PM Harper may exercise his right to ask the GG to prorogue Parliament, so that he can come back in late January with his ‘second-chance’ budget, filled to the brim with lots of trinkets for voters, and with a stimulus plan that actually is a stimulus plan.

The GG will then have to decide whether to exercise the Royal prerogative (yes, it is the Monarch’s prerogative) and allow Parliament to step down a scant two weeks after it has opened, and without having done a meaningful stitch of work to deal with the impending recession, the worst, as the Prime Minister has said, in fifty years.

There is one way for the GG to deal with this which would reassure Canadians, allow her to grant the Prime Minister his wish, and ensure that there is a functioning government which is supported by Parliament in place during the next critical two months.

All the GG has to decide is that should the Prime Minister be able to demonstrate on Monday December 8 that his government is a legitimate one, making a legitimate request for prorogation, by winning a confidence vote in the House, then she will prorogue Parliament.

Having received the formal written statement by the three opposition parties, which control a majority of the seats in the House, the GG is on notice that the legitimacy of the current government is in question.

Acceding to demands by a government, whose legitimacy is in question, for the very significant act of suspending a sitting parliament, is a major step.

Asking the government to demonstrate its right to in fact govern the country during the next two months by showing that it has the confidence of the House is a sound constitutional exercise of the Monarch’s prerogative.

Meet the Three stooges

The Bloc has already had it's influence. From the document signed by all three leaders...

"A majority of Canadians and Quebecers voted for our parties on October 14, 2008. Our Members of Parliament make up 55 percent of the House of Commons."

They haven't even sat in government yet and already Canada and Quebec are separate. Thanks for looking out for Canadians Mr. Dion.
-Darryl

Rally for Canada...save our democracy

Anyone who cares about the unity of this country, our economy or our democracy should be marching in one of these cities this weekend. For details visit the link below:
-Darryl

www.rallyforcanada.ca

Editorials not kind to the coalition, Western premiers not happy

While Warren Kinsella has pointed out that several columnists are calling on Stephen Harper to resign, virtually all except the usual suspects (Toronto’s Liberal Star) are calling this idea of a coalition a terrible idea and undemocratic. Again, I think the Governor General has no choice but to call an election. Canada should not be allowed to be governed by a rejected party headed by a lame duck rejected leader that is relying on the socialists for advice on the economy and a party that does not support Canada as part of the coalition. Harper may have made a major mistake that caused all this, but Dion who damaged the Liberal brand badly in the past campaign has now killed any shred of principle, integrity or pride left for grassroots Liberals with this move. The party is now firmly on the left and has proven willing to sell out Canada for a couple of months in power. Canadians deserve a chance to vote in a new government with consideration of these new revelations from yesterday. Disenfranchised “blue” Liberals can apply for Conservative membership here.

-Darryl

***

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall

"If any coalition requires formal support from separatists, it's wrong,"

“I do not think what the country needs right now is an unelected government that’s dependent formally on separatists who will have a list of requests that they will have made already for more investment, for some treatment from the federal government ... that’s not in the interests of Canada, that’s not in the interests of Saskatchewan.

“I am still hopeful that heads can come out of their kilts and that the right decisions can be made for the country,”

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach

"put Canada first and stop the nonsense."

Canada right now needs "sane, prudent leadership dealing with the bigger elephant in the room, which is the global economic crisis,"

***

Led by a loser, bound by the Bloc

It's a personal putsch, not a rational rebellion

Don Martin, National Post Published: Tuesday, December 02, 2008

OTTAWAThe biggest Liberal loser in the party's electoral history, a self-admitted campaign failure who advocated carbon taxes as sound economy policy and lacks significant Western Canada representation, seems set to become prime minister next week.

Forgive them. They know not what they've done.

Giddy opposition party leaders have decreed nothing will stop them from toppling this government next Monday to create the first governing coalition in almost 100 years, a 30-month, three-headed, Liberal-led monster bonded to New Democrats and Quebec separatists by four pages of policy duct tape.

