Ah, partisanship garbage, how it smells. Everyone is at fault here, and the spirit of democracy has been slain through the actions of all parties.

The bottom line is that the opposition did what Stephen Harper did not expect. For since all budgets are confidence motions one way or another, he figured (as he very well may have) is that he would present something that of course the opposition couldn't stomach. Thus, as what he expected (and probably the majority of Canadians expected) is that one of the opposition parties would counter with their own proposals. It only takes one party after all with the Conservatives to get something through. The Liberals, the NDP, or the Bloc could have easily given the standing government a set of changes needed to get the budget passed.

What happened was completely out in left-field, unexpected, and ultimately damaging for the country. "Legal" or not (executions used to be legal as well, but that's no comfort of mind) what happened was damning. Using technicalities to get the one-up on people only serves to bring in waves of discontent and anger, and does little to serve public interest.

One common argument is "You elect your MPs, not a Prime Minister." Technically that's true, but for the past (who knows how long) people have cast votes based on political party affiliation, and by association the leader of that party. It might not be written down on a piece of paper, but that's how people vote. To claim ignorance on the behalf of people and say "Well they don't know how Canada's democracy works" is asinine and is to claim ignorance on how people cast their votes, and they cast votes based on who leads the party of the MP associated with it. Technically yes, you're voting for an MP, but hide behind technicalities, people hate that.

Another argument is the opposition has a majority, and too that, it's another misconception. It's a collation between the Liberals and the NDP, combined they do not have more seats than the Conservatives. True the Bloc has thrown their support behind the collation, but they share none of the risks. Sure a piece of paper says they'll back it, but at what cost? No one really knows. Did the Bloc get any positions in this grand deal? None.

It's hard to call Harper a dictator when the people who he's supposed to be working for shut the door outright on his face. Yes, he has the ear of the Governor General, and yes she's supposed to follow what he says, but yes, he's also the current leader of Canada. Was it so convenient that every single member of the opposition forgot that? The opposition backed Harper into a corner, and he backed off. In such games of partisan hackery, that's how it's played. But instead of dancing the dance, the going back and forth of how in the mind the general populous is how it's supposed to go, the opposition decided to turn the whole damn thing upside down.

Course at this point, one might say I voted Conservative. I actually voted Green, cause I already know that all the other parties are going to screw up, and don't deserve my vote or the 1.95 that goes with it. That's the ironic thing of this all. I didn't want to vote, but as a person who wants to be part of the democratic process I did vote, but my best choice was the stupid Green party.

Give me a break.

In the end I didn't vote for any of these morons in parliament, but do you know what I expect? Stability. I expect the ruling Conservatives to push the opposition, that's what they've been doing for the past couple of years. But do you know what? I expected the opposition to push back, not wreck democracy (and as far as I'm concerned they are the ones doing the wrecking) by using a technically, and hiding behind the farce of a 'majority' that's strung together by a party that wants no responsibility in the collation.

It makes me sick, and a garbage article like this makes me even sicker. Votes: +1

I support a coalition government but it is unlikely to happen as the Liberals will as usual NOT work with anyone other than themselves as they have always pretended to be on the left but in reality are centrist or to the right of center. The conservatives of course are further to the right of that and ignorant which is even worse but this situation has nothing to do with the Queen and everything to do with the Parliamentary tradition in Canada though not of other Parliaments in other nations. That is not to say that we might not end up with a coalition at the end of January if the three opposition parties can stay together long enough to present their case after voting a no confidence vote on the Alliance...er....the conservative know nothings in the minority government. I predict however, that unless the Liberals get a new temp leader there is not going to be a fall of the government. Liberals will support it and things will be as they were last time...except that now, Quebec is pissed off at the Conservatives for good reason and the west is pissed off at the Liberals for what they see is a good reason and the NDs will be pissed off at being taken down a dead end as usually the case with the Liberals. The BQ got some major energy from the whole debacle. Harper showed himself for the Alliance redneck that he has always been. That is the best thing that happened with this entire farce. Jean did the right thing in trying to get people to do a little thinking before bringing down the government. After all it is only the conservatives who will gain from an election. No other party has any money and the fat cats support the reigning conservative government...I suggest the writer learn his or her history and take a valium..no plot..just intelligence on the part of the Governor General. Time will tell what will happen. This situaion makes it clear why we have a GG..to make certain that Parliament does things in good time..but not too fast for clear thinking. I was by the way for a change in government..I am not so sure right now as we do not want or need yet another failed government and an early election in this time of crisis. Votes: +0

Proroguing parliament isn't a dictatorship; much like many of my fellow citizens don't understand how our parliamentary system works and think the coalition is "stealing power", it is painfully clear you do not understand how the system works either dear author.

While I am very much against the Conservative Party of Canada and Mr. Harper, it is 100% within his constitutional rights to ask for parliament to be prorogued so he can introduce his budget, given how this explosive mess started, its actually beneficial for both sides that parliament is suspended, Mr. Harper has the opportunity to introduce a budget that will pass, but more importantly for me, my Coalition Government has a long time to hammer out all the major and minor details it will need to agree to in order to shut out the Conservative Party of Canada.

So why isn't proroguing parliament a dictatorship? Its very simple, the government cannot introduce or pass legislation without Members of Parliament voting on the bills -- the government is free to govern with the laws on the books, but it can't create or change laws. Now I'm sure your next argument would be "but they could do this forever" and you'd be wrong, people may tread the Governor General position as a mere figurehead, but its really independent of the government and is arbitrator of constitutional matters, the Governor General wouldn't allow an indefinite suspension without grounds, nor could the government operate because they could not pass any budgets without parliament in session.

