Carman Fox

Why are the Federal MPs talking about another election?

S.G. Gibson

Retired
Dec 29, 2003
375
0
0
Why do we need another Federal election? Seems like a big waste of money to me. What's changed so much since the last one? I can't think of anything the Conservatives have done that is highly worthy of making them a majority government and the Liberals have done nothing dramatic to redeem themselves.
 

greatshark

Member
Mar 1, 2006
467
3
18
Because it is the best chance for Harper to get re-elected right now, that is why he is going to ask the GG to dissolve parliament and call an election. If he gets re-elected, the minority (hope not majority) will probably last another couple of years. Otherwise, if he waits, they may lose popularity, and may lose if the election is called later in the fall or spring next year.

1) The Conservatives are leading in the polls right now (i don't get it, especially due to the listeriosis outbreak, where the Conservative made changes to the meat inspection program, where the meat inspectors no longer inspect, they just review paperwork. They are proposing to allow the companies to monitor everything themselves, and want to change the regulations so companies, not the government is responsible for the day to day inspections. So I guess the fox will be guarding the hen house - sounds like a brilliant idea).

2) There will be parliamentary hearing in the fall on the Bernier scandal, more Mulroney-Schreiber stuff, and investigations/decisions into how the Conservatives violated the election spending limit laws

3) Down south, the Obama "time for a change", doesn't bode well for Harper. It may have an impact on the psyche of the public here, especially if Obama and the Democrats win.

4) The economy is falling. Conservatives want to call it now before the real bad economic numbers come in a few months from now.

The Conservatives passed an fixed election law, so the election is supposed to be fall 2009. When they passed this, they said this will prevent governments from arbitarily calling elections when it suits them politically. Now this is exactly what they are doing -hyprocrites.
 

Bartdude

New member
Jul 5, 2006
1,252
5
0
Calgary
Conservatives' fortunes won't get any better than they are now. If they waited until 2009, the committee investigating their election funding from 2006 would pump out more dirt, the economy will likely worsen, and the Bernier fiasco will be rehashed when Julie Couillard's book comes out. They also need to take advantage of Stephane Dion's low approval ratings.

Basically, Stephen Harper has become what the claimed he was against - a double-talking political opportunist.
 

timhorton

New member
Jun 18, 2002
224
1
0
Your reasons for not wanting an election are exactly why an election is needed.

Nothing gets done under a minority government. Major issues stall in a stalemate.

When you unable to govern, you call an election.

The Conservatives passed an fixed election law, so the election is supposed to be fall 2009. When they passed this, they said this will prevent governments from arbitarily calling elections when it suits them politically. Now this is exactly what they are doing -hyprocrites.
Except that there are clauses in that law that stipulate exemptions under 1. extraordinary circumstances or 2. when the current government is unable to govern properly (political stalemates, confidence wrangling, opposition stonewalling, etc.) They are claiming the option 2 in this case.
 

littlejimbigher

New member
Jun 21, 2006
1,441
4
0
surrey
Dion keeps threatening to topple the government. Whether or not he would is another matter, but Harper is taking the inititive much as Chretien did with Stockwell Day.
 

greatshark

Member
Mar 1, 2006
467
3
18
Except that there are clauses in that law that stipulate exemptions under 1. extraordinary circumstances or 2. when the current government is unable to govern properly (political stalemates, confidence wrangling, opposition stonewalling, etc.) They are claiming the option 2 in this case.
I disagree completely.

Option 2 is a complete fabrication.

Parliament isn't even sitting right now. So how can Harper claim they can't govern. I don't see the opposition holding up any bills right now, how can they when there is no parliament?????
 

oldguy49

New member
Mar 7, 2008
40
0
0
We do need an election

The oppostion is trying to control the parlementry agenda. At the same time they are threatening to bring the government down constantly. It must be very frustrating for a Prime Minister to try and govern under these circumstances. Why not let the people decide. More now then ever this upcoming election is about the future of Canada. Anything less than a Conservative majority will be disaster for Canada.
 

HankQuinlan

I dont re Member
Sep 7, 2002
1,744
6
0
victoria
The oppostion is trying to control the parlementry agenda. At the same time they are threatening to bring the government down constantly. It must be very frustrating for a Prime Minister to try and govern under these circumstances.
That's the point of a minority government. They are all supposed to make compromises and work for everybody's good. None of them represent a majority opinion.

They are all doofusses. Once again, I will vote for the least objectionable.
 
Ashley Madison
Vancouver Escorts