The government's defeat can now only be avoided if Stephen Harper prematurely pulls the plug on the barely started session of Parliament this week. That seems a desperate and shameless tactic that would merely delay the inevitable until early next year and give the fledgling coalition time to solidify.

This means an electorate that cast a third of its votes for the Conservatives will have their representation replaced by a hodge-podge of lowest-common-denominator policies produced almost overnight by parties leaning left and toward leaving.

An election no longer seems to be an option. The coalition, despite lacking any modern precedent, has done an admirable job of building the case for securing the Governor-General's blessing to try to govern until June, 2011, subject to change without notice.

That will put the keys to 24 Sussex Drive in the hands of Stephane Dion, an Official Opposition leader who has already announced his resignation and set May 2, 2009, as the date to crown his replacement.

The three MPs bidding to replace him will be senior ministers in the new Cabinet. Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc will divide their time between governing a country at perilous risk from recession while campaigning hard to win the prime minister's job.

This move is clearly payback for years of facing a Stephen Harper who lay awake at night scheming on ways to eliminate or embarrass the Liberal party without fearing his own vulnerable state as a minority government leader.

That ensures there will be a fury in the land, particularly in the West and specifically in Alberta. Even if New Democrat rookie Linda Duncan of Edmonton becomes the province's token Cabinet minister, replacing the five Alberta Conservatives in power now, the frustration of seeing electorally legitimized power seized by Toronto-based Liberals partnered with separatist forces in Quebec will be revolt-worthy in the West.

While the discipline of power may keep the coalition together, more or less flying in loose formation for perhaps a year or even longer, this is not a system of sustainable government as much as it is a power grab minus a compelling reason to exist.

It circumvents the public's Oct. 14 election verdict for no good reason, given the government has capitulated on every grievance its opponents spotted in the fiscal update. This makes it a personal putsch, not a rational rebellion.

It puts Canada on an uncertain track under leadership that will change again within months. In the meantime, Stephen Harper may well join Stephane Dion as a former prime minister, the price for boneheadedly browbeating his opponents in dangerous times.

The deficit, already accepted as necessary to fight job losses and auto-sector failure, is bound to be larger than expected as the coalition unleashes hefty infrastructure relief, industrial bailouts and unspecified housing construction and retrofitting. No projected price tag was attached to the plan yesterday.

Under coalition control, the government's size likely will bloat to deal with social issues, environmental policy will be hardened against the energy sector, the large number of Senate vacancies will be restacked with mostly Liberal partisans and Quebec appeasement moves will be even more rampant than currently exist.

It must be acknowledged the coalition's organization is more advanced than anyone could have expected, given that the precipitating move, the botched fiscal update, was less than 100 hours old when the accord was signed yesterday afternoon.

There comes a time where an aura descends on political leaders. Stephen Harper always projected confident, unflappable leadership. That changed yesterday when his sagging shoulders and lack-lustre performance gave him the look of a lost cause trying to come to mental grips with his six-week squandering of the largest minority mandate in Canadian history.

It's still an awful hard squint to see Mr. Dion as a prime minister power-sharing with Jack Layton, but it seems likely to become a reality.

Stephane Dion is about to get the ultimate do-over to answer this question:Who actually won the last election?

***

National Post editorial board: The Liberal party's gift to Quebec's separatists

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/02/national-post-editorial-board-the-liberal-party-s-gift-to-quebec-s-separatists.aspx

“What appalls us most about a left-of-centre coalition seizing power in Ottawa is the tacit admission by the coalition partners — the Liberals and New Democrats — that they would pander to the Bloc Québécois to keep themselves in power. Since the Bloc’s stated purpose is the breakup of Canada, any deal that brings it even one inch closer to that goal is an outrageous betrayal of the country.”

