Coalition Put to Bed?

So what is going on in our parliament these days? Do you know? Yeah. Didn't think so. But I bet you're aware of Obama's inuguration tomorrow.

Well, if you remember, the threat of a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition caused Stephen Harper to ask the governor general to prorogue parliament. We're coming close the the end of the cooling period, however, and the question on everyone's mind (Well, the ones who aren't completely obsessed with the aforementioned inauguration. Look, I appreciate that the US has finally been able to elect a president who is not an old white man. But I live in Canada. We have a government too.) is, now what of this proposed coalition?

As promised, Dion is finally gone. Now, Michael Ignatieff is on the scene, making pretty speeches in the style of... you guessed it. Obama. Seriously, guys, can't we do better than try to be Americans?

But to get to the point, the "c" word has not been mentioned yet. Keep your ears to the ground and your eyes peeled... as the kids say.

The Governor General: More Than We Thought

I have been considering taking Journalism in university next year, and I must say, in light of recent political events, it doesn't seem like a bad idea. If Michaëlle Jean can work her way up to being the sole person with the most power in Canada, why not me?

We often make fun of the position of Governor General for having no other purpose than that of a figurehead. Michaëlle Jean was probably pleased with her career; getting to host expensive parties and take trips around the world. Now, this former journalist and anchor for Radio-Canada and CBC Newsworld has to decide the fate of our country.

Thus far, she has prorogued Parliament until January 26th of 2009, but really, this has probably only put off the coalition issue. Now that the Liberals+Bloc+NDP have thrown themselves in this far, I doubt they'll just back off. I respect her choice, however; hasty decisions are rarely solid, and this way the people have more chance to make our views known.

And I stress once again that it is important to make our opinions heard. How to contact the governor General:

You can write her. No postage necessary; the salutation is Excellency.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Governor General of Canada
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A1

And for more information on Her Excellency the Right Honorable Michaëlle Jean and her background, check out http://www.gg.ca/gg/bio/index_e.asp

Canadian Politics Finally Get Interesting

To everyone who watched the exciting unfolding of the American election and considered the laughable tameness of our own system of government... Your drama has arrived.

Less than two months ago, we elected a Conservative minority government with Stephen Harper as Prime Minister. Under a global recession (and by the way, Canada is suffering much less than many other countries so far), our chosen Prime Minister decided to cut tax funding to political parties. Seems like a good plan to me. I don't want to pay for their annoying signs.

But of course, the Liberals felt this much more than the Conservatives (who mainly rely on other sources for funding). Upset, they threw a fit. Stephan Dion (wait a second... I thought he was supposed to be gone by now?) is making plans to form a coalition government... with the Bloc and the NDP. There are rumours of granting the Bloc veto power; in my opinion, a BAD PLAN.

I have so many issues with this it's hard to organize them all. Firstly, regardless of who the coalition consists of, this is Canada. Last I checked, I was fairly confident that we were a democracy. We get to vote and pick our own leaders. A coalition government really just sounds like a bunch of people who did not earn enough votes to get power ganging up and taking over.

People who voted for the Liberals did not know they were also voting for separatists and our lovely orange friends. This was not what we voted for. Canada made itself clear, and this seems extremely underhanded to me.

The Liberals are airing commercials saying that the Conservatives have "blown it." What? How did I miss that? It must have been bad, it takes talent to "blow it" for an entire country in less than two months. (Yes, I realize Mr. Harper has been in power for longer than that, however, in my reasoning, the "blowing" of "it" must have happened since the last election, since I trust Canadians would not re-elect him if he had, in fact, "blown it" before then.)

We are in a global recession. Some even fear it could get as bad as the Great Depression. Now is not the time for petty power struggles, which are not being played for the good of the people (the entire purpose of government!). We already picked our government. To the proposed coalition I say this:

You lost. Deal with it. It's a minority government, so you still get some say, which is more consolation prize than you'd get if this were the US. Respect the choice Canada made in an open and democratic election. Frankly, you are behaving like children. Stupid ones, too.

This is not going to help the economy any. If you want your government to represent you, make your views known! Email the Governor General! Plague your MP! Go to the protests!

This is OUR country.