Try reading up on parliamentary democracies before you start rambling about things you know nothing of. Votes: +2

Yo! Mehgan; "police are not running around beating and killing people up here." eh? I guess you don't get your news in the right places! Or maybe you just don't look? Can you seriously tell me you don't notice the militarization of the police across the country? Are you entirely blind to the growing number of "Taser" deaths, and the climbing "rightful" Death in Custody rate? Been down to any demos lately? Missed the "Robocops" did you? Hey, Meh! 'member Quebec City? No. What I wonder will it take for you and your ilk to notice things are changing; maybe the army in the streets? Of course, when that happens,you'll likely go along, perhaps saying; "It's all for the best."

Denial don't make reality disappear, baby cakes.

Yo! ADD. I smell the garbage too. It smells like pepper spray (or maybe that's just something you put on your steak?). Guess what: I know a little about the constitution too, and I know that this is a first. You know what single word best expresses G.W. Bush's presidential romp? Try: "Unprecedented." Do a little search of those two together and see what you turn up. Now, Mr. Harper is adding to his list of "unprecedented" actions. Ever wonder, ADD why no other president/prime ministers did the shit these two clowns are up too? No.

Hey, JCNNT! Ever think it's YOU that may be wrong? No. Proroguing a democratic process at the beginning of a session may not be a "dictatorship" you're right. But what JC does it say about the authors of that prorogation when they send "brown shirts" into the streets and over the airwaves to accuse opponents of "treason"? What does it mean to have MP's stand in front of the media and call for the arrest (and execution?) of the opposition? Do you think Hitler ran first on a policy of dictatorship?

Hey, Neil! I agree; it's enough to make a guy feel paranoid. You're for the coalition, eh? You say: "I am not so sure right now as we do not want or need yet another failed government and an early election in this time of crisis." Yeah, what about a "C-O-A-L-I-T-I-O-N?" Is that too much like a "conspiracy" for you? How about this, pal: Instead of offering others: "Try reading up on parliamentary democracies before you start rambling about things you know nothing of." why don't you try reading up a little on the history of fascism and its repercussions, then come back and tell us we're wrong? No.

Canadians: You are being played for suckers. While the parliament is suspended, Stephen Harper and his constitutionally-approve thugs are going to loot the treasury, gifting your pensions to a gang of corporate crooks. When the dust clears, you'll all be screwed, and forget going down to the "EI". Joining those committing the onslaught against your fellow citizens won't protect you JCNNT. You will be screwed like the rest of us.


Votes: -1

C. Cook,

You are fucking nuts, proroguing parliament isn't the first step on the slippery slope to becoming the Nazi's. This is the democratic process, and you are completely ignoring the fact that the Conservatives cannot force prorogation of parliament, its not something a government can do, its something the Governor General can only do, and there needs to be a valid reason.

When I wake up tomorrow, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year from now, Canada will still be Canada, no fascism, no murdering gangs trolling the streets with firearms, no shock troops.

C Cook, I don't understand who is being screwed here or how I'll be screwed, or how your paranoid fantasy would even begin. Votes: +1

I don't usually answer trolls, but in your case JCNNT, if that is your real name, I'll make an exception. OK, I'm fucking nuts, ignoring completely the fact the Conservatives cannot "force" prorogation, (I guess this was all the GG's idea!) and am somehow lost in a paranoid fantasy world. Given. Now, what is and isn't the first step down the "slippery slope" (nice analogy. not original, but sometimes the cliches work) to becoming Nazi's [sic]? (Personally, I've never thought Nazis becoming, but I'm fucking nuts!).

Well, let's play 'What Would Hitler Do?' Adi has a minority government, and enjoys only between 30-40% public approval. His adversaries in the Reichstag are getting in the way of his vision for a new, or Neo, German order. What to do? How's about shutting down the parliament, and taking the nation into a lawless state, where only he dictates what will be? A quick fire, and the dispatching of goons into the streets and over the airwaves declaring opposition to the new order is Un-Canadian, er German, and presto change-O, a slip down the sloppy slope to fascism.

Of course, you're right JC, it isn't the first step; voting for the lying bag of shit Harper is the first step. (I added the expletives to match more in tone your own thoughtful missive, JC anonymous "man.") Real different.

Now, you don't understand who is being screwed. Hmnn. Are you then unaware, Stephen and his band of merry robbers control your pension plan? No. How much of your moolah just went down the toilet on the stock market? Don't know? How much more is going down the toilet in Afghanistan? No se? How much is about to be flushed through the corporate beggars in Oshawa and Windsor? No clue? How much is used to wipe corporate ass in Haiti and the other places CIDA fronts for the CIA? Nothing, nada? Clearly you do not understand a lot, JC!

Are there no murdering gangs trolling the streets with firearms? Really, none! Maybe it's time I change my fantasy world; yours sounds so much more peaceful.

OK, JC, enough fun. As I said, I don't usually waste time on trolls like you, but this is the sole exception. If the rest of youse would employ ad hominem attacks and clueless comment, be aware: You won't be published here. For you JC, you'll have to find another IP address and name if you are to vent your bilious spleen here. Snap!

Fascism is not all goose-stepping...it is the marriage of business corporations with government policies that serve first and last the accumulation of wealth and power by the elite to the detriment of society's plurality and the well-being of the people. Just follow Stephen's progress and then tell me we are not sliding down a slippery skid. Votes: +2

Steven Harper has shut down parliament because he does not agree with it.
Some say this is unprecedented.
In fact, Harper is following parliamentary tradition.


Consider the following precedents:


1629 King Charles I in England
1799 Napoleon in France
1913: Victoriano Huerta in Mexico
1933: Adolf Hitler in Germany
1936 Fransisco Franco in Spain
1939: Benito Mussolini in Italy
1973: Augusto Pinochet in Chile
2008: Steven Harper in Canada
Votes: +2