“The Bloc’s stature in Quebec can only grow as a result. They will be able to campaign in future elections on all the great advantages and subsidies they have brought to the province. Meanwhile, the special attention raining down on Quebec could exacerbate tensions in the rest of the country. As Michael Bliss notes elsewhere, we are dealing with a political powder keg.

The coalition could be the greatest gift the separatists have ever received. That alone is reason enough to stop it before it begins.”

David Frum: Only the losers will survive Ottawa's game of competitive suicide

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/01/david-frum-only-the-losers-will-survive-ottawa-s-game-of-competitive-suicide.aspx

Imagine Canada 6 months on. There’s a Liberal prime minister. He will head an unstable coalition of Liberals and socialists aligned with separatists. To appease the socialists, he will have to raise taxes. To appease the separatists, he will have to direct disproportionate money and attention to the province of Quebec.

He will have zero democratic legitimacy. He will never be able to use the words, “That’s the job the Canadian people elected me to do.” His government will contain almost no representatives from the west. Everyone will understand that the only issue uniting this government was its members’ eagerness for public money for their own party funds.

“Sooner or later, this government will collapse. Probably sooner. When it does, and faces the people, it will have to bear responsibility for unemployment and budget deficits. It will look desperate and selfish and cynical verging on crooked. It’s hard to imagine any result other than a crushing once-in-a-generation defeat: another 1958 or 1984.”

George Jonas: Coalition may be legal, but also undesireable

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/12/02/george-jonas-coalition-may-be-legal-but-also-undesireable.aspx

Needless to say, the mere fact that something is legal doesn’t make it either right or desirable. If the endorsement of the Conservatives in the 2008 elections was far from unequivocal, the rejection of the Liberals in general, and their leader, Stéphane Dion, in particular, certainly was. Whatever Canadians wanted six weeks ago when they went to the polls, what they clearly did not want was a Liberal prime minister, especially Stéphane Dion. If this is what they end up getting, constitutional as it may be, it will be a mockery of democracy.

The accord that Jack built

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=2f59c9c7-fac7-47fd-a761-1be09bc20e04

“A small point, perhaps, but a pretty good indicator of where this accord is taking the government of Canada. Under this agreement, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Quebecois, would have their fingers on the policy triggers of the government of Canada. Anyone who thinks they do not intend to squeeze or threaten to pull that trigger now, sending the Liberals scurrying, doesn't appreciate the hardball wing-nuttiness of Mr. Layton and Mr. Duceppe.”

Take my country ... please

The best Christmas gift the Conservatives could get is to lose

“The Liberals will heretofore be known as the party willing to jump in bed with separatists to get their grubby hands on power. Don't you think that will be an interesting talking point to bring into the next election? This will cement the Tories' status as the federalist alternative in Quebec, and the guardian of national integrity in the rest of the country.”

http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=f099adf3-c265-4300-b65e-dd0a1a6f10d9

Harper, Dion put politics before national interest

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081201.weCoalition02/BNStory/politics/home

“It is debatable which is a more dangerous prospect: to place members of a left-wing, labour-beholden party that has never tasted the discipline of power in charge of major economic portfolios, or to hand a gun to a separatist party with the singular goal of advancing the interests of Quebec, and not of Canada. Either scenario would be intriguing for political scientists, and might make for good spectator sport. But a time of economic uncertainty, in which Canadians' jobs, homes and life savings are all in peril, is no time for political games or experiments.”

“It is also necessary to consider the message that Mr. Dion's sudden ascent to the office of prime minister could send to much of the country. Contrary to silly Conservative claims of a coup d'état, coalition-making is entirely within the boundaries of parliamentary democracy. There is no constitutional impropriety here. But there certainly would be a political one. Owing in large part to his now defunct “Green Shift,” Mr. Dion has proved highly unpopular in Western Canada – particularly in resource-laden Alberta and Saskatchewan. What would voters in those provinces make of his elevation to the prime ministership less than two months after they overwhelmingly rejected him? Expect the Conservatives to pour fuel on the resulting regional resentment.”

