Canadian Parliament Closed in Bid to Keep Prime Minister in Power
By IAN AUSTEN
NYT
OTTAWA — With the approval of Canada’s formal head of state, Prime Minister Stephen Harper shut down Canada’s parliament until Jan. 26, seeking to forestall a no-confidence vote he was sure to lose.
Mr. Harper, who won re-election less than two months ago, acted after receiving the approval of Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Queen Elizabeth II’s representative. Had his request been rejected, he would have been forced to choose between stepping down or facing the no-confidence vote on Monday.
The current turmoil was touched off last week when Mr. Harper presented an economic plan that outraged the opposition by calling for nothing in the way of a stimulus for Canada’s flagging economy. Instead, it recommended cutbacks, including a threat to cut off public financing for political parties, something his Conservative Party could weather more easily than his opponents.
Since then the two rival parties, the Liberals and New Democrats, have hastened to put together a coalition with the backing of the separatist Bloc Québécois to replace Mr. Harper’s Conservative-led government.
Technically, what Mr. Harper did was to “prorogue” Parliament, a move that stops all actions on bills and the body’s other business, and thus goes well beyond an adjournment. This is the first time any members here could recall the maneuver being used in the midst of a political crisis.
(More here.)
NYT
OTTAWA — With the approval of Canada’s formal head of state, Prime Minister Stephen Harper shut down Canada’s parliament until Jan. 26, seeking to forestall a no-confidence vote he was sure to lose.
Mr. Harper, who won re-election less than two months ago, acted after receiving the approval of Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Queen Elizabeth II’s representative. Had his request been rejected, he would have been forced to choose between stepping down or facing the no-confidence vote on Monday.
The current turmoil was touched off last week when Mr. Harper presented an economic plan that outraged the opposition by calling for nothing in the way of a stimulus for Canada’s flagging economy. Instead, it recommended cutbacks, including a threat to cut off public financing for political parties, something his Conservative Party could weather more easily than his opponents.
Since then the two rival parties, the Liberals and New Democrats, have hastened to put together a coalition with the backing of the separatist Bloc Québécois to replace Mr. Harper’s Conservative-led government.
Technically, what Mr. Harper did was to “prorogue” Parliament, a move that stops all actions on bills and the body’s other business, and thus goes well beyond an adjournment. This is the first time any members here could recall the maneuver being used in the midst of a political crisis.
(More here.)
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2 Comments:
So, isn't this just delaying the inevitable vote of confidence? If so, what is the purpose?
www.procrastinationmaterial.blogspot.com
I am pretty afraid about our future. What are the solutions? Harper surviving in January and trying to cope with his minority? New election, probably again with very similar results? Coalition of NDP, Liberals and Bloc - completely incoherent group of (ex)rivals? How long can they hold one line?
I really don't know the answer...
Take care
Jay
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