Spring general election?
 

I'm guessing yes. The Bloc has behaved itself so far but there are now two major areas of disagreement between it and Harper:

1) the gun registry
2) Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, particularly as the Vandoos will be next up to bat.

Whatever Harper decides about the registry, he's going to lose support somewhere.

Not sending the Vandoos will make it very hard to maintain Canada's presence in Afghanistan, and screw Harper's standing with the US. Sending them will destroy Tory support in Quebec.

I don't think it will long before Duceppe pulls the plug. If he does, and throws his hat back into the Parti Quebecois ring, guess what comes next?

Re: Spring general election?
 

The really scary thing about that is that, apart from Duceppe, there's no credible alternative to Harper (not that I wish to suggest that Harper's in any way a credible leader but he is the incumbent) and Duceppe won't run nationally.

Re: Spring general election?
 

I can see one possible scenario and it does take something of a stretch in imagination. A Bloc/Grit coalition (not a merger, obviously).

Re: Spring general election?
 

Danny Williams! :)

Re: Spring general election?
 

I cant see it myself.

Charest doesnt appear to make any sense bringing up the gun registy in this case. The gun used was a legally registered weapon, and was nothing to do with the long gun registry in any case as assault rifles have been "restrictred weapons" since Adam was a boy. Its the usual brain dead knee jerk reaction, and does nothing to convince me that those people are fit to lead a shopping expedition, let alone a nation

Hey, maybe they should have a law about people shooting other people....Oh, hang on....never mind!

Re: Spring general election?
 

For those without the background... what's the problem with Harper, Charest and the rest???

Re: Spring general election?
 

The problems with Harper are legion. For a start:

- the Mormon hair
- the religious fundamentalism
- the poodling to Bush.

Re: Spring general election?
 

Hmm, same description (albeit perhaps without the mormon hair) could be applied to one Mr T Bliar esq?

Re: Spring general election?
 

G'won bye!

Re: Spring general election?
 

I don't think Harper shares the same pathetic desire to be loved.

Turning to Duceppe, the main problems are:

irritating voice

looks like he's just sat on something very sharp

he's clearly so popular that he has 24/7 protection by several large, shaven-headed chaps with bulges in their armpits

Re: Spring general election?
 

Well, Harper started life as a rabid right wing economist with strong ties to a US style of politics, and he has moderated / hidden those roots to get elected in the wake of a Liberal (traditional party of power) meltdown after the sponsorship scandal and general mismanagement. So far as PM hes largely behaved himself, but the nation watched and waits....

Charest and Duceppe are seperatists, which is what adds spice to politics in Canada. Right now the Bloc is supporting a minority Con government, and the liberals are still dithering over who should be the new leader.

I guess a potted summary of canadian politics can be found at the wikipedia for those intersted.

Re: Spring general election?
 

Blair however has some control over his body. Harper's every expanding gut makes one wonder, if he can't control his body, can he really control a country ? Anyway, Blair's more collegial, one has the impression that Blair discusses his policies (at least with his wife and dubya) while Harper acts alone and depends on the diplomatic skills of Jason Kenney and Art Hanger to clean up. And what a fine job they do :

http://www.intheirownwords.ca/tories.html

Re: Spring general election?
 

Not recently, if he did what he wanted, I dont think he would have got elected, there is definitly a close circle of advisers to keep him on track and electable.

The site you quoted was in fact a liberal party election website..the last quote there is from '04

Re: Spring general election?
 

The crux of the problem in Canada, surely, is that the Liberals don't have a leader and the choice of candidates is dire. They need Belinda.

Re: Spring general election?
 

Well, they need someone anyway!

Wasnt Belinda a Conservative until the last election..the one whos dad runs Magna and is the weathiest canadian alive.

Thinking about it, that makes her perfect for the job ;) :)