Monstrous result of an ill-conceived political coupling

http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/monstrous+result+conceived+political+coupling/1020723/story.html

“Nevertheless, a government reliant upon the support of a party conceived for no other purpose than to facilitate Quebec's exit from Confederation has the legitimacy of a police force maintaining public order with the assistance of a biker gang under contract. For this reason alone, the Governor General should reject the coalition proposal.”

It's the economy, stupid. Cooler heads must prevail in Ottawa for everyone's sake

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/economy+stupid+cooler+heads+must+prevail+ottawa+everyone+sake/1010010/story.html

“The Liberal party, which sees itself as the "natural governing party of Canada," needs to give its collective head a shake and back off from its arrogant attempt to grasp power from the duly elected Conservative government.”

Coalition calamity

http://www.theprovince.com/opinion/coalition+calamity/1019607/story.html

“What is going on in Ottawa is disgusting. If the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party get their way, our country will be run by a coalition government that not one Canadian supported in an election.”

Premier speaks for angry nation

http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/premier+speaks+angry+nation/1020193/story.html

“Wall then added that what Canada absolutely doesn't need right now is "an unelected government that depends on separatists for support." In fact, his most pointed words were aimed at a Liberal-NDP coalition deal that could only function if it were propped up by the Bloc Quebecois.

"If any coalition requires formal support from separatists, it's wrong," Wall said, in response to the lunacy of a NDP and Liberal coalition requiring the Bloc's support and the sanctimony of the Conservatives, who are conveniently forgetting that Harper was every bit as eager to get in bed with separatists and form a coalition to bring down Paul Martin's minority Liberal government.”

Governor General can just say 'No'

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/35357989.html

“Fortunately, there is a third way, and one that has a good deal of constitutional precedent. The Governor General could simply refuse to accept Harper's resignation, just as prime ministers and premiers in the past have often refused to accept letters of resignation from cabinet ministers. The Governor General could say that accepting Harper's resignation is not in the best interests of the country because it would set in motion a choice between two unacceptable alternatives.

In effect, the Governor General would send Harper back to negotiate an economic package that could secure majority support in the House. She would implicitly instruct the opposition parties to make this Parliament work. She would exercise the discretionary power that the Constitution has wisely placed in her hands. She would just say no.”

Michaëlle Jean cannot be complicit in deal with Bloc

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/35358239.html

“I do not believe that the Governor General can possibly allow herself to be complicit in such events. If the Conservatives are brought down by a separatist party, Jean would have to accede to the prime minister's request to test the will of Canadians. To refuse to do this would be an abuse of vice-regal power, an abuse that would raise fundamental questions about Jean's loyalty to the Constitution and to Canada. I doubt there is a precedent for such a situation in the history of parliaments.”

Say no way to this power grab

http://www.winnipegsun.com/Comment/Editorial/2008/12/02/7602296-sun.html

“Seven weeks ago, Canadians rejected Stephane Dion as the leader of this nation. Now our politicians want to cast aside the will of the people.

So badly do the Liberals and NDP want to seize the reins of power, they're even willing to work with the separatist Bloc Quebecois.

This must not be allowed to happen.”

Stop selling us out to separatists

http://www.torontosun.com/comment/editorial/2008/12/01/7587161-sun.html

“Our very sovereignty is at stake.

For the first time, a party dedicated to the political destruction of Canada, operating contrary to the wishes of the majority of Canadians outside and inside Quebec, holds the balance of power between competing federalist forces in a minority Parliament. That alone could reignite western separatism and tear Canada apart.

It's un-Canadian and we must demand all these scheming federalist politicians stop selling us out to the Bloc.

They have no right to play Russian roulette with Canada.”

A power play that insults democracy

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/power+play+that+insults+democracy/1020241/story.html

“Canadian taxpayers, you are entitled to a primal scream. Three of the least credible men in Canadian politics are about to seize control of our government in a virtual coup that is perfectly legal, and perfectly wrong.

