Once again Canadian voters find themselves on the brink of a general election call as the parties in the House of Commons position themselves, trying to appear that they were not the ones who wouldn’t compromise.
Last week, at the 2 year anniversary of the Harper government, newspapers were speculating about whether the minority would hold together until the fixed election date in the fall of 2009. A 2008 election seems quite unlikely.
What a difference a week makes in politics!
Now we are looking at a triple threat of an election.
- Harper, Dion, Layton and Duceppe have drawn their lines in the sand over the duration and nature of the mission in Afghanistan, and Harper has indicated that this will be a confidence vote.
- Jim Flaherty will release an early budget which will require several votes, any of which could topple the government.
- And Harper has mused about dissolving the government in order to put an end to the Senate delay passing his crime bill. (Yes, that would be the same bill that was delayed in getting to the Senate when Harper prorogued parliament in September.)
Don’t be surprised if we are campaigning in April. But equally, don’t be surprised if we wake up next week and it was all a dream. Or a nightmare, depending on your point of view.
Regardless, the Green Party, including our campaign here in Newmarket-Aurora, is busily trying to get ready for an election which could come at any time and over which we have zero control.
So I am calling on all supporters!! We’ve made great strides over the 2 year life of this minority government, but there is always much more to be done. And there are things that you can be doing now to help our campaign readiness.
Please contact me or the campaign team through this web site or at www.newmarketauroragreens.org
