Most people are upset albeit for different reasons. Almost everyone agrees that we need a parliament that can function during these tough economic times, and we urgently need legislation to stimulate a faltering economy. But to really understand what has happened and how we got there, we need to back up a bit.
In Naomi Klein’s new blockbuster, “ The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism,” her main thesis is that governments around the world use various crises to push through a much more radical agenda, than their mandate entitles them to do. The government typically moves quickly, and in stealth, much like the United States did after 9/11, when it rolled out the 400 page Patriot Act before politicians had time to read it, and by doing so, took a giant step towards becoming a police state.
Currently, in Canada and around the world we are experiencing “economic shock” which causes a lot of unrest and stress in the population. Prime Minister Harper and the Conservatives tried, but failed to use this “shock” to push through legislation that would have moved Canada to the far right- and removing important and essential programs.
Here’s a summary of the proposed Conservative legislation (now dead), and why the three opposition parties, in a desperate move, suggested that a coalition was needed to stop the government:
1) Denial of the right of public servants to strike for 3 years
2) Elimination of subsidies for political parties (designed to weaken the opposition and strengthen the Conservatives)
3) Limits on the ability of women to sue for pay equity (women have never been a top priority for Conservatives)
Furthermore, the Conservatives had no plan to stimulate the economy, and now, we will not see any tangible measures until January 2009, when thousands have lost their jobs and need assistance now. The auto sector needs assistance now. We are in the worst economic crisis since 1929, and we have no government!
The planned coalition government was, and still could be a viable alternative for Canada. The NDP, Liberals and the Bloc rightly stood up to the minority Conservatives, who once again tried to rule as if they had a majority.
We need to ignore all of the rhetoric and the propaganda that we will see coming out of Harper’s office in the next month. Harper is lying when he says that the action of the Coalition is undemocratic. It is not.
Constitutional experts all agree that governments are elected according to whether or not they have and are able to maintain the confidence of a majority in Parliament. Clearly, the Conservatives do not have the confidence of the House and so they would have been defeated, except that Harper took the cowardly way out, and with his tail between his legs, got the Governor General to agree to prorogue Parliament.
In Canada, we don’t vote for a Prime Minister; we vote for an MP, and it is Parliament that rules on which party (or parties) will govern the country. A lot of people don’t understand that.
Also, I would remind readers to remember Stephen Harper’s roots and what he stands for, some of which is well documented at
http://www.tranquileye.com/stockwell/harper.php. Many of you will be shocked at some of the things he said 10 years ago.
He is also a former president of the National Citizens Coalition; an organization that opposes national healthcare, but supports privatization and tax cuts. The Prime Minister has been a staunch support of George W. Bush and the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is alleged to be a proponent of the North American Union, but no one in the Conservative party will go on record to say anything, even after the big conference in Montebello last year.
One has only to watch Harper’s video of a speech given in the House of Commons in 2003 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8YwJC_nBgw), lending his support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and plagiarized in its entirety from Australian Prime Minister John Howard. The speeches were likely written by a third party, perhaps in the Pentagon, proving that Harper is, as people have suspected, a sock puppet of Washington.
Stephen Harper has fought two elections, and even against weak opponents, has managed only minority governments. It is time for Stephen Harper to step aside and pass the torch.
Clearly, Canada is not ready to give the Conservatives a majority government, nor do the Conservatives deserve one.
We need a government with a social conscience and a true vision for Canada, one that will defend its citizens and be up front with them. As much as the Conservative government says it wants to help Canadians in crisis, it does not. The events of the past week are ample proof.
Since Stephen Harper does not have the mandate to govern, he needs to do the right thing- and resign as prime minister.
Stumble It!