Miscellaneous

The Canadian Political System Confuses Me in the Brain

I'm on the fence with regard to the logistics of the Canadian Parliamentary system. It's a weird feather. Right now, it's conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper -- who is in the minority government -- is in quite a pickle. He's basically been futile as PM in the face of the current global economic crisis (though, to be fair, I don't know any world leader that's been particularly effective), so the opposition groups and gotten together and signed an agreement unilaterally giving themselves power. Meanwhile, it's also set a confidence vote for Monday, which would basically topple the current administration.

But what I find kind of fascinating about this whole thing is that Stephen Harper -- who apparently won a strengthened minority in October -- can effectively post-pone his own toppling by possibly suspending Parliament, preventing them from voting him out. Moreover, the no-confidence vote comes because three other political parties have ganged up on the conservative party, including the Bloc Quebecois, who apparently want to break up Canada.

Want more bizarreness? If the no-confidence vote goes as planned and Stephen Harper is removed, the Liberals want to install Stephane Dion, who led his party to a thumping two months ago in national elections. So, essentially, the guy who lost in national elections two months ago would replace a Prime Minister who gained support.

I don't get it, really. The system seems kind of sketchy and subject to whim. But, my political alignment is rooting for the Liberals, all the same.

(H/T to Ranylt, an Ottawan rooting for the coup)

Full post as published by Quiz Law on December 02, 2008 (boomark / email).