Tories in contempt of Parliament; Canada votes 2011

[Canadave]

It's official — the government has fallen from power, clearing the way for a spring election.

The opposition Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois came together Friday afternoon in a historic vote to say they no longer have confidence in the Conservative government. The non-confidence vote automatically sparks an election after five years of Conservative minority rule.

Former Conservative — now Independent — MP Helena Guergis and independent MP André Arthur both voted against the Liberal motion. Liberal MP Keith Martin, who is not seeking re-election, was not in the House for the vote.

After the vote, Speaker Peter Milliken addressed Stephen Harper as a member of Parliament rather than as prime minister when Harper rose to move the House adjourn. Conservative MPs left the House chamber quickly for a caucus meeting.

Harper was expected to speak in the foyer of the House of Commons within minutes of the adjournment.

Speaker Peter Milliken speaks in the House of Commons shortly before opposition MPs united to vote down the government. The Speaker then adjourned the House, and an election call is expected Saturday. Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press

He is also expected to go to Rideau Hall Saturday morning to ask Governor General David Johnston to formally dissolve Parliament. As soon as he does that, candidates will hit their local neighbourhoods and the party leaders will fan out across the country to ask voters to send them back to Parliament.

Only five other non-confidence votes have happened in Canada's history, according to information on the Library of Parliament website. This is the first time it has occurred because a majority of MPs voted that they believed the government was in contempt of Parliament.

CBC story

Well, I have the feeling that we'll just end up shuffling things around until we get another Conservative minority, but we shall see. Interesting that this is the first time that in Commonwealth history that the ruling party has been found to be in contempt of Parliament by the House itself.

Also, poll. Who are you planning on voting for? I tend to lean NDP, myself, and living in Ottawa Centre solidifies that, as I think Paul Dewar is an excellent MP.

 

[Owain Taggart]

NDP here. We used to have a large Liberal population in the area, until the last election when the area became an NDP majority, after being tired of the lax attitude that our Liberal representative had after having the seat for over 12 years running and taking things for granted. I have more confidence in the NDP than the Liberals and the Conservatives at this point and I think it would be about time to see an NDP Prime Minister.

 

[Garak]

Conservative.

I'd rather not have an election at all though.

 

[SmoothieX]

Former Conservative — now Independent — MP Helena Guergis and independent MP André Arthur both voted against the Liberal motion.

One of my dogs is named Helena. She's a good dog, though she needs a bath.

 

[Canadave]

^ If I was you, I wouldn't be calling notice to the fact that your dog shares a name with Helena Geurgis. She attracts scandal like flames attract moths.

 

[eastman23]

At the moment, I'm leaning Liberal, but I suspect it won't mean much as I'll be living in a NDP riding come election-day... of course, I'm living in an NDP riding now, so there's not much difference.

That being said, I suspect the end result will be a Conservative minority government.

 

[Holdfast]

I don't pay much attention to Canadian politics, but it seems like you guys have had, what, a zillion general elections recently, all resulting in a Conservative minority over the past few years? Seems like every other season there's another election, or threat of another election. I'd have thought the other parties would have figured out this strategy isn't working by now.

 

[eastman23]

I don't pay much attention to Canadian politics, but it seems like you guys have had, what, a zillion general elections recently, all resulting in a Conservative minority over the past few years? Seems like every other season there's another election, or threat of another election. I'd have thought the other parties would have figured out this strategy isn't working by now.

This will be the 5th election since 2000:
November 27, 2000 - Liberal majority
June 28, 2004 - Liberal minority
January 23, 2006 - Conservative minority
October 14, 2008 - Conservative minority
Sometime in May, 2011 - At the moment, looking like another Conservative minority (IMO of course)

Stephen Harper has been leader of the Conservative party since the 2004 election, and the Liberals have gone through Paul Martin (2004 and 2006), Stephane Dion (2008), and now Michael Ignatieff (2011). I suspect that unless the Liberals make some major gains this time, they'll have another new leader next time.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I don't pay much attention to Canadian politics, but it seems like you guys have had, what, a zillion general elections recently, all resulting in a Conservative minority over the past few years? Seems like every other season there's another election, or threat of another election. I'd have thought the other parties would have figured out this strategy isn't working by now.

