If this actually happens, it is just more proof for my theory that most Canadians only feel comfortable when they are slightly to the left of most Americans.
Also, it turns out that trying to end public electoral financing and taking away peoples’ right to strike? Not a good idea!
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If the Harper government goes down like this it will be remembered as even more of a stupid reason then Joe Clark’s fuel tax hike.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that collective bargaining is included in the 2 d) Freedom of Association right.
A strike is historically and traditionally part of collective bargaining. I don’t see how Harper could pass such a law without invoking the notwithstanding clause — Which would be about as boneheaded a move as he could make.
http://csc.lexum.umontreal.ca/en/2007/2007scc27/2007scc27.html
Link to the aforementioned decision.
“HA HA HA HA HA” was my reaction too.
Canadian politics is nothing if not entertaining, all appearances to the contrary aside.
If you just pretend, for a few minutes, that the Liberals, Block, and NDP could play nicely together and collectively agree to *only* run one candidate *period* against the conservatives… say, the candidate which got the highest vote % in the last election - that would be the most interesting federal election I could imagine. All kinds of seats which have *never* been interesting would be a whole new ball-game.
You’d still end up with a minority mess - but I bet your seat totals would be a *lot* different.
Harper doesn’t have his majority, but the power has still warped his mind. No public financing? No right to strike? He needs to go, NOW.
On the other hand: the Liberal/NDP/Bloc plan is incredibly dangerous, in that it has the potential to spectacularly backfire. If Canadians are forced to go to the polls so soon they will remember who sent them there, and unless the opposition makes their case very, VERY well then I see Harper finally getting that majority.
Her Excellency would not give Harper his new election, so long as the coalition plan holds together (and none of the parties can really afford it not to, I don’t think, now that Harper has basically signalled that he’ll go scorched-earth if he ever gets a majority); after only a couple of weeks, and with a clear alternative, the way is clear.
Also, there’s no way in the world that Her Excellency is anything other than a pinko lefty, so I don’t see her going out of her way to help Steve out this delicious jam he’s gotten himself into.
Personally, I’m hoping we start seeing conservatives in the US threatening to flee to Canada.
I could be wrong, but haven’t legislated ends to, or bans on, strikes been a part of Canadian history for a very long time? Certainly no one thought it was unconstitutional when it was touted for the TTC. Not that I’m in favour, mind you. What I’m certainly in favour of is an end to public financing, ie. the Bloc’s cakewalk to Quebec dominance. If you want to give a party $2 what’s stopping you from cutting a cheque?
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