A most un-Canadian caper

Canada's prime minister clings on to office, for the moment

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Thanks for the couple replies, though:"As to Canada becoming a republic, it would mean, with a parliamentary system, an elected president filling approximaely the role of the current Governor General."This is getting weird, so is the GG a figure head or not? It is, after all, a position appointed by the Queen. And, he/she has the power to dissolve the Parliament, and as I heard, it happened in a few former UK colonies which adopted similar system. Be the GG a foreigner or not, he/she is still appointed by the Queen, and is a representative of the Queen.I am not questioning whether Canada or England is democratic, but why on earth democratic people would allow that to happen. Why the Brits would pay millions for a figure head? It is a thing of the past just doesn't cut it for the tax paying citizens of today. Even if the major public agrees to do it, it would have been unconstitutional for a country like the US (otherwise of course the US can pay for the Queen's visits). Even worse is the "princes" are routinely appointed to high ranking positions in the military, a proud military should honor the ones who advance through the ranks with their bravery, not some royal blood whose mission to serve the country in the Middle East recalled because of danger (are you kidding? Is that an office job?), still worse to some figure head whose only famous achievement might be marrying his long time mistress.


Having voted Conservative in the recent election, I was furious to hear of the news of this coalition. While I agree with the practice of coalition governments, I believe that to try and usurp power, without first attaining a mandate from the public, is despicable. If the leaders of the coalition claim that they are attempting to do what is the best for Canada, they should allow it's citizens to decide. Additionally, the coalition formed on the grounds of the elimination of public subsidies for political parties. As the article ("A most un-Canadian caper") notes, this and the other contentious issues (right to strike etc) have since been dropped, but Liberals, NDP and BQ remain intent on disrupting the government, seizing on this faint opportunity to gain power. If the Conservatives have realized their folly and have yielded to a more cohesive opposition, why not drop the ungrounded threats and allow the government to continue? This is nothing more than a concerted effort by the various parties to bypass their relative unpopularity (at record levels for the Liberals) and further their own agendas.


Politics in Canada is becoming more complex as the population grow and as the nationality of immigrants to fill the labor requirements become intense. Cultural differences and values will definitely be a factor for change in this scenario. From Two-party system to Multiparty ones will be give rise to a more complex and intricate governing positions to those in power to arrive to a common goal. Those political leaders should consider the electorate's decision in the last election, if they are nationalistic enough, they should heed their call and enact economic laws to uplift the economy and the financial conditions in their country rather than doing a wasteful political exercises that leave their government inutile to correct recession in their backyard in this time of world crisis. I hope Canada will not be dragged like in the Asian politics were inefficiency and other ills are going on due to greed, incompetency, ideology and immoral influence (as manifested by the proliferation of political parties joining the political exercises) creep to some demagogue politician's personalities of our times. God bless Canada and More power, Canadians!!! Don't let this happen to your beloved Country.

Measure twice and cut once

To Dohegora at Dec 7, at 1:39

Our Governor General, the Right Honourable Micha�lle Jean, is a Canadian, who happens to have been born in Haiti and came to Canada at age 8.

Our previous Governor General, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, was born in Hong King and came to Canada at an early age. She was a prominent Canadian before her appointment.

Canada is a nation of immigrants.

Also, the Queen appoints the Governor General, for a five-year term, ON THE ADVICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER. Thus Madame Jean she Canada and does not serve at the pleasure of the Prime Minister or of the Queen.

AS to a republic, our links to the United Kingdom are weakening and we may readdress the relationship, but not with our present Parliament, as it has to address priorities such as our economy.

PS: Apologies for the typing errors in my previous posts to Rick Skywalker and Vive Chenie; I was using a different keyboard and screen than usual.


It's all to funny listing to Lib's call for PM Harper to step down for being a "bully" well kids he's got the TRUDEAU game down pat. Canada's 1st. Coalition will only happen when the people vote it in,not some back door power play. The Lib's are calling for Dion to step down too,but RAE is the one you should be kicking to the curb

Measure twice and cut once

Hello Vive Chenie (Dec 7th at 17:26)

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, Australia and Canada both have Governors General.

However, our upper house, the Canadian Senate, is appointed, so we do not have the problem that Australia had.