Yeah, that's pretty much true. In the end, despite everyone who complains, we always end up back at square-one, which is very frustrating. It's almost like it's become a hunting season. It's obvious people want change, yet it doesn't seem to happen, and the reason all these elections happen is because people grow tireless of someone who doesn't seem to be doing his job for the greater good of Canadians. Like Steven says, it's likely to result from a conservative minority government, again. There ought to be a rule that prevents a minority government to be held by the same party if that party has been the cause of the problems to begin with, to prevent defaulting. People can't expect change if the same party keeps getting elected by minority preventing another party from having their chance, and it tends to feel like these elections are a waste of time, not to mention tax dollars.

 

[trampledamage]

Dammit! I still haven't got my citizenship application in so I won't be able to vote

 

[Admiral_Young]

NDP! Fifth Election in Five years...sad. Part of why I believe there has been a minority government is the voter apathy. I think the last election two years ago or whenever it was less than 50 % of the country voted. I wonder if there will be a Conservative backlash this time??

 

[Canadave]

I don't pay much attention to Canadian politics, but it seems like you guys have had, what, a zillion general elections recently, all resulting in a Conservative minority over the past few years? Seems like every other season there's another election, or threat of another election. I'd have thought the other parties would have figured out this strategy isn't working by now.

The biggest chance we had for a change was in late-2008, when the NDP and the Liberals (roughly equivalent to the Liberal-Democrats and Labour, respectively) formed a coalition with support from the Bloc Quebecois (Quebec nationalist party) to form the government. However, Harper prorogued Parliament before a confidence motion could come before the House, and the whole thing fell apart.

Now, I suspect we'll just end up with another Conservative minority.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ This is my guess, which changes nothing of course and will eventually lead to another no-confidence vote in a couple years. Minority governments rarely get anything accomplished. The opposition will take advantage of something it doesn't like to strike with a no-confidence vote like what's happened the last couple of times. Sigh.

 

[Canadave]

^ The problem is Harper has been really good at getting stuff done while sidestepping Parliament. I don't like the way he's centralized power in the PMO... that's not how this country is supposed to be governed.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Yeah, and I'm sure he pissed quite a few people in the government in proposing his Harper Government to replace the Canadian Government. Does anyone know iif the vote of non-confidence is in direct consequence of that?

 

[eastman23]

Yeah, and I'm sure he pissed quite a few people in the government in proposing his Harper Government to replace the Canadian Government. Does anyone know iif the vote of non-confidence is in direct consequence of that?

I doubt it. The non-confidence motion was born out of the Conservatives not releasing information to the House when the House requested it, so a House committee (dominated by the opposition naturally) declared them to be in contempt of Parliament.

And I've come to believe that Harper likes screwing with the opposition parties and the whole "let's rename the government" thing fits right in there. And they fell for it. Instead of talking about more important things like, oh I don't know, the economy maybe, the opposition parties go off on every little (seemingly) stupid thing the Conservatives do.

[edit]
And if we take the results from the top of the page right now, the NDP will form the next government.

 

[What's his face]

I'm voting Liberal.

My understanding is that people generally don't like the Conservatives, but will put up with them because a good alternative isn't yet available. They don't like any of them.

I wouldn't be surprised if this election has the lowest voter turnout ever.

 

[Owain Taggart]

And if we take the results from the top of the page right now, the NDP will form the next government.

And it would be in my opinion, about time. I can't remember the last shot they had in leading the country.

 

[Canadave]

And if we take the results from the top of the page right now, the NDP will form the next government.

And it would be in my opinion, about time. I can't remember the last shot they had in leading the country.

They never have, really. Their all-time seat record was 43 under Ed Broadbent sometime in the late-80s, IIRC.

I'm not shocked at the poll results, either... I think that's happened every time there's a Canadian election on this board.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Not shocked everytime there's an election? No no, I know what you meant

Yeah, if that's the case, I think it would definitely be time for them to have their shot. The Liberals and the Conservatives have had plenty of chances.