While I was busy tweaking my blog and taking a day off the Internet, news came from Ottawa. Just my luck. I could have been reporting live from the capital but no, I was too busy trying to even out my sidebar’s margins in CSS. Oh well.
So, here is the big news—on Friday, the government fell. On Saturday, Harper met with the Governor General who agreed to dissolve Parliament. Placards grew overnight on front lawns and we are heading to the polls again on May 2, 2011.
Fear not, though. Canadians are not rioting in the streets, demanding more democracy and freedom. It’s way too cold for that and—let’s face it—it isn’t worth the trouble. The only thing most people are complaining about is to have to vote for a federal election for the fourth time in seven years.
Historically, the Prime Minister could ask the Governor General to call an election at virtually any time. However, in 2007 the Parliament passed an act fixing federal election dates every four years unless the government loses the confidence of the House of Commons. If a government loses a “no confidence” motion, the Prime Minister asks the Governor General to call an election. This is what happened last Friday. But at least, campaigns are short in Canada—a minimum of 36 days and the longest ever was “only” 72 days. Better than in France where political parties basically start campaigning the minute the elections are over!
So, who are the players? Well, the Conservative Party of course, with Stephen Harper as their leader and Canada’s Prime Minister since 2006. The Liberal Party, with leader Michael Ignatieff, is desperate for a majority—the Liberals haven’t been in power for a while. The New Democratic Party (with leader Jack Layton) and the Bloc Québécois (with leader Gilles Duceppe) will try to get more seats in the House of Commons but it’s extremely unlikely they will ever go further.
Canadians are deeply divided as to whether an election is necessary. We went to the polls a lot these last few years and holding elections cost money. Harper is pushing this point, saying that the elections were forced by the Liberal Party and that it’s basically a waste of money. Good point? Well, as much as it pains me to admit it, I’m with Harper on that one.
I’m personally convinced that the only reason why the Liberals wanted an election is because a large part of the Party doesn’t like Ignatieff as a leader. As a matter of fact, Ignatieff was elected by default after Dion lost the federal elections in 2008—there were no other candidates running for the leadership. Losing the election would mean starting fresh, perhaps with a more charismatic leader. Ignatieff may be a smart academic and a good professor but I can’t picture him leading the country.
That said, I can’t see Harper getting a majority either. His Party is popular in the West (Harper is from Alberta) but there is no way Ontario and Québec will give him the majority.
That leaves me with a dilemma: who am I going to vote for? This will be my first time voting for a federal election and I take my ballot seriously (you know, French and politics…).
I don’t support Harper. Frankly, his party scares me. Ideologically, I can’t agree with his position on abortion, his disregard for arts, and culture, his contempt for women, the way he cut foreign aid, his weak foreign policy, and the unwanted right-wing evangelical Christian influence he brought to the Parliament and got in the way of politics. Like I heard someone say, “When the Harper version of the Conservative Party dropped the word ‘Progressive”, they weren’t kidding”.
But on the other side, I’m resigned. I don’t think this election will bring anything new and I don’t think the Conservatives are out just yet. We need a strong alternative to defeat Harpers and the neo-cons and Ignatieff just doesn’t do the job. Instead of bringing Harper down, we should focus on creating politics people would care about. Another world is possible. Canada deserves a better political scene, one that reflects the amazing diversity of the country many choose for its opportunities.
It is difficult to follow politic unless you spend a lot of time at it. When Obama was running I read many newspapers everyday but now I am tired with it. I feel he has been too timid and tries to please everyone. But then I don’t like the Republicans at all and Palin is pitiful. As for Canada if your last politician mixed politics and religion – well that scares me a lot. I come from France where, at least when I was there, no one knew if a candidate went to church or even if he was a Christian or Atheist. I don’t ask the pilot when I fly in a plane what his religion is, I just want to make sure he is a good pilot – same for a president – I just want to make sure that he has good judgment. I don’t think I would like your Harper – plus I had heard he was courting the US. Ignatieff I don’t know. I read a book years ago, and I don’t know if he wrote it or his father, but it was about the family leaving Russia and all the problems they had until they came to Canada. I really enjoyed that book.
