I'm neither politically inclined nor astute, but even I can see what an effing fiasco is going down in Ottawa. Aren't we in enough economic difficulty without the government being ousted and appearing like some Third World **** show to the rest of the world? On one hand we have Stephen Harper who apparently didn't really think things through when he decided to step on everyone else's ***** by eliminating the $1.95-a-vote thing. I mean it is the right thing to do, WTF are we doing PAYING to vote now?? Just so not the right time. I hope to hell he has some sort of Plan B that he will execute just before the non-confidence freight train hits him square between the baggy eyes.

So chances are we'll get a new PM in about a week who 'led' -- and I use that term in the very loosest fashion imaginable -- his party to crushing defeat (yes it was, don't start with me) and near bankruptcy, who was quitting in shame and can barely tie his own shoelaces, backstopped by a slick-talking Commie along with a traitor to his country who holds NO seats in 9 provinces and territories? What thee fock???

Yeah, the $1.95 thing was a political blunder, mean-spirited, arrogant and ill-timed, and yeah maybe the country needs some financial bailing out, but here we have two guys (Dion and Layton) salivating at the chance to take the reins and dive into a huge deficit -- exactly what they both said they would NOT do if elected. Oh yeah, I keep forgetting, they were NOT elected, so I guess that's okay now.

I hope there's an election and I hope every Canadian across the country blames the cost on the Liberals, NDP and Bloc -- the Coalition of Losers. I hope there's a Conservative majority and we can just get on with digging ourselves outta this freaking hole.

So what is the sentiment in Central and East? Is Harper getting what he deserves? Should M. Jean grant the coalition, or call an election? Is there a third way? I'm not seeing it right now. All I'm seeing is red (and not Liberal red).

 

Well put.... I'm in total agreement & completely pi$$ed off!!!

 

I agree with you completely, this whole situation has got me incredibly angry.

I wrote an email to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean urging her to stop the Coalition government in its tracks. These idiots think they can bypass the democratic process and I won't accept that.

The Conservative Party website suggests the following actions:

1. Write a letter to the editor
2. Attend a rally
3. Tell a friend
4. Call talk radio
5. Sign a petition
6. Join a facebook group

Facebook Groups:
Canadians Against a Liberal/NDP Coalition Gov't
PROTEST THE LIBERAL COALITION - PETITION THE GOVERNOR GENERAL
Support Canadian Democracy: National Protest

For major Canadian cities, protests will be held on Saturday December 6 at:

-Queen's Park in Toronto: 12-2:00 PM
-Parliament Hill in Ottawa: between 12:00-2:00 pm
-Linda Duncan's office in Edmonton: TBA Very Soon
-Stephane Dion's office in Montreal (tentative)
-Robson Square in Vancouver (underway)
-Calgary City Hall 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
-Saskatoon City Hall (underway)
-Legislative Assembly of Manitoba in Winnipeg (underway)
-Halifax: Province House 12 - 2 pm
-Kitchener: Victoria Park (underway)
-Victoria (underway)

Details at http://www.rallyforcanada.ca/

Online Petitions:
http://www.canadians4democracy.ca

 

While I don't like what is happening I will offer another side. Not one that I will argue though.

Mr. Harpers ill timed desire to gut the financial futures of the other parties would have destroyed all the parties except his as they have sufficient funds. That would have meant that there would have been in effect one party in Canada. Not acceptable either. While that is being touted for the reason by the Conservatives, when Mr. Harper removed the offending sections, the problem did not go away. It was the lack of stimulus in addition to the rest that seemed to be the straw.

I don't think any of the other parties are salivating. I think they are doing this reluctantly, but they decided it was time to stand up to Mr. Harper's desire to govern as if he had a majority with little consideration for the 60% plus of the nation that voted for other parties. History has shown that all coalition govts. have suffered greatly when the next election was called.

In Canada, we elect a parliament and then a party is asked to form a government by the the Lt. Gov., usually the party with the most votes.

If I recall correctly, the last time Mr. Harper made an effort to work with any other party, it was to bring down the Martin Government. Oh, and it was the Bloc he was courting.

A class act would be for Mr. Harper graciously let the coalition proceed and then sit back for them to shoot themselves. Then he would get his majority.

In closing, WTF do I know about Politics, except you should always count your fingers and check your rings when you shake hands with one.

In our situation we need strong leadership as well as effective action. GL to us.

 

Well-taken and of course quite true. Back then I didn't really care, but it's the same thing, I can't support any part of the government being formed by a party that wants to break the country apart. and of course it's the legal right for parties to ask to form a new coalition government if the House shows no confidence in the current party, but the timing here is just SO damn bad! There's plenty of blame to go around.

