Mr Skeptic Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3JbAFqGjgoM&refer=home "Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended the country’s legislature for more than seven weeks in a bid to stave off a challenge from opposition parties seeking to bring down his government." Eh? They can do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iNow Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Yeah, they were trying to throw him out based on a vote of no confidence, and before they could, he just suspended the legislature. Apparently, the Queen of England even signed off on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcol Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 How awful. He could simply have bought the opposition off, Illinois fashion. Much more democratic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Skeptic Posted December 10, 2008 Author Share Posted December 10, 2008 It is ironic how he avoided a vote of no confidence by demonstrating that he deserves one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severian Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Its not unreasonable. Give them seven weeks to cool down. If they still want to get rid of him after seven weeks, then they will. Sometimes important decisions should be taken with care, rather than on the spur of the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangloss Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 Is it a legal option under the Canadian constitution? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skye Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 Well the Governor General has the power, but there's always some debate on the context under which that power can be exercised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riogho Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The good news is that this is Canada we are talking about, which means it doesn't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphus Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Its not unreasonable. Give them seven weeks to cool down. If they still want to get rid of him after seven weeks, then they will. Sometimes important decisions should be taken with care, rather than on the spur of the moment. I agree in theory, but it still seems like a bad idea. This is just going to make them angrier. And if they were vocally trying to oust before, they'd look foolish for backing off once they've been sent to the time out box. It would be like admitting childishness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 otoh, if their voters calm down then there'll be less democratic pressure on them to act aggressively/rashly to please their angry voters. I always thought some kind of 'knee-jerk' rule, where, under certain circumstances, you could forbid paliament to discuss an issue for a month or two, would result in saner legislature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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