I think Ignatieff is a smart guy, like I said a good professor and a good academic. But he has no leadership. And like you, I value secularism so Harper scares me.
Hey Zhu,
Our government fell a week ago as well. In June we are going to the polls again (in less than two years) – it will cost €18 Million.
The world needs a new way of doing politics, period.
The old way is no longer effective.
Good luck with your vote: just make good use of one of the biggest civil rights on earth :D.
Cheers
I’ve worked all the provincial and federal elections in the past years and I can say that Liberal party is more popular in my riding. Unfortunately I can’t no longer vote given the fact I live abroad now 🙁 I’m very sad about it and would like to have a new government, however, unless Liberal can show they can make a serious change then I’m afraid Harper will still be in power.
I think Harper will get another minority government as well. So you can’t vote because you are living abroad? That’s strange, I can still vote for the French elections even though I haven’t live there in ages.
I think for expats who plan to live abroad over 5 years, are not allowed to vote. And I haven’t liked any Liberal leader since Tories took over.
I didn’t know about this rule! I don’t think anything similar exists in France.
I say bring back Jean Chrétien! Seriously I just found out that it may be the last time I am eligible to vote in Canada 🙁 I just hope Ignatieff is going to win because I really like him!
Really you can lose your voting right because you are living abroad? I can still vote for all French elections!
This style of government sounds very exciting to me. I wish our government would just fall every now and then. I would love the short campaign times. Our process is a mess and takes too long and everybody is made and exhausted at the end of it.
American politics are complicated. Honestly, I don’t think I still fully understand the whole election process there. But it’s a big territory with a lot of people, voting directly for a President like in France would be weird.
Ignatieff is a brain but he has the charm of a catfish. I smell another minority government in our future. Couldn’t the grits have found someone more cuddly? Was Frankenstein on holiday?
Btw
American politics ARE complicated and insane by the lack of real choices. Like Gore Vidal said
: America has one political party with two right wings (I feel vindicated by this vis a vis the current president’s policies and actions).
Hey zhu!
Hey you!
I must admit your comment wasn’t very nice for catfish. Some do have charisma and charm. Ignatieff, on the other side… 😆
I think the Liberals need to start fresh with a new leader. Hopefully they will.
It was my first time voting a few weeks ago. It was a difficult choice as in my opinion, most of them are the same and those who actully seem to have more integrity don’t have a chance. It’s disheartening…
I saw the Irish elections on the BBC and thought of you. Don’t know much about the politics there though.
I’m having the same kind of dilemma with that election…
How exciting to be voting in your first federal election! Sorry the situation isn’t better, but I’m enough of a nerd to think the fact that you’ll be able to vote for the first time is exciting. Fingers crossed that the candidates/parties improve before the election!
Well, I voted before in Canada for a small local election so technically, it’s not the first time. But this time, the stakes are higher!
“we should focus on creating politics people would care about.”
i think zhu, you hit the nail on the head. important things like protecting the environment, justice, essential fairness, personal rights, ending wars and keeping a strong economy (an economy that encourages a strong middle class and that doesn’t rely on too much debt) are rarely discussed by politicians.
sadly, there is hardly any discussion of these issues at all; discourse is hijacked by the desire of one party to win power by defeating the other party. everyone talks, but nobody listens.
I just hate the way that parties on the campaign trail promise everything and nothing at the same time. It’s all about quick fix. “Old people, vote for me and your pension will be secure”, “kids, I’m gonna lower your tuition fees” etc. It’s so opportunistic!
Zhu,
Firt time on your blog and I must say… I am impressed by all your energy to post post and post! Very nice site. Will be visiting often. :0)
Regards,
Luis.
Thank you for visiting, and thank you for the praise!
I *only* post three times a week, that’s all I can handle 😉 But I’ve had this blog for a long time.
Looks really great. I really have a lot to learn from you!! Thanks for your service. Regards, Luis :0)