Due to the unprecedented nature of the current political situation in Canada I have decided to turn my attention away from my usual international column to comment on Canadian politics. Seeing as I am currently in Sweden, I suppose this article could still be considered an international perspective.To quickly recap the current state of affairs, the three opposition parties (Liberals, New Democrats and the Bloc Québécois) have signed off on a agreement that, if passed by the Governor General (the Queen’s representative within Canada) next Monday, would see a coalition government taking over for the only seven week old Conservative government.
This move was sparked by a controversial economic proposal by Harper’s conservatives that according to the Toronto Star “contained little in the way of economic stimulus but proposed to take away the rights of federal workers to strike, clamp down on pay equity and, critically, eliminate public subsidies for political parties.”
Despite a last minute ad-blitz by the Conservative party to try and swing national opinion in their favour, it appears the best the Conservatives can hope for is for Governor General Michaëlle Jean to dissolve parliament and send Canadians back to polls instead of handing power over to the coalition. Jean has said she will not comment on the situation until she discusses things with the Prime Minister and that her door is open once she arrives back in Canada today from an abbreviated ambassadorial trip to Central Europe. Prime-Minister Harper will no doubt be waiting on her door-step asking if he can put a Conservative sign on her lawn.
What I would really like to focus on in this blog however is what became the most prevalent glob of muck in the mud-slinging affair that was the Canadian House of Commons yesterday; that being the suddenly essential Bloc Québécois.
The maybe soon-to-be former Prime Minister Harper and his possible back from the political dead successor Stéphane Dion went back in forth in the House yesterday with Harper accusing Dion of being in bed with the separatists and Dion defending himself saying that he has always believed in a united Canada.
The quote of the day was made however by the long time leader of the separatist Bloc Québécois party, Gilles Duceppe, when, referring to Harper’s past reliance on the Bloc to pass multiple budgets, he said “Let's say he had a lot less fear of the nasty separatists back then.”
One can see both sides of this situation and, in a way, both sides are right. Due to the relative number of seats the Bloc hold, the leader of any minority government has to rely on the Bloc for support in order to accomplish anything. In this sense Harper’s argument is moot because he is essentially saying that no matter what evil doings the ruling party is up to, it is worse to deal with the separatists. This is of course ridiculous, especially coming from a man who has also gone for a whirl with the Québec nationalists. At the same time, most Canadian’s would agree in maintaining a united Canada. The question is, at what point do you draw the line and say better the separatists than this guy?
Judging by the exceptional nature of the current economic situation and the partisan, hackneyed efforts of the Conservative government to address them, the coalition has performed the necessary duty of, regardless of the outcome of this situation, letting the Conservatives know they are not asleep.
I think it is also pertinent to note the irony of the Bloc Québécois in Canadian politics. If one did not know they were a separatist party it would be very easy to see them as the best suited party to lead the country. (Bare with me here…) They have the longest standing leader of any of the political parties in Gilles Duceppe, a man who is both charismatic and more bi-lingual than any of the other leaders. His party backed the Kyoto Accord, uncovered the Liberal sponsorship scandal and opposed the Iraq war. It seems the only reason Canadians have to dislike the Bloc is the fact that they don’t want to be part of Canada. I am not in any way a separatist, but with the way the previous Liberal government and the present Conservative government have staggered through their terms, I really wonder if you can blame Québec and the Bloc for thinking Québec might be better off alone.
On a final note, if one were to ignore everything else that has happened, Stephen Harper will show his true colours tonight when he most likely will tell the nation that the best solution is to go back to the polls in order to establish a Conservative majority. If Mr. Harper were truly concerned with the Canadian economy do you really think he would put another $30 million election on the top of his agenda? Mr. Harper, you’ve already had your chance.
Will Grassby
5 comments:
Here here!
A well written piece that would improve the readability of any Canadian newspaper - not to mention the clarity of thought and perspective.
I suggest you forward this article to the Canadian media, Stephan Dion and Gilles Duceppe.
I'd guess this srticle would be published in mainsteam Canadian media should they become aware of it.
Greatt work!
GG
Another good piece, Will, again with a different angle. I hadn't really thought practically about the Bloc other than as a left-wing party or as separatists.
One of the most important aspects of the coalition, and one that Conservatives are repeatedly and deliberately misconstruing, is that the Bloc are not in fact part of the coalition. It is a coalition between Liberals and the NDP, each having cabinet ministers. They refuse to recognize the Québécois as a nation, so the Bloc refuses to join the coalition. What the Bloc has agreed to do is support the minority section with whom they are more ideologically aligned. I'm sure Harper would have no qualms accepting their separatist support if it were swinging his way.
This evening both Harper and Dion addressed the nation in separate recorded videos outlining their version of events. Harper's was word-for-word the same in English as French, except he referred to the Bloc as 'separatists' in English, and 'sovereigntists' en français.
Thanks for pointing out that important thought Russ. After writing the article I realized that I had implied that the coalition is between the three parties, but you are completely right. The Bloc is not actually a part of the coalition but rather supporting it in the house so that it will pass. It is Prime-Minister Harper that would have us believe the opposite.
I'd just like to add an interesting quote from Liberal MP Bob Rae last night when discussing Conservative propoganda. He said: ""They [the Conservatives] are playing the patriotism card, which is the last refuge of scoundrels..."
Will Grassby
Good points to add to the piece, Russ. The coalition is between the Liberals and the NDP.
There is so much distortion of the truth, misspeak and outright hypocritical misrepresentation coming from Harper we can hope that more Canadians will see him for the self interested phony that he is.
Let's face it - the NDP and the Liberals have taken him to task. Duceppe is willing to make it possible because he well knows the duplicity of this man and sees the Conservative government as a greater threat to Canada and Quebec than the Coalition.
Now Harper will use his huge financial backing to try and control Candians thought through such misinformation via the media in a 'Bush' like manner.
His statements on the power of the coalition to defeat a minority government for non-competence as being 'undemocratic' are just wrong.
The only undemocratic actions so far have been promolgated by Harper for example, the illegal eavesdropping, lying and misleading the Canadian public about the nature and democratic rights of opposition parties - not to mention the flag flap!
GG
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