Canadian Government surrives defeat
May 19, 2005 3:50 PM Subscribe
As Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were honouring four fallen RCMP officers today, a nation turned its attention to The House of Commons in Ottawa. A vote was held on whether to ratify a coalition budget with the NDP, or to effectively dissolve Parliament and call an early election. Days ago, a young rookie MP crossed the floor and joined the governing Liberals, leaving the Conservatives. With all MP’s towing party lines it came down to three Independents. [more inside]
Praise the lord.
I have no great love for the Liberals, but this whole exercise has been such a naked grab for power on Harper's part that I am very, very relieved that the non-confidence vote failed.
Besides, the budget as tweaked to NDP demands solved a particularly vexing problem to do with housing subsidy and renewed mortgages that has been causing the Co-op Housing Sector a great deal of anxiety over the last few months.
I will now cheer, in a properly subdued Canadian fashion.
posted by jokeefe at 4:23 PM on May 19, 2005
I have no great love for the Liberals, but this whole exercise has been such a naked grab for power on Harper's part that I am very, very relieved that the non-confidence vote failed.
Besides, the budget as tweaked to NDP demands solved a particularly vexing problem to do with housing subsidy and renewed mortgages that has been causing the Co-op Housing Sector a great deal of anxiety over the last few months.
I will now cheer, in a properly subdued Canadian fashion.
posted by jokeefe at 4:23 PM on May 19, 2005
I echo your sentiments, jokeefe. The grits are hard to take, but the conservative's platform makes me shudder.
posted by reflecked at 4:33 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by reflecked at 4:33 PM on May 19, 2005
The past week in Canadian politics has been the most enthralling that I can recall. You couldn't have scripted the drama better. Defections, lovers spats, back stabbings, poor health on the part of participants, and fresh allegations of bribery (back with a murky voice recording). Normally I'm pretty apathetic regarding politics but I honestly think this whole affair has kindled my passion for it.
posted by pookzilla at 4:34 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by pookzilla at 4:34 PM on May 19, 2005
The vote made for some good TV. It's been a very dramatic week in Canadian federal politics. The conservatives must be wondering what they have to do to topple the government, given that their opponent is not only being damned on a near daily basis with embarrassing revelations coming out of the gomery inquiry, but also this; the man who the vote came down to today, Chuck Cadman, was once a conservative. As it came time for his vote, the blue must have felt somewhat optimistic about their chances.
Today's one vote difference gives Stronach's crossing the floor that much more significance, if that's even possible. The conservatives I know are going to be foaming at their mouths tomorrow...
posted by jikel_morten at 4:42 PM on May 19, 2005
Today's one vote difference gives Stronach's crossing the floor that much more significance, if that's even possible. The conservatives I know are going to be foaming at their mouths tomorrow...
posted by jikel_morten at 4:42 PM on May 19, 2005
Ya gotta give props to Cadman for polling his constituents for direction. I'm impressed with that, even though it may have been career motivated.
posted by jikel_morten at 4:48 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by jikel_morten at 4:48 PM on May 19, 2005
Please note, that when we Canadians say it's exciting, in this case, we REALLY mean it! Really! Not like when are discussing how the Tournament of Hearts is exciting, and most non-canucks are looking at us with blank stares ("Really? Brooms?").
posted by eurasian at 5:23 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by eurasian at 5:23 PM on May 19, 2005
Who needs the NHL playoffs when we have this fast and furious edge of your seat action from Parliament Hill?
posted by booner at 5:28 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by booner at 5:28 PM on May 19, 2005
This was pretty dramatic. I think it turned out for the best, even though the Liberals seem to love bending over for everyone these days. Now maybe, like Jack Layton has said a number of times, they can actually get back to work.
I cannot believe it came down to Belinda. (It came down to Cadman, too, and good on him for his conduct and decorum and toughing it out through the cancer and everything, but if Stronach hadn't crossed the floor, it would have been goodbye libs.)
Although, while walking down the street after work today, I thought of wild conspiracy --- maybe this was all just an incredibly clever plot, known only to, say, Harper and Stronach and maybe Mackay, to save the conservatives the embarassment of giving the Liberals a majority by suffering from their current bad image and election-dislike-backlash. Maybe Stronach was their secret ploy all along! Ahaha.
But probably not. And now she will forever be in the history books.
(On preview, you're so right, booner. I liked the NHL, but at this point I just kind of shrug when someone mentions the current world cup or whatever it is.)
posted by blacklite at 5:34 PM on May 19, 2005
I cannot believe it came down to Belinda. (It came down to Cadman, too, and good on him for his conduct and decorum and toughing it out through the cancer and everything, but if Stronach hadn't crossed the floor, it would have been goodbye libs.)
