Prime Minister Steven Harper... confident and ready for Election...
Update: October 18, 2007 8:30 am.. the official opposition Liberal Party decided that it is not ready for Election now. Leader Stephan Dion announced in the House that his party is not going to vote against the Throne Speech by the Governing Conservatives..the other two parties already announced that they are not going to support the Speech, but between them, they don't have enough numbers to force an Election. So for now business as usual...
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Canadians, are you ready for the Fall Election? Or maybe the same as the last one, in Winter?
The sign is that, the Minority Conservative Government is primed and ready for election. The PM may not call it, but let the oppositions get in the trap and it is about to be set...
And from today’s Toronto Star headlines the trap is set.. Read the rest of the story of the possible showdown this fall or winter ...
OTTAWA — Since his first Speech from the Throne 20 months ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made a high art of treading thin political lines and carving off even thinner wedges of territory in which he can plant the Conservative party's flag.
He has courted ethnic votes across the country, ramped up support for the military, shifted focus on the environment and championed a get-tough approach to criminal justice. This is to say nothing of the many efforts Harper has made to win over Quebec voters.
His second throne speech, which will be delivered Tuesday evening, is expected to trumpet those causes as promises both made and kept, and to build on them in small but meaningful ways. Harper has promised a tax cut, a limit on Ottawa's ability to spend money in provincial jurisdictions, more crime bills and additional initiatives to protect the environment.
But the Prime Minister's framing of the debate that begins with the throne speech also promises to kick off a frantic period of political jousting in the capital. It will ensure that MPs are never more than a phone call away from Parliament Hill. They will be keeping their flashy election signs even closer.
In his search for a stronger hold on power, Harper has laid down an aggressive ultimatum to opposition parties that puts the trigger for an election in their hands, but ensures that he remains the one directing the firing squad.
His audacious threat to make every piece of legislation that stems from the speech subject to a confidence vote – meaning a defeated bill would spark an election – appears designed to force the hand of a Liberal party in disarray that is ill-prepared for an election. It comes from an election-ready government that, as of last week, was said to be writing the throne speech, campaign platform and debate preparation all at the same time.
What is the Throne Speech...
A Speech from the Throne is prepared by the Prime Minister’s office and delivered by the Governor General (as the representative of the Queen) that reveals to the House of Commons and Senate, the work the Government proposes for the new session of the Parliament. It contains comments on the state of the nation and outlines measures on which the government will seek Parliamentary action.
The Parliamentary system of Government as adapted in most commonwealth and former British colonies follow the system of the present United Kingdom set-up, although some have modifications and refinements, best suited for each independent country.
Canadian system as it is now, the Party in Government has a mandate of 5 years (usually election is called in four years) but the Government of the Day has the option of calling it anytime within the process.
In a majority government, where it can proceed and implement it’s own programs and can assure of the vote of the house of commons, it will call election almost to the expiration of its mandate. But it is a different matter for a minority government (which the sitting government is the minority). It is governing with the support of anyone party or combination of parties, in every major legislation that it proposes. And the defeat of the Budget is an automatic loss of confidence that will necessitate dissolution and call for election.
And also a minority government can call an election when it feels the tide is in its favour to return a majority government. But short of calling the Election, it can force the opposition by exactly doing what the Current Government is doing. Setting the Trap and let the oppositions decide if they are as ready for the Showdown...