Imagine, a government run by the soon-to-be-deposed leader of the Liberals, fresh from a decisive rejection by Canadian voters. What stunning disrespect for democracy Stéphane Dion is displaying. For help, he is turning to the leader of the party that has the fewest seats in the House. Even then, they don't have the numbers to form a government, so they are reaching out to a separatist who doesn't give a damn about anything except Quebec.

It's amazing what three men can accomplish once they choose to abandon all principle. Even though Stéphane Dion, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe have dramatically different views on how the country should be run, or even if it should be a country, they have overcome all of that for the shot at power that none of these losers would have had in a sane world. Everyone wins, except Canadians.”

Forget coalition, let the people decide

http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/forget+coalition+people+decide/1019409/story.html

“The idea that two parties totalling 114 MPs can supplant a governing party with 144 seems surreal precisely because it is alien to the Canadian tradition; not illegal, but not quite the Canadian way, either. Our constitution, much of it unwritten, includes an element of tradition and practice, and nothing like this has ever happened before federally. Our only other coalition, during the First World War, arose slowly over an issue of substance, conscription, not overnight because parties feared losing their subsidies.

And the country paid a price; Quebec's alienation from Robert Borden's Unionist government rubbed salt in an old, and still-enduring, division in this country. In that context it's worth noting that in the current crisis some commentators are already speaking of damaging feelings of alienation in strongly Conservative western Canada.

So the precedent should not whet anyone's appetite for coalition. The proper way to choose a government for Canada is at the ballot box, not by cabal and closed-door deal. Yes we're all tired of elections, and yes Harper brought this on himself. But all the same, if the Liberals and New Democrats are determined to punish Harper, then Governor-General Michaëlle Jean should issue a writ for a new election. Let the people decide.”

A false pretext

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081201.wcohartt02/BNStory/politics/home

“Neither Mr. Rae nor Michael Ignatieff should be pleased to see Stéphane Dion anointed as prime minister mere weeks after his humiliation at the polls. What if he decides he likes the job and postpones the planned leadership convention? What policy price would the leadership candidates have to pay by associating themselves with the NDP and the Bloc? What would Trudeau loyalists do when asked to cozy up with those who would destroy Canada? What about those Liberals who are centre-right supporters of our market system, now thrust into liaison with the NDP?

This would be a parody of democracy. To do it on the false pretext that stimulus can't wait when the real motive is far more self-interested, would be asking Her Excellency to participate in a mockery of our system of government.”

Should Gilles Duceppe answer questions in the House of Commons as part of the Government? Should the Bloc get cabinet posts as the second largest coalition partner?

The Governor General must decide if the NDP and Liberals have a coalition that can demonstrate the confidence of the House of Commons, provide stable leadership and move forward on a common agenda during this economic crisis. In order to do that she will have to factor in the role of the Bloc Quebecois. Are they part of the government and a formal member of the coalition or are they an opposition party? To avoid an election the Bloc Quebecois must be part of the coalition to make it larger than the 143 member Conservative caucus and to control a majority of seats in the House of Commons. Therefore in order to approve this coalition, she must accept that the separatists will be part of the Canadian government. Otherwise the NDP-Liberal coalition does not have the confidence of the House. As a result separatist MPs would have to sit with the government and I think it is only fair that as leader of a governing coalition partner, Gilles Duceppe should be fair game to opposition questions in the House of Commons regardless of if he is in charge of a Ministry or not. His input will be crucial to government decisions and he should be subject to accountability in the House. In a traditional coalition government, as leader of the second largest party in the coalition, Duceppe would be entitled to the Deputy Prime Minister or Finance post. For political reasons he will not get those portfolios, but he should not be able to hide from opposition questions and Liberals and NDP partners should not be allowed to hide him either. Liberals are fighting for democracy right? So a question for this coalition...will Gilles Duceppe be subject to questions in the House of Commons from Canada's only opposition party in the legislature or will they pretend to be opposition MPs and prop up the government only with votes in this scenario? The answer to that question could play a role in how the Governor General decides.

