Canuck Politics

Canada’s Haitian-born Governor General Michaëlle Jean made an emotional appeal for solidarity with the people of Haiti in the aftermath of an earthquake that devastated the country.

Prime Minister Harper has asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until January 26 when the government will present an early budget.

The move delays the government’s likely defeat until it faces a confidence vote on their new Throne Speech.

Harper invited input on the budget from the NDP and Liberals, saying only Canada’s three federalist parties can be trusted to act in Canada’s interests.

The Bloc has every legitimate right to be here, but their game is not about working on the economy to serve the greater interests of the country.

The do have a fundamentally different agenda, and that’s not the agenda of the other three of us … I think that’s a more fundamental difference than whether you are a little more for the market, or a little more interventionist.

- Stephen Harper

The coalition leaders Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Stéphane Dion said they will not support the government, saying its Harper who cannot be trusted.

McKay Political Cartoons: Cracks in coalition starting to show

Prime Minister Harper vowed to use all legal means at his disposal in order to stop the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition from taking power.

Canada’s government cannot enter into a power sharing coalition with a separatist party.  At a time of global economic instability, Canada’s government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together.  At a time like this, a coalition with separatists cannot help Canada.

And the Oppostiion does not have the democratic right to impose a coalition they promised voters would never happen.  The Opposition is attempting to impose this deal without your say, without your consent, and without your vote.

- Stephen Harper

There was controversy when the video response from coalition leader Stéphane Dion arrived late and out of focus.

We share the frustration Canadians have about the political crisis that has been allowed to take prominence over the more important economic challenges we face.  Elsewhere in the world, leaders are working to cope with the recession, to bring forward the kinds of investments that will help their people and their economies.  Politicians are working together elsewhere in the world, rivals are working together.  Why not in Canada?

Mr. Harper’s solution is to extend that crisis by avoiding a simple vote, by suspending Parliament and continuing the confussion. We offer a better way. We say settle it now, and lets get to work on the people’s business.

- Stéphane Dion

The leaders of the Liberal Party, NDP, and the Bloc Québécois signed a power sharing agreement and announced their plan to defeat the Conservative government in a confidence vote December 8.

The coalition says they must seize power from Stephen Harper in order to implement a larger economic stimulus package than the Conservative plan.

The political parties have written to Governor General Michaëlle Jean asking her to install Stéphane Dion as Prime Minister instead of calling an election.

October 7 to November 25, 2008 - During the federal election Stephen Harper promised to never run budgetary deficits, but has since backed away from his promise in the face of uncertain economic conditions.

We will not be running a deficit. We will be keeping spending within our means, it is that simple.

-Stephen Harper, October 7, 2008

Balancing the budget by raising taxes, by cutting essential government activity, or by refusing necessary intervention in the midst of a global economic crisis would be a cure worse than the disease.

- Stephen Harper, November 20, 2008

There are occasions when defitis are not necessarily bad, but essential.

- Stephen Harper, November 23, 2008