Harper wants to remain in power till 2009

[BitWhys]

sounds like a bunch of tinkerputt to me. at a glance it strikes me as foolish to not allow a government to dissolve itself. after all that was the song of the year last year.

"put itself out of its misery" comes to mind.

 

[Finder]

Re: Fixed Election Dates

I oppose endeavours to introduce pre-set election dates.

One of the important aspects of the Westminster-style of government that Canada uses is its inherent adaptability to particular situations. If this legislation is passed, then our system is going to lose, or at the very least compromise, one of the cornerstones of the system, which could rattle down the ladder of institutions to cause our system to become rigid and inflexible.

The only way I would support this legislation is if Section 15 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (extending the duration of a Parliament of Canada during invasion or insurrection) is continued, and if the Governor General of Canada continues to have the right and prerogative to prorogue or dissolve the Parliament under emergency or exigent circumstances; and, the confidence convention would have to be continued.

Fiveparadox, almost every Westminster style of government has made reforms to how they do things. Ontario which uses a style of Westminster had fixed dates and... well nobody cares or really notices, but it removes the power from our PM to just call an election whenever he wants.

Also I believe Harper couldn't change the fact that if a Government lost confidence an election would still be called. I think this is more geared towards the magority governments then minorities.

I really think the title of this thread and perhaps a few stories made on this have been mis-represented to make it look as if Harper is trying to make his minority hold by changing the law.

No I think Harper is doing the right thing. Though I've lost confidence in him as a democratic reformer with his antics after getting his government I must say he is on the right track with this.

 

[BitWhys]

I like the idea of 4 year terms instead of 5. I'll have to wait to hear the rest next week.

 

[darkbeaver]

RE: Harper wants to remai

It's a stupid idea which result in perpetual campaigning similar to the US.

 

[wallyj]

I believe what will happen is that when a gov.falls on a confidence vote,they will set a date approx.4 years from the election date. Remember Martin saying he would not call an election until the sponsorship scandal was fully investigated.He then realized his party was in depp doo-doo and called a quick election hoping to have a majority to carry the libs for another 5 years.It didn't work out that way,but a fixed date should stop that crap from happening.

 

[BitWhys]

Martin only set the date because he had to set a date after the budget update got non-conned. I don't see how what Harper is proposing will do anything about that.

 

[wallyj]

good for harper

 

[wallyj]

No bitwhys,I mean the election before that one.Martin tried to pull a Chretien.

 

[athabaska]

I like the change proposed. The set timing evens out the playing field more than in the past. It's especially good for parties to plan leadership changes and have their team well entrenched ahead of time. Parties like the Greens don't have the resources to scramble up an election campaign at the last moment and will not have to fly by the seat of their pants.