Our GG is a Canadians, aan she did not take any advice, I am sure, from Queen Elizabeth or her representatives.

We also do not know what limits the Governor General put on Mt. Harper and his powers in return for the prorogation (he was in to see her for mmore than two hours, not a 10 minute visit.


The big problem we have in Canada is not the GG. It is that Mr. Harper has disappointed the voters with his nastiness, lack of empathy, bellicosity, absence of remorse, vengefulness, obsession with winning at all costs, and lack of follow-through on repeated (broken) promises to be more cordial, as a minority government prime minister, to the other parties.

The next question to ask is which personality disorders affect his behaviour: Narcissism; Borderline personality; or Abti-social personality?

The final question is who will replace Mr. Harper: Mr. Prentice; Mr. Emerson; or Mr. MacKay? Clearly, he has shown an ability to escalate an innocups budget update to a national crisis and woldwide headlines.

Measure twice and cut once

To Rick Skywalker (dec 7th at 4:16)

Thnak you for your comment.

In fact, our Governor General is paid for by Canadians and we (Canadians) do not contribute to the upkeep of the Royal Famuly.

The only exception is that their expenses are apid when we invite them to Canada.

Thank you.


I could not help but notice the underlying prejudice (shall we say racism) that underlies the views of most people here on the actions of the Gouverneur General, Ms Jean. Even the economist does not escape this trend:"The letter prompted Ms Jean, a former refugee from Haiti, to cut short a trip to Europe to rush back to Ottawa. Under the constitution, it is the governor-general’s prerogative to invite a party leader to form a government, with or without an election."Emphasis on the "FORMER REFUGEE FROM HAITI". I would like to ask the economist and all those blasting at the GG here and reminding us of her origins: What does her origins have to do with the decision she just rendered. She just followed the constitution!While Canada prides itself on being an open society, I think there is much more (especially) latent racism there than in the US. This is especially accentuated in Quebec where the unemployment rate is three higher among the minority population when comparison is done respective to same level of education and experience.My take on all these events is this one: if suspending the parliament was the best way to highlight the racist attitudes prevailing in Canada, then it was worth it.


I haven't read in detail all the nearly 200 previous posts on this forum, so please forgive me if others have already made comments similar to mine.Australia has a similar Consitution to Canada, as both countries have been lucky enough to have been part of the British Empire. In particular, there is a Governor General (GG) in both countries. Many Australians (I am not one, but lived there for quite a while) have very mixed feelings indeed about the position of a GG, following the events of 1975. In brief, one party had the numbers in the lower house but the other had a majority in the Senate, following mid-term elections (only for the Senate). The Senate in Australia has very strong powers indeed. The party with a majority in the Senate decided to obstruct the Government party, to the extent that business was paralysed and the Government ran out of money. The GG decided, against the advice of the Prime Minister of the day, to dissolve parliament, to dismiss the government and called for new elections.It seems to me that the representative of a foreign power should not have that right, even if the GG is a local (Canadian or Australian). So Canadians, why don't you think about the virtues of a republic?

Kenneth Trueman

With this level of acrimony and tactics, I wonder if we will soon be talking about the 'begums' of Ottawa or showing news of fist-fights in the House of Commons, which would put us (Canada) in the same group as Bangladesh or Taiwan.


I wonder what Rachel Maddow will do once Bush is gone. I suppose she could continue to critique Harper & the Queen and our GG.

It seems the pro-coalitionists hold on to the technically correct position that a coalition is a totally normal, legal, consitutional and functional proposition of our Parliament.

Ask the East German Democratic Republic in 1989, they felt they were in the right but the people overwhelmingly broke down the wall. Tell me how Yeltsin convinced the Army to not follow the techinically correct orders and lower the guns and let the people decide.

Public opinion is fully and overwhelmingly against your constitutionally legitimate coalition. Dion is an academic drawn into a political street fight by Jack Layton. I cannot argue canuck86 in your analysis of coalition and constition. But we small minded, not so bright people that rely on gutt feeling something the Chretian legacy will be immortalized for are being heard and the polls counter the pro-coalition bloggers here.