Although, while walking down the street after work today, I thought of wild conspiracy --- maybe this was all just an incredibly clever plot, known only to, say, Harper and Stronach and maybe Mackay, to save the conservatives the embarassment of giving the Liberals a majority by suffering from their current bad image and election-dislike-backlash. Maybe Stronach was their secret ploy all along! Ahaha.
But probably not. And now she will forever be in the history books.
(On preview, you're so right, booner. I liked the NHL, but at this point I just kind of shrug when someone mentions the current world cup or whatever it is.)
posted by blacklite at 5:34 PM on May 19, 2005
I wish we could vote no confidence in our government.
posted by eustacescrubb at 5:42 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by eustacescrubb at 5:42 PM on May 19, 2005
I have to say, Canadian politics are fascinating (I'm Icelandic). Yesterday I was reading about past Prime Ministers, looking at video clips of Pierre Trudeau and such, reading the fable of Mouseland and so on and so forth. I've been following Québec politics for some time but never really taken a look at what's happening at federal politics. I was aware of Pierre Trudeau, but he's probably the single coolest 20th century politician, so it's hard not to hear about him, father of multiculturalism and all that.
posted by Kattullus at 5:50 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by Kattullus at 5:50 PM on May 19, 2005
Parlementary politics is a bit more dynamic then our stodgy American system. That said, the US senate looks like it might have some high-drama in the comming week.
posted by delmoi at 7:02 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by delmoi at 7:02 PM on May 19, 2005
1. What the hell is going on up there? *pokes ceiling with broomhandle* Yet another reason I hate U.S. news services - you Canadians are getting all crazy revolutionary and all we hear about is run-away brides and ...lord...that's all that comes to mind.
2. Fable of Mouseland.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:05 PM on May 19, 2005
2. Fable of Mouseland.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:05 PM on May 19, 2005
Good post, but a bit doubly, don't you think? I'm not sure the result warrants a second post. I do think it's nice to sneak two Canadian politics posts into one day - heh.
posted by livii at 7:14 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by livii at 7:14 PM on May 19, 2005
I can comfortably assure the lot of you, Chuck Cadman's intentions in polling his constituents were far from career-motivated. He's a good, strong man who believes in hearing the voices of the people he represents. He would've had my vote if he'd been in my constituency. His son went to the same high school that I did, and would've graduated the year before I got there had he not been killed due to a misunderstanding regarding the way he was wearing a Boston Red Sox hat.
posted by monofonik at 7:58 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by monofonik at 7:58 PM on May 19, 2005
I can comfortably assure the lot of you, Chuck Cadman's intentions in polling his constituents were far from career-motivated. He's a good, strong man who believes in hearing the voices of the people he represents. He would've had my vote if he'd been in my constituency. His son went to the same high school that I did, and would've graduated the year before I got there had he not been killed due to a misunderstanding regarding the way he was wearing a Boston Red Sox hat.
posted by monofonik at 7:58 PM PST on May 19 [!]
I just want to say that my above post might have made it sound like I did in fact think that his motivations were selfish, when really I was trying to say that I didn't know his motivations one way or the other, obviosly, but due to cynicism towards politicians in general I threw in the career-motivation comment.
From what you've written, monofonik, and from what I've seen today, he seems like a guy that's been through and continues to go through a hell of a lot. I feel for him. Is he the MP with terminal cancer? I know he has cancer, but I thought there were a couple of MPs with cancer, and one was terminal. Do you know?
posted by jikel_morten at 9:03 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by monofonik at 7:58 PM PST on May 19 [!]
I just want to say that my above post might have made it sound like I did in fact think that his motivations were selfish, when really I was trying to say that I didn't know his motivations one way or the other, obviosly, but due to cynicism towards politicians in general I threw in the career-motivation comment.
From what you've written, monofonik, and from what I've seen today, he seems like a guy that's been through and continues to go through a hell of a lot. I feel for him. Is he the MP with terminal cancer? I know he has cancer, but I thought there were a couple of MPs with cancer, and one was terminal. Do you know?
posted by jikel_morten at 9:03 PM on May 19, 2005
I'm not sure. One thing that leads me to believe it's not terminal is that he's got residences in both Surrey (which is where I live) AND Ottawa. I'm sure a guy with something that bad wouldn't exactly be jumping back and forth.
posted by monofonik at 9:44 PM on May 19, 2005
posted by monofonik at 9:44 PM on May 19, 2005
Conservative MP Dave Chatters is terminal. Another Conservative MP, Darrel Stinson also has cancer, as does Cadman. Yesterday a liberal MP left with a heart attack-cum-heartburn and today, Carolyn Parrish discovered she has an ovarian cyst that nearly prevented her presence.
