The lede here–that this move pushes the constitutional crisis which began last week into full-scale red-alert mode–hasn’t just been buried, it’s been taken out and shot. It is arguable whether Stronach’s defection is a “blow” to the Conservatives in either the short or the long term. What’s not arguable is that the delay imposed last week on a formal non-confidence vote in the House of Commons has now–with the balance of power in the House teetering on the razor’s edge–visibly become a banana-republic power tactic.
[…]
The whole point of the tradition that the confidence of the House will be tested at once, upon the government’s defeat in a supply-related division, is to prevent exactly the sort of shenanigan just perpetrated. Martin has used the delay he imposed unilaterally to purchase the services of a disaffected Conservative leadership candidate–one, it bears noting, elected by her constituents as a Conservative. (She’ll be in charge of “democratic renewal”, says Martin–never let it be said the man lacks a taste for irony.) “I am not sure,” Bliss concluded, “that Canada has ever had such a serious parliamentary crisis.” There can be no doubt about it now. If the Liberals win Thursday’s confidence vote by virtue of Stronach’s presence on the government benches, we will continue to have a government openly acknowledged to be illegal by most if not all of the major constitutional authorities in the country.
Via Damian Penny, who has a collection of pithy reaction.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s one of those times when Americans should just keep their opinions to themselves. But Belinda’s maneuver really worries me, and I was feeling pretty good yesterday because of a conversation with a staffer in the Speaker’s office. Then this.
You’ve got a really corrupt regime up there. Organized crime in partnership with official government. Racketeers and gangsters with these shadowy corporate powers in the background. Conspiracy, bribery, mafia… you name it.
And if Martin’s regime wins, who is going to clean out the nest? Who is going to put a stop to all this stuff? It will just become more entrenched. More levels of masquerade to conceal the corruption. And then how easy will it be to reveal the corruption and roll it back?
We’ve heard about a lot of high-profile people, but how many MPs have received help of one kind of another from the Libranos, and just took the assistance and kept their mouths shut? How many unnamed for everyone whose name hits the light of day?
And now Belinda. Does anyone seriously believe that she crossed that aisle without full knowledge about the players and where the figurative bodies are buried? I don’t think so. ET is probably completely right about her.
I like a Harold Robbins novel as well as anyone, but somehow people with principles have to find their way to power in Canada. It seems to me that Harper may not be the best man in the universe, just as Bush may not be the best man in the universe, but he’s pretty damn good and he’s the best hope you have right now. I just hope to God Harper pulls it out.
She (Belinda Stronach) is now to be known as “Benedict Stronach”.
Greg is right. To wait for the perfect person is folly.
Standing with Stephen Harper, with friends across the border, we shall not fail.
This commenter stands with Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.
Stand with Stephen Harper.
Long live freedom and democracy.
Greg,
How true, and if we don’t take a stand and deal with it know, even at the expense of the country, you, and yours may have to deal with it later. There is no excuse for all that’s going on including the total circumvention of democracy, and the rules of parliament.
I, for one, do not want to have to call on other nations to deal with our problems, and will do anything, and everything to stop the madness. These guys are total weasels and have to be stopped. The numbers of the questionable MP’s are posted on the Shotgun. I encourage everyone to phone and make there concerns known.
You are right Greg, an American here lecturing Canada about corruption would be inappropriate given what passes for government in Washington.
You do know of course that it is the Martin government that set about “cleaning out the nest” fouled by Chretianites.
Harper would make a fine tribune in the American Imperial guard, but it will be a cold day in hell before I agree to support someone who would likely agree with the statemnet, “My U.S.A. includes Canada — oh, and Quebec too”
“You are right Greg, an American here lecturing Canada about corruption would be inappropriate given what passes for government in Washington… ”
I’m trying to figure out where the hell that came from. Lecture? It was a statment of fact at best, an opinion at worst. We can have opinions and constantly lecture Americans .. “given what passes for government in Washington…” but we’re too good to listen back? Get a grip. For my part, I’m happy to have outsiders give us their own view .
As long as they’re not, you know, from France …
Considering that Canadians never tire of lecturing the US on how to run their country and their government… American opinions are more than welcome at this blog.
Hi- no war in defense of canada on her soil? my grandfather was called up to fight riel-how about 1812? we won it you know (with our fellow british subjects from great britain) just a reminder