians don't want an election. If the government was to respect Canadians wishes, these bills would not pass AND we wouldn't have an election, but thanks to Harper that's simply not possible. Thanks to Harper, the wishes of Canadians can not possibly be satisfied.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GOV'T'S AGENDA, GO TO THE PEOPLE!

It is that simple. It is called democracy.

It would be that simple if elections didn't cost hundreds of millions of dollars (link) . Again, I dont' mind having elections despite the cost, but most Canadians don't.

 

[Tonington]

More to the point GC, if Parliament respected the wishes of Canadians, the government could propose a bill, then it could be tweaked in committee so that it does reflect the views of all Canadians. Or at least most Canadians. Most legislation can be made to have concessions. Nobody should be that thick in the skull.

 

[gc]

More to the point GC, if Parliament respected the wishes of Canadians, the government could propose a bill, then it could be tweaked in committee so that it does reflect the views of all Canadians. Or at least most Canadians. Most legislation can be made to have concessions. Nobody should be that thick in the skull.

I agree. I think that is what the opposition did with bill C-30. It's too bad that Harper has now said he wouldn't allow amendments to his bills...

 

[Liberalman]

Colpy

quote:

The Conservatives are the GOVERNMENT of this country, just in case you hadn't noticed..

The Conservatives are the minority government, which means that they got to compromise all bills that they put through.

The Conservatives do not have 51% of the seats so they cannot do what they want.

This is why minority governments don’t last too long.

The same thing will happen after committee the crime bill will stay there until everyone agrees that is if the Conservative party shows up and the Conservative chair doesn’t play games by not showing up to do the important work necessary to get it passed.

The Liberals have always said that they are willing to work with the Conservative party to pass bills as long as the bills are good ones.

It is all up to Harper if he wants this government to work he has to work with the Liberal opposition.

If he doesn’t want to do this then all he has to do is go to the Governor General and tell her that he needs a new mandate from the people and get a new election and try to get a majority.

Now if Jack Layton were a smart boy he would make a written deal with the Liberals and let Dion become Prime Minister.

In Ontario when Miller a Conservative won the elections with a minority government the NDP and the Liberals made a written agreement and they were able to form the new government.

Harper can take a breather and wait till the next election in 2009 and try to get the majority then.

Since the people don’t want an election now the Governor General can make the Liberals the new government.

But Jack would never consider this because his pride would not let him.

 

[Unforgiven]

It will be nice to have an opposition that is willing and able to head into an election with some confidence. The current government needs to be brought down before more damage can be done.

 

[Tonington]

Now if Jack Layton were a smart boy he would make a written deal with the Liberals and let Dion become Prime Minister.

Perhaps you should ask the people who voted for the NDP how they would feel about that. I'm not so sure they would be pleased with said arrangement.

 

[Dreadful Nonsense]

Well you can whine and whimper ...Dion did the right thing for Canadians...he read us right....we don't want to go to an election....
he is useing this opportunity to point out that even if he tried to work with harper for the good of the country...it will turn out lousey cause harper is an idiot whose self serving oil and bushco interests will always get in the way....the crime bill is no big whoop ...i don't know whats in it...but i'm sure there is no new enlightened concepts coming out of harper's hole.

 

[MikeyDB]

It doesn't represent a "democracy" very well when the sitting potentate declares that non-support for he and his party's agenda will translate into an election. Sorry Colpy you're wrong on this point.

Representative government and democratic government is at best a compromise. When the sitting Prime Minister isn't prepared to compromise on issues, what you have is a dictatorship not a democracy.

 

[Dreadful Nonsense]

Representative government and democratic government is at best a compromise. When the sitting Prime Minister isn't prepared to compromise on issues, what you have is a dictatorship not a democracy.

wow ..never looked at it that way here in Canada...so what yer saying is Harper is just a paranoid meglamanic...