In Canada, after a federal election, federal parties receive a grant from the federal government equivalent to $1.75 Canadian for every vote that the party received. The newly re-elected Conservative government tried to repeal that subsidy of political parties:
The opposition said the update did not contain needed stimulus for an economy increasingly squeezed by the global downturn, but they were most angered by a planned end to direct public financing of political parties.
Recall that in the last Canadian federal election, the Conservatives won a minority government and the Liberal Party had their worst showing in Canadian history. So, in response to an attempt by the Conservatives to take political parties off the public dime, what do the Liberals do? Bring down the government and try to install themselves:
If neither side blinks, the government will likely fall, and Canada would either head into another election or into some sort of coalition led by the Liberals. The other two opposition parties are the separatist Bloc Quebecois and the left-leaning New Democratic Party.
Insanity. Pure insanity.
Dan McLaughlin
Moe Lane
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
Welfare for politicians
DavidG Friday, November 28th at 11:25PM EST (link)I’m Canadian and I vote for the Conservative Party.
Right now I’m very very very mad.
Each vote cost 1,95$ to the taxpayers. For me it’s a strong incentive to simply not vote.
If you like a political party, you just need to give 2$ to your favorite party. Don’t ask taxpayers to pay for your opinion.
The electoral campaigns are already stupid enough without having people to pays for it with their taxes.
aka unbecomeing
gekster (Diary) Friday, November 28th at 11:59PM EST (link)A statement from the article;
“While we have been working on the economy, the opposition has been working on a back room deal to overturn the results of the last election without seeking the consent of voters. They want to take power, not earn it,” he told reporters.
Why does this have a familiar ring to It?
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
Ok folks, 2012 is here. Get involved
Why is this insanity...if you're a Liberal?
smagar (Diary) Saturday, November 29th at 12:25AM EST (link)If you can bring down the government, and thus have the chance to replace it with one more favorable to you…well, then these sound like good tactics to me.
What am I missing here?
“Who will stand/On either hand/And guard this bridge with me?” (Macaulay)
Where will they get the votes to govern? (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Saturday, November 29th at 12:37AM EST (link)RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
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I'm a dual US-Canadian citizen living in Canada
onimpulse Saturday, November 29th at 2:08AM EST (link)and I’m furious. Absolutely Furious. We had an election here last month!!! This is unbelievably ridiculous. There could be a new (liberal) prime minister here the monday after next, who didn’t receive the consent of the voters, and thus who wouldn’t have any sort of legitimate (moral) right to govern. As much as I’m angry about the fact this has to do with political parties receiving taxpayer money, I’m even angrier because the left wing parties have completely abandoned democratic principles or any sort of integrity. The left has basically done that all around the world.
From Canada
DavidG Saturday, November 29th at 2:36AM EST (link)We subsidize bank.
We subsidize soft wood.
We subsidize car industries.
We subsidize health care.
We subsidize farm.
We subsidize oil.
We subsidize culture.
We subsidize public transport.
…
And now we have to subsidize… POLITICIANS!
Subsidizing politicians, certainly a Keynesian stimulus that will solve the financial crisis…
This is pure madness…
Like reagan said:
“The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
They can get them from other minority parties...
smagar (Diary) Saturday, November 29th at 9:24AM EST (link)…by offering them any number of goodies (pork projects, cabinet positions) if they join a Liberal-led coalition.
(All emphasis in this comment is added).
If the alternative is a Conservative-led government, perhaps these minority parties will do it.
First things first. Once the Liberals assume power, then they can worry about governing.
Again, am I missing something here? I readily concede my lacking knowledge of the ways of Canadian government and politics.
“Who will stand/On either hand/And guard this bridge with me?” (Macaulay)
There aren't enough votes to win that way
Neil Stevens (Diary) Saturday, November 29th at 11:50AM EST (link)I just don’t see that there are enough votes for the Liberals to be able to persuade them all with cabinet posts and whatever
Conservatives: 143
Liberals: 77
BQ: 49
New Democrats: 37
Liberals + New Democrats only add up to 114 votes. So they’d have to find a way to get BQ to vote with them on everything they do without having the BQ in the coalition.
If the Conservatives fall I can’t imagine Canada not having a new election.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
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“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Seems like they deserve each other
DFLer Saturday, November 29th at 1:59PM EST (link)I dunno.
From this side of the border, it looks like the Conservatives used the economic crisis as a pretext for a budget detail that changes the election rules to their advantage.
Then the Liberals/New Democrats used the budget stunt as a pretext to take down the Conservative government.
It’s all gamesmanship. Seems like they deserve whatever they get. Hard for me to get worked up about it.
Hmmmm..
fanshaw Saturday, November 29th at 9:31PM EST (link)How did you acquire Canadian citizenship without understanding how a parliamentary democracy works? No democratic principles are “abandoned” if the Opposition can form a coalition with more seats than the Conservatives. Whichever party or group of parties controls the most votes in Parliament IS the government. That’s how it works.
And that doesn’t necessarily mean that a Liberal will be the Prime Minister either. Cabinet positions can be divied up any way the government wants.
Historical note: The gov’t began subsidizing political parties as part of a deal struck to limit large (corporate) donations.
Did you see the text on the comment form?
Neil Stevens (Diary) Sunday, November 30th at 11:18AM EST (link)You know, just above the Preview Comment button?
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Yes I did.
fanshaw Sunday, November 30th at 12:09PM EST (link)No disrespect intended. Does the US grant citizenship to people who don’t understand how the US government works? omnipulse displays appalling ignorance of the parliamentary system.
Actually we don't have any such standards
Neil Stevens (Diary) Sunday, November 30th at 1:04PM EST (link)If you’re born here, you’re a citizen, period.
And I wasn’t aware that Canada takes a page from the Spartans, and puts a bullet into the heads of those who don’t know how the system works up there.
So quit making this personal. Clear?
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
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“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
How
fanshaw Sunday, November 30th at 2:15PM EST (link)is pointing out that someone doesn’t understand what they’re talking about “personal”?
Omnipulse is obviously an American by birth who moved to Canada and obtained citizenship. I question the Canadian government’s standards, not omnipulse’s intelligence. They have apparently granted citizenship to someone who doesn’t understand how the parliamentary system works. As a result he/she is posting things here that make no sense to those that do and are misleading to those that don’t.
fanshaw: Your account has been disabled
Neil Stevens (Diary) Sunday, November 30th at 4:48PM EST (link)We’re a site to promote conservative and Republican political activism. It is not your place to come here and create a hostile environment by attacking potential activists.
Feel free to hit the contact form and apply for reinstatement if you decide you’re ready to stop attacking other posters, and ready to start complying with site administrative requests.
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“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Huh?
reldim (Diary) Monday, December 1st at 4:53PM EST (link)I’m not sure I understand the comment. But you seem to be under the impression that the Conservatives tried to slip in some sort of subsidy just now. That would be incorrect – the subsidy was already existent – the parties are entitled to it under current law. The Conservatives wanted to get rid of it. Considering that they got the most votes last month, and the subsidy is per-vote, how is eliminating the subsidy to their advantage? They are in line to get a big check and they want to ditch the system given the crisis.
Perhaps I am misunderstanding your post – but it seemed to me to be fairly dismissive of the Conservatives as trying to pull a fast one on the public.