Just wanted to make that unequivocal.
It is clear that the Prime Minister, by presenting a thinly veiled partisan hatchet job rather than an economic plan, has lost the confidence of the House. The majority of parliamentarians now quite rightly believe they cannot trust Stephen Harper to control his baser instincts and govern in the enlightened interests of all Canadians. During an economic crisis, the juvenile behaviour of the Conservative government simply cannot be countenanced.
To those who believe in parliamentary democracy, the legitimacy of this coalition is indisputable. In our system we elect members of parliament, not governments. It is through the confidence of those duly elected MPs that the executive derives its right to govern. It is thus the Conservatives, not the coalition, who through their inability to work with the majority in the House are now on the verge of losing their legitimacy.
I am not overjoyed at the prospect of a coalition government. That Canada has reached this point is a product of failure, not success. The coming weeks and months will prove exceedingly difficult.
But in a time of economic instability, Canada requires real leadership. The coalition has already demonstrated that it has a plan for the Canadian economy. They have sought the advice of expert economic advisers and have indicated they will continue to do so. In short, they wish to govern. They should be given the chance.
4 responses so far ↓
Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy :: Voted for Coalition? Me Too // December 2, 2008 at 12:53 pm
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Partisan Hobo // December 2, 2008 at 4:42 pm
You wrote, “I am not overjoyed at the prospect of a coalition government. That Canada has reached this point is a product of failure, not success.”
My thoughts exactly. A couple of days ago, I wrote that, if this coalition comes to fruition, and much of me hopes that it does, it it is a sign if FAILURE. It is not a day for celebration. I am thankful I live in a country that has this kind if safeguard against abject failures in leadership. But I never ever want the safeguard employed by a person or people who do not understand the very seriousness of what they are proposing.
I’m glad you pointed it out …
the regina mom // December 2, 2008 at 6:18 pm
We agree, at least, on our support for the coalition. However, that you view it as a failure seems to lack faith in the checks and balances that have been built into the system of Parliamentary democracy over the ages.
John Diefenbaker, a former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister, said ,
If Parliament is to be preserved as a living institution His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition must fearlessly perform its functions. When it properly discharges them the preservation of our freedom is assured. The reading of history proves that freedom always dies when criticism ends. It upholds and maintains the rights of minorities against majorities. It must be vigilant against oppression and unjust invasions by the Cabinet of the rights of the people. It should supervise all expenditures and prevent over-expenditure by exposing to the light of public opinion wasteful expenditures or worse. It finds fault; it suggests amendments; it asks questions and elicits information; it arouses, educates and molds public opinion by voice and vote. It must scrutinize every action by the government and in doing so prevents the short-cuts through democratic procedure that governments like to make.
- Hon. John G. Diefenbaker, “The Role of the Opposition in Parliament,” Address to the Empire Club of Canada, Toronto, 27 October 1949.
I’d say our system is working just fine.
deliberativedialogue // December 3, 2008 at 9:56 am
My contention is not that it is a failure of the system, as my support for the coalition government should indicate.
But as a general rule, anytime that you need to use the safeguards of a system – and I agree that it is needed at this point – it isn’t a product of success at the political level. As a Liberal, I think we need to be clear that the coalition proposal is being put forward out of necessity and a sense of responsibility.