Election is a political mindgame
According to Prime Minister Stephen Harper this edition of parliament “isn't functioning”, so he has no choice but to dissolve his minority government, triggering an election. Most sources agree the election will be in October.
Canadians must be wondering how the PM came to the conclusion that parliament isn't functioning properly. The MPs have been on their usual summer holiday, going to riding BBQ's, doing fund raising events, golfing, generally trying to recharge themselves after their spring and winter breaks. Nothing unusual there. The sitting Conservative Party has not been defeated, or even delayed or pestered, on any pieces of important legislation over the past year, either. Spending has gone up for certain departments close to the Conservative heart like the military and law enforcement and down in cultural and women's issues departments. Taxes have been cut, most notably the two percentage points removed from the national GST. The Cons have been functioning as if they have a majority government anyway, passing laws and creating budgets and generally playing the political game like a team of seasoned pros on a roll.
And now, before parliament can even begin the fall session, the PM and the Cons are saying that Canadians are not being served properly by their representatives. Really, it's hard to disagree with that sentiment in the broad sense that our political system is geared towards maintaining the status quo at the expense of progress. However, I doubt that Harper is going to shitcan parliament because he feels everyone involved can do a better job of running the country.
Pure politics, readers.
This situation reeks of political gamesmanship of the worst kind. First, there's the laughable claim that parliament isn't functioning. The Cons have to say this, of course, because what the party really lusts for is a majority, where they'll be able to bypass the tiresome process of working with the other parties to ensure legislation is passed.
The PM appears to be saying that parliament is only going to work when the Cons have a majority. Anything else is completely unsatisfactory to, ah, Canadians... right, eh Stevie? This despite the historical evidence that minority governments are usually very efficient in terms of actually getting things done. Our medical system was created under a minority government. Our flag was the work of a minority led parliament. Liberal fanboy journalist Richard Gywnn once said that Joe Clark accomplished more during his very short reign as PM of a minority in the early 80's than the celebrated Pierre Trudeau had in the previous years with strong majorities.
I suspect that Canadian voters remember quite well the excesses and disasters that were created out of recent majority governments. The Brian Mulroney era Conservatives, who gave Canada NAFTA and created the GST. The flippant arrogance of the Chretien years. After nearly two decades of letting the Cons and Libs trade majorities and scandals, I agree with the pundits who say Canada is in for a long period of minority governance. And unless the pollsters have fumbled their numbers, the Cons are likely to be returned to power with another minority government. If that happens, what justification will the Harper-Cons have for not doing their job?
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