 

+ at least 1

 

This is the problem with a minority government. They can get gang-banged by a bunch of losers.

Who in their right minds would want a loser like Dion? He was booted and indeed chose to step down not weeks ago with little or no support from his own party or the general public.

.........and Duceppe's Bloc? Good Lord, their main goal is to break up Canada.
Their existence is traitorous to me..

I for one hope this ridiculous proposed 'coalition' crumbles, and Harper gets on with doing a decent job of governing our country.

I'm also hoping that next time there is an election, more people will express their views by getting out to vote. We really need a more decisive and participating electorate.

C.

 

I was waiting for someone to post up something on this.

Some good points on both sides. Swivel, I pretty much have to agree with you. While it is legal it somehow doesn't seem just or democratic. On the other hand it our system and there is little question Harper did a fair bit to bring this on himself and is being somewhat hypocritical referring to hooking up with the Bloc.

Extremely weak performing leadership, split party government from Liberal and NDP and backing from the Bloc can't be good for Canada at this economic time. It just doesn't inspire confidence from Canadians or other countries.

Unfortunately it seems like this mess will only get worse.

 

$1.95 to vote? We called that a "Poll Tax" back in the 60's. It was meant to keep the "rif-raf" out of the polling stations. It was outlawed as "racist" as it was "repressive" to "low income" peoples.

Me, I wish they would bring it back. Make it $50.00 and have a test of intelligence and current events that you must pass to get a Voters Registration Card.

 

Sorry our US comrade but your dream poll tax isn't what we're talking about here. It's party funding that comes from taxpayers based on votes from elections and not a charge to vote.

Our soon to be tossed out ruling government did away with it and then had to quickly backtrack.

 

Coalition of A$$holes. Bitter losers and opportunists who don't know **** about economics.

I don't work near the Hill, but I can smell 'em from here.

 

heheh.... not much to add that hasn't been said before. i can only laugh at the whole situation.. just as the rest of the world laughs at our supposed "democratic system." vote a guy in ... then 'surprise!' your actually getting kicked out a few weeks down the road.

there was also some mention of a bailout package?? ummmm for who? auto sector? sorry ... just have to laugh at that comment again. i used to work in the auto sector for decoma part of magna. that industry has been digging its own grave for many years now. in fact what makes me laugh even more about the auto sector is the union goons running the labour force. any time i see hargrove open his mouth and comment on the situation i cringe. he's definitely in my top 10 list of world idiots.

 

What boggles the mind is that every single poll I have read (tv, newspaper, magazine, ect)is strongly opposed to the coalition.

 

I agree with everything said here except the part about hargrove.

Contrary to popular belief he is not an idiot. He worked his ***** off to get the most beneficial benefits and compensation package for his workers - which at the time was some of the highest in the world. Whether they deserved them or not is another story.

You ever wonder why Hargrove left the industry when he did? Do you think an idiot would have stuck around for this mess?

 

Just to add another point...

I live in Ottawa and this is all we have seen on the news for the past week. One thing the CBC isn't reporting for some reason is the effect this whole mess is having on our stock market....did you notice yesterday's TSX numbers?

The DOW and the NASDAQ were up 3% after the thrashing on Monday - they dropped about 5% on Monday. However, the TSX suffered it's single biggest loss in about 35 years (almost 8%), and yesterday we didn't rebound a single bit and lost another point.

This mess is simply going to kill our what's left of our economy. Offshore investors simply hate political instability and they are pulling out of Canada until we get this mess straightened out. If this this new government does indeed form a government, then I will bet the TSX and our foreign investor capital markets will simply dry up for the 18 months that they are in power.

Yes I agree, Harper is evil and probablly does eat kittens and punch puppies after he dines on hamster blood for supper, but he is running a very tight fiscal ship. Look at our banking system compared to the US. Canadian banks were given a 6.8 out of 7 rating by the IMF for their stability. We are still running a budget surplus, and assuming we spend our surplus for economic stimulus, we won't be trillions of dollars in the hole like the US or the rest of the world.

I voted for Harper in the last election, not because I liked him or the conservatives (I voted liberal my entire life), but I simply hate Dion. This guy can barely string a sentence together in English. I'm sure he couldn't have a conversation with my 4 year old (at least Ben understands the concept of a sentence tense). He comes across as an intellectual whiner - seems to me like the kid in school who ran to become class president on the basis that "I'm simply smarter than the rest of you, so vote for me!". Imagine if the tables were turned...do you think the liberal party would elect a leader who could barely speak French, don't think so. I'm sure he is a very inspiring leader in his native language, but 9 out of 10 provinces agree...you gotta speak English well to lead Canada.

Wow that was a rant...I feel better now.