Another question is what kind of legitimacy would this government have without the second largest coalition partner having cabinet representation? According to a poll: 62% of Quebeckers think the Bloc should demand cabinet posts as a condition for their support of the NDP-Liberals. Given the Bloc's 50 seats compared to the NDP's 37, I think this is only fair. Liberals are trying to have it both ways with the Bloc. They require their support but want to pretend there is no association. That is fantasy. A viable coalition must have government participation from all parties involved. The Governor General must have clear confidence that this united coalition can last, get things done and provide stable leadership during a time of economic crisis.

So far I don't see much indication that this alliance has been well thought out. It is a clear coup and power grab as no platform has been presented to the electorate who's votes they have overturned, no terms and conditions of this alliance have been made public and there is serious doubt that it can survive the next few days, let alone the term of the agreement. The memberships of all of these individual parties have not even have the chance to vote on this merger of the left to give it some internal legitimacy. The coalition was never presented as a possibility during the election campaign, in fact all of these leaders campaigned against such an idea. Already we have seen market instability because of the political situation today. The stakes are high for ordinary Canadians who voted six weeks ago. The more thought that goes into how this coalition would play out, the more ridiculous it seems. Based on what is known today; I don't see how the Governor General could do anything other than call an election and end this circus.
-Darryl

Possible Conservative responses to a coalition:

Right now the million dollar question that is not known is how the public will react to a coalition government led by separatists. Liberal, NDP and possibly BQ partisans love it. Conservative partisans hate it. What is unknown is where the average Joe voter stands. I suspect Harper’s approval ratings have taken a hit, Canadians do not want an election and Canadians are likely angry about a coalition that includes Quebec separatists outside of Quebec. In the event this coalition goes down next Monday, following the budget or at a later time; here are some potential Conservative options to counter it.

1, Frequently put forward non-confidence motions. Liberal leadership candidates will want to travel. Ministers will have to travel on business. People will get sick or not be in the House for a variety of reasons. Putting forward frequent confidence votes through private members bills, opposition days or committee amendments could force the government to keep all members in Ottawa in order to maintain the confidence of the House. If we are lucky, an election would take place when the coalition least expects it.

2, Put forward divisive motions. “Canada recognizes Quebec as part of Canada”, “Canada supports the current mission in Afghanistan until 2011”, “A motion to restore 50 billion in tax cuts to corporations to create jobs in the economy”, use divisions in the Liberal leadership race to create confidence motions forcing unity and targeting the bases of each party could all put pressure on this coalition to stay together or lock the opposition parties into positions they would not want to defend in an election campaign.

3, Offer no support on any legislation regardless of its merits put forward by the coalition government. Consider voting with the coalition as legitimizing the government and refuse to take that step. This means without the support of all three coalition partners nothing would get passed. The NDP-Liberals are going to try and present a solution where the BQ agrees to prop up this coalition on confidence matters for a year. That agreement might not be good enough for the GG leading her to call an election. Constantly opposing and refusing to abstain would limit the government to only passing legislation the separatists and socialists agree on. Liberals would be forced to give into extortion or go into an election and defend this coalition with limited arguments in their ability to attack their coalition partners. They should not count on us to be cooperative or reduce the poisoned atmosphere in the House because of these actions.

4, Run a heavy media and public relations campaign. Link Liberals to separatists. Question if Jack Layton is trustworthy to handle the economy. Attack the legitimacy of Dion and whoever the next PM is. Highlight the fact that voters rejected Dion and this government. Portray the Liberals as willing to do anything from power including overturning an election by working with socialists and separatists. The lower the coalition approval ratings the better for us.

5. Work with the Western Premiers. They will get screwed by this arrangement in terms of government representation. Portray this whole situation as Western Canada’s voice in government being robbed by separatists and Toronto MPs. Hopefully at least one Premier would not recognize the new government. This arrangement gives us the potential to wipe out all opposition MPs West of Manitoba.

