Posts Tagged ‘ Canadian federal election 2009 ’

By-election blues – probably not déja vu all over again, but … ?

Oct 5th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

[UPDATED OCTOBER 6, 9]. Does history repeat itself? Well, probably not. Or at least not exactly. But it is still sometimes interesting in any case. Yesterday Stephen Harper’s Conservative minority government officially called four Canadian federal by-elections for November 9 – for two ridings in Quebec (Hochelaga and Montmagny—L’Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup), and one each in British Columbia […]



That was the week that was not …

Oct 2nd, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

BRITANNIA VILLAGE, ONTARIO. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009. According to some imperfect plan apparently devised some months ago now, this was supposed to be the week when the Ignatieff Liberals led the majority opposition parties of the 40th Parliament of Canada in bringing down the Harper Conservative government. Instead: “The House of Commons voted 144-117 on […]



Never turn your back on a liberal in a tight corner?

Sep 27th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

TORONTO. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009. [UPDATED SEPTEMBER 28]. Both Lawrence Martin of the Globe and Mail and Ralph Surette of the Halifax Chronicle Herald have shown some special sympathy for Jack Layton and his New Democrats lately – in the midst of their new marriage of convenience with the definitely non-progressive Harper Conservatives. But who […]



All fired up and ready to go in Canada?

Sep 18th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009. 2:00 PM EDT. As expected the Harper minority government’s ways and means budget motion sailed through the Canadian House of Commons easily this morning, with the support of the Bloc Québécois and the New Democrats. The vote was 224 Yea to 74 Nay, with only Liberals voting against. As a result, […]



Canadian federal election this fall looks less and less likely?

Sep 16th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1:30 PM EDT. [UPDATED SEPTEMBER 17]:  The New Democrats have now made clear that they will join the Bloc Quebecois in supporting the Conservative minority government’s ways and means  budget motion this Friday, September 18. Only a little reading between the lines of NDP spokesperson Thomas Mulcair’s remarks also suggests that his […]



“Separatists” will keep Harper minority government alive (once again, with feeling?)

Sep 15th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009. 4:30 PM EDT. Well, well, well … Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe has now officially announced that his party will support the Harper minority government’s ways and means budget motion this coming Friday, September 18 – and thus at least avert yet another Canadian federal election in the utterly immediate future. […]



Fall election in Canada – back to maybe, maybe not?

Sep 14th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009. 5:00 PM EDT.  [UPDATED 11:00 PM EDT; SEPTEMBER 18; OCTOBER 9]. So the federal Parliament of Canada has now reconvened on the banks of the Ottawa River. In question period today Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff aptly enough told Conservative minority Prime Minister Stephen Harper that “the problem of instability is you.” […]



Can Jack Layton stop the fall election train in Canada .. maybe not?

Sep 12th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12. 11:00 PM ET. [UPDATED SEPTEMBER 13, 18;  and AUGUST 24, 2011]. Jack Layton has been proud that his New Democrats have so far not “propped up” the Stephen Harper Conservative minority government. He’s been contemptuous of the Liberals for carrying this can when no one else would. But on some readings he […]



Canada’s Conservative minority government could fall as early as Friday, September 18?

Sep 12th, 2009 | By | Category: In Brief

[UPDATED MARCH 18, 2011]. According to Jennifer Ditchburn, just after dinner (in Ottawa at least) last night: “A critical vote that could bring down the minority Conservative government has been tentatively scheduled for next Friday, sources tell The Canadian Press … Conservative sources say the motion is likely to be introduced on Sept. 18, and […]



We may have almost forgotten the principles of our parliamentary democracy, but they’re ruling us anyway

Sep 12th, 2009 | By | Category: Key Current Issues

In the midst of all the current Canadian electoral hyperbole, I was disappointed to hear that “Ignatieff rules out coalition with NDP, Bloc.” If  Canadians are now facing a federal “election that seems increasingly inevitable,” the opinion polls at the moment suggest we are likely enough to elect yet another minority government. And a recent […]