I can't overlook the selflessness of Parrish either. Parish was kicked out of Martin's Liberals for inappropriate remarks made against President Bush, followed by the embarrasingly immature and pathetic Bush doll stomp on television. Apparently Parrish is no fan of Martin's questionable backroom maneuvers within the party. Given her (recent) history with Martin, I don't think it would've come as a tremendous suprise had she voted against, just for spite's sake. Anyway, she put her personal feelings aside and voted for the party that gave her the boot (or maybe she just voted to keep the greater evil out...).
"Come hell or high water, there's no frigging way I'm going to let one ovary bring down the government," she said, after speculation that she may sit out due to illness...
posted by jikel_morten at 10:13 PM on May 19, 2005
I can't overlook the selflessness of Parrish either. Parish was kicked out of Martin's Liberals for inappropriate remarks made against President Bush, followed by the embarrasingly immature and pathetic Bush doll stomp on television. Apparently Parrish is no fan of Martin's questionable backroom maneuvers within the party. Given her (recent) history with Martin, I don't think it would've come as a tremendous suprise had she voted against, just for spite's sake. Anyway, she put her personal feelings aside and voted for the party that gave her the boot (or maybe she just voted to keep the greater evil out...).
"Come hell or high water, there's no frigging way I'm going to let one ovary bring down the government," she said, after speculation that she may sit out due to illness...
posted by jikel_morten at 10:13 PM on May 19, 2005
I think the conservatives main problem is that the liberals are so much to the "right" now.
If you are right leaning you have the liberals or the conservatives, who to me seem to be pretty much the same, except with more religion and USA asskissing.
posted by Iax at 10:43 PM on May 19, 2005
If you are right leaning you have the liberals or the conservatives, who to me seem to be pretty much the same, except with more religion and USA asskissing.
posted by Iax at 10:43 PM on May 19, 2005
Well, I'm glad to hear the government of Canada hasn't collapsed and the country hasn't fallen into total anarchy. I was really worried for a minute.
Here in California with the illegal (Mexican) immigrant problem, the last thing we need are thousands of disenfranchised Canadians pouring over our border. (Just kidding, the more, the merrier.)
Anyway, I listen to As it Happens when I drive to work everyday, and from what I could tell (since I lack general knowledge of Canada and its government) Canada was about to explode.
Congratulations. May your government continue to suck less than the executive branch of the United States government.
posted by Colloquial Collision at 4:41 AM on May 20, 2005
Here in California with the illegal (Mexican) immigrant problem, the last thing we need are thousands of disenfranchised Canadians pouring over our border. (Just kidding, the more, the merrier.)
Anyway, I listen to As it Happens when I drive to work everyday, and from what I could tell (since I lack general knowledge of Canada and its government) Canada was about to explode.
Congratulations. May your government continue to suck less than the executive branch of the United States government.
posted by Colloquial Collision at 4:41 AM on May 20, 2005
eurasian - some of us in the States do like the curling; it's big in Minnesota. Heck, I'm not even from Minnesota, but I can be drawn into watching a curling competition on CBC. It just sucks me in. I don't know if anybody in my state even plays...
posted by caution live frogs at 6:01 AM on May 20, 2005
posted by caution live frogs at 6:01 AM on May 20, 2005
Congratulations. May your government continue to suck less than the executive branch of the United States government.
That is my prayer. Stephen Harper = Dubya + brains. The thought of him being in charge damn near leaves me prostrate.
Back to work, MPs.
posted by orange swan at 6:08 AM on May 20, 2005
That is my prayer. Stephen Harper = Dubya + brains. The thought of him being in charge damn near leaves me prostrate.
Back to work, MPs.
posted by orange swan at 6:08 AM on May 20, 2005
Man, you can't make this stuff up. Layton came out of this with a lot, I think.
off topic: "toe the line" comes from the British Navy (down the page a bit)
posted by transient at 8:02 AM on May 20, 2005
off topic: "toe the line" comes from the British Navy (down the page a bit)
posted by transient at 8:02 AM on May 20, 2005
And the grandson of that man that told the Mouseland fable grew up to kick terrorist ass as Jack Bauer.
posted by evilcolonel at 6:35 PM on May 20, 2005
posted by evilcolonel at 6:35 PM on May 20, 2005
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