6. Use committee seats to block, stall or change legislation.

7. Throw everything into by-elections. Target MPs passed up for cabinet posts or in vulnerable ridings to cross the floor. Attempt to take back government by recruiting enough members to form a majority coalition. Many Paul Martin Liberals will be uncomfortable with NDP economics. Others will be offended by working with the BQ as legitimate federalists. A few more might be concerned about their own ridings or falling poll numbers if the coalition goes South. It will not be fun running government during this economic crisis. Whoever leads will take a hit in popular support due to the battered economy. If Conservative numbers go through the roof and the Liberal vote collapses, some politicians might be interested in saving themselves over their party. Right leaning Liberals no longer have a home in the Liberal party. The hardcore bases in all three parties will be upset and will want their demands met by this coalition.

8. Throw courtesy out the window. Question the coalition PM’s legitimacy when attending overseas conferences representing Canada. Ask for meetings with foreign leaders as “Canada’s elected government”. If poll numbers show an inevitable Conservative majority, this becomes easier. In America there is a tradition that you do not criticize the President when overseas. I am not sure if that tradition is upheld in Canada but I would not extend it to this coalition. Constantly portray the government as temporary and unstable.

9. Every question in question period should focus on the theme of a lack of mandate or a lack of legitimacy that this new government has. The new government should be portrayed as a coup and compared to countries where such a thing is common.

10. Pin everything negative about the economy on the coalition. “The coalition took us back into deficit”. “Unemployment has increased since the coalition took power”. “Housing market is declining because of polities put forth by this government”. “Jobs are leaving Canada because of this government”. “National unity is threatened because of this government”. “The dollar is being impacted negatively because of this coalition”. A recession/depression would make it hard for any government to get re-elected. If any economic downturns can be tied to Liberals being extorted by Quebec and socialists; Canadians will be eager to replace it. Liberals had no problem cheering on a recession and pinninig negative headlines to Harper. We should do the same and return the favour.

It is clear that a new coalition would lead to chaos and an even more bitter parliament should it occur. My biggest concern about a coalition is that it would be difficult to defeat. As approval ratings tank, Liberals would have little choice but to give into the demands of the socialists and separatists whose support they would require to maintain power or more importantly avoid an election. If the choice was between the Bloc in cabinet or fighting an election they cannot afford or win; I have absolutely no confidence that Duceppe would not find his way in cabinet.

The next big question is what some Liberals and media have been talking about as well as some Conservative privately. Would Harper be able to stay on as opposition leader and would he even want to? If not would replace him? How? Mysterious websites and emails have popped up for Prentice, Baird, MacKay and Day, but at this point it is unclear if they are disgruntled Conservatives or opposition supporters trying to cause internal questions about Harper’s leadership. Based on Scott Reid’s comments, it is obvious that Liberals want to remove Harper at all costs because he is a threat to Liberal survival. If Harper were to stay on it would lend more legitimacy to the strategy of bringing down the coalition. If someone else took power, it might give us a boost in support but would require time in opposition to select a new leader democratically meaning that this dangerous coalition would run the government for at least six months.

I also expect some left wingers will take issue about pushing strategies that will prevent this parliament from working. I am comfortable with that because I believe the Prime Minister should be elected and that separatists should not be a part of government. If the opposition is so convinced that Harper and Conservatives are bad for the economy and country; they should take that argument to the people and not the Governor General. I also think the GG would be making a huge mistake allowing this coalition to govern without a formal agreement signed by the Bloc Quebecois demonstrating that a Liberal-NDP alliance does in fact have the votes to run government not simply survive confidence votes for a year. How would Canadians benefit from a government that could not pass any legislation unless deemed matters of confidence? Why is the opposition afraid to take this coalition to the electorate?