Phylo; the BLOC does not pledge alliagance to the throne, they are a seperatist party not a federalist canadian party. You win the academic symantics, but it must be frustrating to see the polls overwhelmingly favour a conservative government 44-47% vs liberal 23-24% and NDP 14%. The polls show Harper at 52% Iggy at 14% & Dion at 8%

You can argue your point but the majority have spoken. I personally was hoping for the coaltion to be granted power. Canadians should see these people for what they are. By postponing this thing to January the libs have a chance to bring in a new leader which will definitely make it more difficult to obtain a majority.

Many Liberals want the embarrasment to end

Lots of academic correctness here but the pulse of the electorate is the judge & jury

cogito ergo sum

*sigh*This is a sad episode for responsible government in Canada. Stephen Harper has proven to really be the petty, mean-spirited, right-wing ideologue that Canadians feared he might be. He has managed to prove all the worst fears about him. In the process he has also blatantly lied to Canadians, restarted a serious national unity crisis and cynically misrepresented our system of government (as canuck86 has so aptly put it, we directly elect 308 individual MPs, not parties and definitely not Prime Ministers).On the other hand, Stephane Dion has also dropped the ball yet again and failed to make a compelling case for how he would be a good care-taker Prime Minister. His TV address was a sad spectacle that only made him seem incompetent. In this charged climate, the media has also launched a full-scale attack on the NDP and helped Harper and the Conservatives poison Canadians about a coalition government.Although this particular coalition is less than ideal, it is about time that Canada gets some experience with coalition governments. We have four major parties with significant shares of the national vote and we will likely get five parties soon when Green candidates inevitably start being elected. Even with our archaic first past the post system which artificially inflates the number of MPs for the larger parties, the time of single-party majority governments has likely passed. It's time for Canadians and their politicians to grow up and learn to live with coalition governments.In this case, the coalition had demonstrated that it would command the majority of votes in Parliament and that Harper had lost the confidence of the House. As such, the Governor General erred in allowing a prorogation barely a week into a new session when it was blatantly obvious that the only reason Harper asked for one was to run away from a confidence vote he had already cowardly delayed (keep in mind that the Liberal opposition day was scheduled for Dec. 1 and Harper delayed it until Dec. 8 the evening of Nov. 28 - essentially with no notice).

Tyrannosaurus Lex

"Despite alarmist headlines, for now the economy remains in relatively good shape"I was so disappointed to read this in The Economist of all places. I'm used to hearing it from those whose jobs depend on saying it. But The Economist? C'mon, seriously, what needs to happen before the economy is in bad shape?


The Head of State is the figure head of our country. She is the Queen of Canada, represented by the Governor-General (Michaelle Jean). She has reserve powers which are not excercised unless in special circumstances. This is a tradition passed on from the political system in which the Canadian system of politics is modelled after (the Westminister system).

I agree that this is a relic of a system which used to give substantial powers to the Head of State and that in contemporary times I too find this unnecessary. The Queen of Canada and the GG CANNOT and DOES NOT go against the will of Parliament**.

Does this mean that we do not have democracy in Canada? Does this take away from our liberty and freedom? I would have to say no. Yes, it costs us some money to maintain these relics of the past. But no, this does not take away power from the people of Canada, since as I said, she cannot go against the will of Parliament.

So rick-skywalker, I would have to agree with you that the position of Queen of Canada and her representation in Canada (the GG) is an unnecessary role. But I would have to disagree with you that this takes away from the democratic process.

** In my opinion Michaelle Jean did go against the will of Parliament on the issue of proroguation. The majority of MP's have agreed to this coalition, and her decision to prorogue comes as a surprise to me. If it is inevitable (as the Coalition has claimed) then she has indeed meddled in Parlimentary affairs to allow a suspension of a vote of confidence. I do give her credit for following precedence (no demand for prorogue has ever been refused), but in the process she has set precedence to allow the temporary suspension of an inevitable defeat of the government. The consequence is to have the country be without leadership in a time when it needs it. Ultimately, she actually has not gone against the will of the electorate, since prorogue is only temporary, so democracy is still preserved. But in my opinion this was an unnecessary suspension, and a decision that was, I think, irresponsible give the context of the economy.


