If the coalition can hold together over the next seven weeks and the opposition defeats the government, as they say they will at the first chance they get when the House of Commons reconvenes, Michaelle Jean will then have to make a decision as to whether she should allow Steven Harper to dissolve Parliament and call an election or allow the coalition to attempt to govern. While technically the House will still only be in its first sitting, sufficient time will have passed since the last election that Harper will try to make the case that he has the right to call an election.
However, in 1979 when Joe Clark's Conservative Party government lost a vote of confidence in the House after six months in power, then Governor-General Ed Schreyer, asked opposition Liberal leader Pierre Trudeau if he thought he could form a government before he agreed to dissolve the house and call an election. So if the coalition can stick out the next seven weeks and weather the storm of propaganda that the Conservative Party will rain down of them during that time, we will find ourselves back in the exact same situation we are in now. Steven Harper has been able to delay a vote in Parliament on his fitness to govern, but it looks like he will still have to face the music when the House reconvenes.
Article comments
1 - alessandro
Regardless.
Let's get serious.
The Liberals are unfit to lead a coalition. The NDP are interventionist boobs and the Bloc - "support" notwithstanding - are a party dedicated to the breakup of Canada.
Some coalition.
Coalition of dumb-dumbs.
This will hurt the Liberals in the long-term more than it will the Conservatives. It's as if the Liberals want to give the West to the Conservatives.
Such shallow reasoning too. As a citizen watching from afar I must profess this move to be unacceptable - even if it's democratic to do so.
They were better off accepting defeat, rebuild, nominate a real leaders and prepare for the next election.
2 - Ruvy
Looks like your government is skating on the edge of constitutionality also, Richard. That makes me feel a bit better, seeing the joke that passes for democracy in Israel that I do.
3 - STM
He's cheating a bit Richard, isn't he? Parliament generally shuts down for a time over the Christmas/New Year period anyway, even with a new Government ... and usually about now, doesn't it?
That's the case in Oz, and I believe in the UK and NZ, so I'd assume it's not much different up your way.
4 - Richard Marcus
While it's true that parliament would be shutting down for Christmas break soon, when a government is facing a non-confidence vote like the one that had been scheduled for Decemeber 8th/08, or even if there was some legislation the government wanted passing, they've been known to stay open as late as a few days before Christmas.
In 2005, when Steven Harper was in opposition, he led the movement to vote out Prime MInister Paul Martin's minority Liberal government later in December then this. In fact as I say in my article the situations were identical, as Paul Martin knew very well he was going down to defeat, but he didn't take the same way out.
cheers
Richard