Is this parliamentary coalition legal? Of course it is under our system. Did Harper cause most of this mess and is much of it his fault? Obviously that cannot be disputed. Having said that, this coup was planned well before the economic statement and Harper's blunder or partisan attitude is not justification to overthrow the election results and install a leader who does not have the confidence of his own party or Canadians. Arguments combining all three opposition percentages of the vote is not democratic. All three leaders campaigned against a coalition, had Canadians known a coalition with the Bloc was on the table a majority would have almost certainly been won by Conservatives and there is no evidence that anyone who voted Liberal, NDP, Green, or Bloc would not have voted Conservative as a second choice or voted for the opposition hoping a coalition would occur. This is a power grab made possible by a huge miscalculation by Stephen Harper, Jim Flaherty and whoever advised this.

Now what is done is done. We will lose a non-confidence vote and this dangerous alliance will take power. All we can do is try and take the issue to the people as soon as possible and trigger an election. While we made a mistake that got us in this mess, I think the Liberal Party has made an even bigger mistake with this action. A majority is ours, problem is how do we take our arguments to the people and cause an election? Coalition members have a right to take government I suppose. They do not have the right to expect our respect, cooperation or support.

-Darryl

The three leaders attended a historic press conference today and signed an Accord which provides for a coalition government to take over once the Tory government is voted out in a confidence measure (hopefully December 8).

The following is a summary of the Accord:

The prime minister will be the leader of the Liberal Party (now Dion, and from May the new leader), and the Finance Minister a Liberal.

A cabinet of 24 members, 6 NDP and 18 LPC; if cabinet increases, same proportion kept.

The Coalition will agree on transparency rules for appointments to the Supreme Court, Senate and other federal bodies.

Both parties will caucus separately, and will work through a managing committee.

The Accord ends June 30, 2011 unless extended.

Aim is to restore the deficit to a surplus within 4 years.

The stimulus plan is aimed at the following:

“The top priority of the new Government is an economic stimulus package designed to boost the domestic economy beginning with (but not limited to):

-Accelerating existing infrastructure funding and substantial new investments, including municipal and inter-provincial projects (such as- transit, clean energy, water, corridors and gateways). This would certainly include addressing the urgent infrastructure needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit;

- Housing construction and retrofitting; and

- Investing in key sector strategies (like manufacturing, forestry and automotive) designed to create and save jobs, with any aid contingent on a plan to transform these industries and return them to profitability and sustainability.”

All revenues from Employment Insurance premiums to be used for unemployment payments; current 2 week waiting period for receiving payments to be scrapped.

RRIF required payments in 2008 to be reduced by 50% (gives seniors a break).

Income support program for older workers who lose jobs to ease transition to old age security and pensions.

Tory budget cuts of culture to be scrapped.

Immigration reform to be pursued.

“As finances permit, we are committed to moving forward with improved child benefits and an early learning and childcare program in partnership with each province, and respectful of their role and jurisdiction, including the possibility to opt out with full compensation.”

Cap and trade emissions program to be instituted, using 1990 as a base, and working with USA new president to achieve a north American scheme.

Parliament not to be dissolved during Accord term by Liberals unless government defeated on non-confidence motion presented by the Tory opposition.

Bloc will support the Liberal government for 18 months with respect to the agreed matters in the Accord, but reserves the right to vote against other matters not covered in the Accord (as long as such matters are not confidence matters which will lead to the fall of the government).

Bloc agrees with the Accord up to June 30 2010, unless renewed.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2008/12/01/document-an-accord-on-a-cooperative-government-to-address-the-present-economic-crisis.aspx

Notes:

1. No dollar figures in the Accord for the stimulus package; as Layton said in the press conference, the Tory figures are suspect and the new government needs to get a handle on the exact figures.

2. Duceppe said at the press conference that the Bloc could not agree on a period beyond 18 months because the three parties could not agree on any proposals regarding Quebec sovereignty issues.

3. Dion confirmed he will not be running for leadership of the LPC in the convention in May.