It is so funny that people is calling shame about a figure head (Queen of England) appointing another figure head (Governor General). However, come to think of it, it is weird way that seems absolutely OK for Canadians as well, same for the Brits.Can anybody explain why the self proclaimed freedom loving and democratic people (gee almost louder than the Americans) would support monarchy, paying hundred of millions a year to a family, whose throne barer is the richest lady in the world (by owning all the properties that are more accurately belongings to the state), and sent the children of this family directly to lead its army? Imperialists.

milestracksthe voodoodown

Bravo to canuck86 for delivering facts versus the over-simplified, over-sensationalized versions reported by The Economist. I believe CNN probably did a better job of presenting this story. Shocking, but true!!!

Now, as to my comments regarding the events in my country...all 4 political parties involved in this mess are acting like children. The leaders are the worst of the bunch. And they will all pay in the next election.


Let me explain how the Canadian political system works. The coalition is not a political 'coup' and the Canadian public did NOT elect PM Stephen Harper and the Conservative Federal Government. In Canada WE ELECT MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. Each MP represents a constituency in Canada, in total there are 308, and the MPs (all 308) then decide whoforms the Government. We certainly do NOT elect Prime Ministers and Governments.

The PM has traditionally been the leader of the party with the most MPs in Parliament after an election, usually they receive the majority of seats. The Governor General (Michaelle Jean) then asks that the leader of this majority forms the Government.

In cases where no majority is won, traditionally the GG will askthe leader of the party with the most seats to form the Government (termed 'minority governments').

Legally and constitutionally, the leader that SHOULD form government is one who has the the confidence of the MAJORITY of thehouse, REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATIONS. What we saw in October 2008 was the election of aminority government. This government has now lost the confidence of the majority of the House of Commons. Therefore the current government no longer hasthe mandate to govern.

In Canada, certain legislation passed through the House of Commons are measures of confidence. Confidence in the House of Commons means that the majority the MPs (over 154, that is more than 50%) believe that the current government (Stephen Harper and the Conservatives) can form a functional executive branch of the Canadian political system. The Budget is one such piece of legislation, and the Opposition and their allies (more than 50% of the House of Commons) have decided that they will vote it down. The Government of Canada therefore does NOT have the confidence of the House of Commons.

This is a very democratic principle. If the government in questioncannot convince the majority of the House of Commons that it can function as Government of Canada, it therefore has to ask the GG todissolve parliament and either 1) call an election, or 2) ask the leaderwhich commands the confidence of the majority (regardless of party affiliations) to form the government.

There is no 'political crisis', there is no 'constitutional back-doorpolitics'. This is simply an exercise of a very basic democratic principleas outlined in the Constitution of Canada. HE/SHE WHO DOES NOT COMMAND THE CONFIDENCE OF THE MAJORITY OF MPs IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, AND THEREFORE THE MAJORITY OF CANADIANS, SHALL NOT FORM THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA.

Stephen Harper's contention that the coalition does not have the right to form the Government is not only wrong, but shows a deep misunderstanding of his own political system. MPs affiliated with ANY party elected to the House have equal voting power. These MPs have been duly elected by the Canadian public as Harper himself has. His rhetoric against the views of the these MPs shows a totally lack of respect for those who have been DEMOCRATICALLY mandated by the public, just as Harper himself and every other Member of Parliament, to represent them in the House of Commons. His campaign of misinformation about the very democratic process that exists in Canada is alarming to me. And on this alone he should be condemned from being the leader of the Canadian government. He either does not understand how the political system works or simply does not care he perpuates a common misconception. I do not know which is worse.



It is so sad to see a great country like Canada have a Governor General (in this case a Haitian, (I am not biased against Haiti) appointed by England)as head of state (an anachronism). The average Canadian has no say in the matter! Canada, why don't you declare yourselves a Republic once and for all, and sever the ties that bind you to the Lion? You are a fine people and I hope you make the right choice and support your PM in the meantime.



"formed by an agreement between groups establishing a central organization to handle their common affairs...." Gage Canadian Dictionary

"of the form of government in which two or more states form a political unity...." Oxford Dictionary

"of or formed by a compact; specifically, designating or of a union of states, groups, etc. in which each member agrees to subordinate its power to that of the central authority in common affairs." Webster's Dictionary



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