Canadian DUers what's up with the snap election

[malaise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7602864.stm
<snip>
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called an early election for 14 October in a bid to strengthen his minority Conservative government.

He met Governor General Michaelle Jean - the representative of Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II - to request the dissolution of parliament.

The latest polls indicate the Conservatives are ahead of the opposition Liberals.

The PM, elected in 2006, has complained that parliament is deadlocked.

The vote will be Canada's third national election in four years.

[angstlessk]

1. I think they are afraid that if Obama gets the nod here Canada might vote

more liberal...that is my thought, I could be way off base with this, but I do love Canada and look forward to visiting that fair country soon, since I moved to Detroit.

[Oregone]

7. The timing has little to do with the US

1) The closer they get to the fixed-date election of the fall of 2009, the more of an asshole he will look like for doing this now. This is, in terms of opportunity, the last chance he can do it and save a little face.

2) His polling is strong and the Liberals is terrible because no one liked their carbon tax plan (or their current party leader). The Conservatives and NDP should probably cut into some of the Liberals seats now more than any other time.

Just my take from being here less than 2 months.

[Posteritatis]

13. If Obama was elected Harper'd probably become liberal overnight

A big chunk of the Conservatives' policy since the right re-united can be boiled down to "do whatever the United States is doing."

[Joanne98]

2. Yeah.. what's up?

[lapfog_1]

3. Trying to secure a conservative government before the US elections - n/t

[Oregone]

4. Just an asshole leader taking advantage of polls to increase his power,

Despite his own fixed-date election law, too! The opposition parties seem too fractured to produce a viable alternative leader/platform to gain control (and they will not form a government together, which Harper knows, so to him goes the spoils).

[terrya]

5. I'm an American, but I was talking about this with my Canadian boyfriend today.

I don't understand how that will help the Conservatives. It looks for all the world like they'll end up exactly as things are right now...the Conservatives having a minority government. How would that help them? I would think Stephen Harper as leader of the Conservatives would be in serious trouble if he called another election so soon and he still couldn't deliver a majority government.

[malaise]

6. Let us hope n/t

[Canuckistanian]

11. I'm pretty sure it's going to be another minority government

Whether it's Liberal or Conservative is the question.

Maybe the new Green Party will throw enough of a monkey wrench in that the Conservatives might squeak by.

[HeresyLives]

8. They want a majority

over the next 4 years, to implement their agenda without opposition, and to avoid going to the voters during the coming recession.

Looks like they're deadlocked with the Liberals in the polls right now, or Harper may have a slight lead, so a majority looks unlikely, but who knows what will happen during a campaign to change that.

[angstlessk]

10. omg..my only hope left is an Obama win, since going to Canada

with a majority Harpy party is not going to be any more attractive than the US of A with a mcsame president...UGH!!!!

[HeresyLives]

15. Yes, I'm hoping for

an Obama-Dion combo myself. Then we might actually get some useful, progressive things done in both countries.

[Oregone]

21. A minority Conservative government will be more progressive than a Democratic POTUS/Congress

Harper isn't going to get a majority, but if he did, it probably would be a drop in the bucket compared to McCain's 1 year term as president, and Palin's 3 year term when she takes over after his heart attack.


For people that don't understand what I am saying in my title, you gotta realize the Conservatives will be next to powerless in a minority (again) and have to work with the other parties, which are more to the left than the Democratic party. Harper being in control is bad, but not sending Canada to hell in a handbasket. The real majority isn't going to let that happen.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Harper's big leap of faith

He thinks that he's popular enough to get a majority.

Oh, and BTW - Canadian Prime Ministers call call elections any time they like. And they usually do it when they're feeling lucky. Half the time, the results are NOT what they expect.

This isn't a big surprise. Harper's been salivating for an election for a while now.

[malaise]

12. We have the same Parliamentary system here

but it is still a surprise.

[Posteritatis]

14. I'm just glad we're not seeing people screaming about a coup again

It seems every time a parliamentary country has an election a bunch of people flip out, going "OMG they dissolved Parliament! Tyranny! Tyranny! Tyranny!" without the least understanding of what that involves. ;P

[Canuckistanian]

16. Only the Governor General can dissolve Parliament

The Prime Minister has to REQUEST that Parliament be dissolved.

And previous Governors General have DENIED the government's request.

[Posteritatis]

17. Er, when?

If a governor-general refused an election request in the twentieth century I'm not aware of it. The gov-gen and lieutenant-governors are pretty much entirely ceremonial roles now.

[Canuckistanian]

19. 1926. The King-Byng Affair

The King-Byng Affair was a Canadian constitutional crisis that occurred in 1926 when the Governor General of Canada, Lord Byng of Vimy, refused a request by the Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, to dissolve parliament and call a general election.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King-Byng_Affair

[Posteritatis]

22. Pre-Westminster; it's not gonna happen again (nt)

[Spazito]

27. Actually, we now are supposed to have elections every 4 years....

The harper government changed the election law which he is now breaking. Typical crap from him and his cabal.

[Canuckistanian]

28. Yup, he's got some 'splaining to do.

It was the Conservatives that pushed hard for it.

[Tindalos]

18. They've been "threatening" an election all year.

All the parties have been watching the polls all year, hoping their numbers will go up enough to win. I think, Harper's conservatives have a slight lead right now and predictions are for another conservative-led minority but that could change. I was telling my mum about Harper yesterday, explaining how he is right-wing, runs a secretive government, and worships Bush. She had no idea. I suspect the average Canadian knows very little about his policies. Our media is not doing a very good job IMHO of holding our government accountable.

[applegrove]

20. They are under investigation for election funds irregularities so they

don't want to have to run on that when the report is done. They want a majority and have a leader who some people seem to like. My sister and all her family saw Harper in a television commercial - smiling at the end - and her whole family think Harper looked like he was taking a poo. He's not warm and fuzzy though last election he looked more relaxed. Almost like he was on SSRIs or something.

[malaise]

25. Thanks for this n/t

[roamer65]

23. The Liberals need Brian Tobin or Frank McKenna as a leader.

Dion has personality of a wet fish.

I hope Canada keeps Harper in a minority gov't. Brian Mulroney was a disaster for Canada back in the 1980's and early 1990's.

[arthritisR_US]

26. I don't give a fuck about personality...that's what they said about

your Resident Turd, that he had personality and he was someone you could have a beer with. Well, how's that working for ya?

[arthritisR_US]

24. he's hoping to come out with a Majority gov't , dirty bastard is already

running election ads and gov't hasn't even been dissolved.