Oink

I actually think Canada would be better off with direct rule from Whitehall.

Novocastrian

Well there you are then: Another sentient being.

Largo

How about Novo for P.M. As a former Geordie, I would vote for him

caretaker

One question first though: Mr. Castrian, if elected what methods would you employ to reduce and/or erase our 500 billion dollar debt?
We're probably better off with a northerner in any case...
http://www.thehob.co.uk/northerner.asp

Jingsamichty

Are you fellas genuinely interested in Canadian politics, or are you just using it as a convenient base from which to start a bit of a jousting?

I'm more than happy to join in the latter, but have zero interest or knowledge of the former, so please let me know so that I can decide whether or not to unsubcribe to this thread.

Thanks.

Novocastrian

Unsubscribe then. I've lived here on and off since 1982 and this is the only country in which I have a vote.

I'm genuinely interested in Canadian politics, in part because of what I do for a living, also in part because I resist the fashionable apathy on this board and in large swaths of the Canadian electorate as being symptoms of all the worst aspects of Canada.

Almost Canadian

I am up for some jousting. I could probably use the practice. In truth, I am waiting for this thread to run for a few more pages so that the usual suspects east of my location can demand that it be closed.

Hold on a minute........

Novocastrian

That bit seems accurate.

Jingsamichty

Fair dos, Novo, if you're after a genuine political debate I'll leave you to it.

caretaker

I met a bad protester
'E would not let me be
I grab 'is t'roat
I twis' 'is neck
And now 'e talk like me!

Oakvillian

I will probably tune in to the budget speech shortly, to see what sops the minority govt will throw to the Bloc and the NDP to persuade them not to vote down the budget on Friday. It would be a travesty of politics if, after all the fine words from Layton and Duceppe, they weasel their way out of a confidence vote on finance.

Even if they do, though, I cannot see how they would vote with the government on an opposition confidence motion over the contempt of parliament issues. Even in the sleaze-pit that is Westminster (cf Mandelson, twice...), I think a prime minister would have removed a minister who lied to the commons quite as flagrantly as Bev Oda; and when you consider that Harper ostracised Helena Guergis because her husband abused her parliamentary office, I don't understand why Jason Kenney has been allowed to get away with sending party political fundraising letters on his ministry dime. Those two issues, alone - and especially the fact that Peter Milliken has ruled that on both counts the Conservatives are in contempt of parliament - should be sufficient to bring this Parliament to an end.

However, and here's the ridiculous thing: despite all of this - Harper's hubris, his ministers' lying and cheating, the party's disregard for the "rules of the game" as Ignatieff put it the other day - the LIberals have a weak leader, the NDP have a policy vacuum, and neither of the two opposition national parties have any stomach for an electoral fight that they won't win. Polls at the moment suggest that Harper is likely to be returned with an increased number of seats - probably still not a majority - so he'll have first shout at forming a government. Only if they agree to bury the internecine hatchet adn form a formal coalition will the "anybody but harper" side get a go: I don't believe a loose partnership of minority parties will be acceptable as a government if the largest party isn't a part of it.

So, round we go again. More sleaze, more autocratic leadership, more contempt for the processes of a parliamentary democracy. I wish I had a vote here; my MP is Lisa Raitt, who manages to be frothing and incompetent at the same time. She was roundly castigated at the helm of the Toronto Port Authority before becoming an MP; she has been roundly castigated as Minister for Labour since taking office. Her seat is not exactly marginal, but was held by the Grits after Garth Turner defected during the last parliamentary session. Her last campaign was dirty and personal; I suspect this one will be too.

<There ya go Novo - meaty enough for you?>

Novocastrian

Could do with a bit more hot sauce, but meaty? Yes.

The Bloc haven't got their HST deal so they'll vote against the budget for sure.

Iggy's just been on and clearly they'll vote no too.

The NDP? We'll see, it sounds at the moment that there may be enough in the budget for them to weasel out of the confrontation.

As to whether the motion on contempt includes a no confidence rider, we'll have to see on that as well.

Interesting week.

Novocastrian

Ooops! I got that wrong!

Good on you Jack.

JonboyE

So here we go ...

Novocastrian

And let the worst man lose.