Yes, I am one of many Canadian relieved that Governor General Michelle Jean has prorogued the Canadian parliament until January 26, 2009. I am hopeful that a number of things will happen in this prolonged Christmas break...for all the political parties.
1) The NDP/Liberal coalition continues to say that Prime Minister (PM) Stephen Harper does not have the support of the majority of parliament. They are correct! If you don't have a majority, you have a minority... hence the term "minority government." To say that more than 50% of parliament members do not support the Conservatives simply shows you can count... nothing more, nothing less.
2) The Liberal party especially should be thanking the Governor General that she accepted the Conservative government's request for a prorogue. I can't imagined they wanted to see Stephane Dion parade the name "Liberal" party around as PM for five months before their leadership convention and then have even more damage and destruction for the next leader to undo, apologize for, and somehow explain as not really the Liberal party.
Furthermore, had Dion been the PM, I believe they would have been required to call an election within a certain number of weeks with a new party leader and thus a new PM. I think the Liberal party will be quite glad to choose their new leader, let him/her settle into parliament as an MP and then gradually pick the issues on which they will platform in the next election against the Conservative party.
Though I still want to personally "cheer" for the Conservative party (I'm not a member of the party or anything), I must also say that PM Harper and the gov't have got to do a few things to show some kind of leadership... and soon!
1) They have got to quit attacking the Liberal/NDP coalition for being backed by "the separatists" or being willing to join formally or informally with the Bloc Quebecois. First, they would have done the same thing to defeat the Liberals not only in 2004 or 2000... that's what any secondary or tertiary party does on some issues to defeat a policy or group of policies they do not agree with. To attack the Liberals for aligning with either the NDP or BQ is simply immature and reveals a short-memory.
Even more strategically dangerous is the fact the the Conservative party was/is trying to win over BQ voters from the Liberals... and may have started making progress (or at least capitalizing on Dion's lack thereof). To start calling them names, may remind them why they do not want to vote Conservative, or even more terribly, may affirm in their minds that all "national parties" are foolish and that they really should give separation from Canada another attempt.
2) They have got to try to work with the other parties... and not only after they've been brought to the brink of disaster! The main reason they claimed to call the election in October was because they felt parliament was at a stand-still. Now, they have asked for parliament to be "halted" in order to continue to operate. (does anybody else see a problem with that last sentence?) If the Conservative party cannot make a minority gov't work, they better get out of the way and let someone else try.
3) Furthermore, as soon as the other parties started to question/critique their recent pre-budget announcements, the Conservative party back-pedalled on most/all of their decisions. This isn't leadership... this is "weather-watching"... ie let's see which way the sails blow when we send this idea out and then we'll decide if it is a good one! For example, if you do not believe that a stimulus package whereby citizens (not businesses) are given money to spend to stimulate the economy is the way to solve the problem... and I personally think they are correct... then stand by your policy. But just because Jack Layton and the NDP think that is a solution and then the Liberals and BQ agree, don't back down. Stand up for your policy and explain why it is the prudent decision at this time.
4) I almost wish that PM Harper would have let the Liberal/NDP coalition "try governing." No, it is not because I like their policies... at all. No, it is not because I suddenly think the Conservative party doesn't deserve my support. I do think the coalition "trying to govern" would have done two things. First, it would have shown the horrific leadership of Dion and the Liberal party at this time. Secondly, right now the Harper gov't looks like they are running scared. Admittedly, the majority of Cdn politicians in all parties have acted more like spoiled children in the last week than responsible governing leaders. However, it does seem like Harper ran to mommy crying "my friends aren't playing fair" and mommy simply said, "Oh that's okay little one. You come in the house and play by yourself for a while and I'll give you some milk and cookies and dry your tears and you can go out and play later when you feel better."
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