There’s an old Chinese curse: Be Careful What You Wish For ..Because You Might Just Get It!
My Liberal and NDP friends are almost salivating at the idea of seeing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government tossed from office and replaced by a coalition government of Liberals and the NDP, propped up by the Bloc.
Admittedly, it does sound tempting … almost justifiable in the face of Harper’s still arrogant attitude, displayed in the unnecessary and ill-timed baggage attached to the Tory Fiscal Update last week. And I am personally angry at Harper, after watching the CBC National last night on C-Span (I’m on holidays in Florida!) and seeing Harper in the Commons, on World Aids Day, not wearing a commemorative ribbon on his lapel (like many other Tories and Opposition MPs did).
There are MANY reasons to dislike Harper, his character flaws and his political ways … and the Canadian people have twice denied him a majority because of this.
But would it really be better for Canadians, the economy, our jobs, our home values, our retirement savings and our country’s stability to toss him out and replace him with an Opposition coalition … depending on the Separatists to stay in power?
I say NO.
Canada is in a crisis. This is NOT the time to play political games .. to score points .. and to achieve political dreams (NDP federal cabinet ministers..Wow!!) or personal goals (Dion as Prime Minister … even if only for a few months..another Wow!).
The message to the world and investors will be Canada is a basket case … deeply unstable … stay away with any big bucks.
And what price would the rest of the country pay ..especially the West … to keep the Bloc on side?? That party’s ONLY loyalty is to Quebec; they will exact a huge price for their ongoing support (forget about any pieces of paper they have signed) .. and once the genie is out of the bottle and a Liberal/NDP coalition is in place, the Bloc will play its hand … Quebec will get even a bigger share of the pie than it already unfairly does, and the West will see its slices trimmed even more.
If there is to be ANY coalition during the critical period Canada is facing ahead , it SHOULD be the Tories and the Liberals, working together to pull Canada through with minimum damage to each of us. But Harper’s personal;ity and lack of forethought would seem to have prevented that.
So much as anyone dislikes him and his style … Canadians should be demanding, not a government overthrow, but government stability and even support their economic plan … perhaps with amendments … before our recession turns into a full Depression.
Believe me … you won’t like that: even if the party you support is holding the reigns of power.
Now, back to my holidays! 
Home in mid December.
Harv Oberfeld
14 responses so far ↓
1 Gene // Dec 2, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Harper good for Canada? Not!
2 D. Olson // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:04 pm
So you believe that a PM who has not taken the responsibilities of Parliament, nor its design, should be kept in power despite the lack of confidence? He doesn’t seem all to interested in directing Canada through the economic crisis, which he wavers from admitting is occurring, denying its severity, then proclaiming it a great depression! I’ll agree that a Coalition may be not the best solution — if the Conservatives would grab a spine they’d see that their leader has twice fallen short of a majority, not due to opportunity, but due to his own character, and replace him. Beg to prorogue and then elect a new leader. Let him try to build a consensus because Harper’s mendacity makes him unpalatable. Or the coalition of Liberals-NdP (the Bloc are members of the House and therefore entitled to support or vote down any government). It is a parliamentary acceptable option.
3 Marc // Dec 3, 2008 at 1:43 am
“Overthrow”? Big word, and they show a complete ignorance of how our parliament works and the laws surrounding it. Overthrow implies the practice is illegal. This isn’t. Hell, your dear Harper tried it in 2004! Or were you crying “overthrow” back then as well? No, not an overthrow, just a little used practice used under rare circumstances.
Such as when an arrogant and abusive minority government loses the confidence of the majority of parliament by playing petty partisan games rather than governing the country as a whole.
4 claudia // Dec 3, 2008 at 7:05 am
Have you been talking to Bill Tielman??
Harper is doing exactly what you say this is not the time for…..you know, not governing but playing politics. Like in the sandbox, “HE STARTED IT’
5 RS // Dec 3, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Was wondering how long you could bite yer tongue on this HO. As much as we dislike Harper (style and policy) we can only hope they all take a time out ‘n’ do the right thing. This is not the time or place for such juvenile antics on either side.
Question: If Harper is so smart, how could he be so stupid?
(Response: You have the best question yet!! And I have no easy answer ..except maybe smart people who are also extremely arrogant ..think they can get away with moves they see as brilliiant ..but the rest of us commoners know are really stupid. Maybe they are not as smart as they ..and we ..sometimes think they are??? ho)
6 Shel // Dec 3, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Well put, cooperation always is better than confrontation.
7 Servant // Dec 4, 2008 at 4:49 am
Oh Harvey, get home now. We need your sanity to prevail. You are the only one I have heard suggest a coailtion of the Libs and Torys to fight this economic crisis. Now that would instil confidence. Maybe just enough of the libs will stay home on the day of the vote to defeat this three headed monster. Now that would be the best Christmas gift ever.
8 LP // Dec 4, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Gene,
You are right, but he is better than the alternative….when oh when are individuals going to put CANADA first? Maybe we should have all Mothers in office. They ALWAYS put others first before themselves. I am sick and bloody tired of Canada being thought of last.
This is a huge embarrassment. Shame on Harper for causing this. Shame on Dion for wanting so desperately to be P.M.
The lot of them should be run out of Ottawa on rails.
Coalition gov’ts do not work, folks. More lobbying but for only individual parties. The only group that is going to come out ahead will be Quebec. Good for them, bad for the REST of CANADA. Someone please explain to me how fair that is?
I AM SO BLASTED MAD. OUT OF MY MIND MAD.
9 Romeogolf // Dec 4, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Who is Harper calling a separatist? Have a minority of Canadians elected a Trojan-horse Alberta nationalist: http://www.projectalberta.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=5777&sid=23228ed3d6e51d97171074ec1497a459?
10 Jes Golbez // Dec 5, 2008 at 2:45 am
Harv,
I’ll have to disagree with you on a few points
1. “The message to the world and investors will be Canada is a basket case … deeply unstable … stay away with any big bucks.”
Many countries in the world … ones with actual represenatitive governments (unlike our pathetic First-past-the-post system) have coalition/minority governments. Do you see investors scared to invest in those countries? of course not! It’s funny how Canadians seem to think that such a coalition government would be so odd when it happens frequently in other places. Are we that sheltered?
2. “And what price would the rest of the country pay ..especially the West … to keep the Bloc on side?? That party’s ONLY loyalty is to Quebec; they will exact a huge price for their ongoing support ”
The government has long been paying a hefty price to Quebec for its ‘loyalty’. How would this coalition be any different? Quebec already gets way more than it should, so it’s not like anything will really change. As long as we have our system that gives the BQ a guaranteed large chunk of seats (and the Greens get none?), Quebec will get lots of $$, majority or minority.
3. The fact is that Harper has no majority, so he has no ‘right’ to be the leader of the country if he does not have the confidence of the house. The GG really dropped the ball and showed why her position needs to be abolished, or filled with somebody who does more than waste taxpayers’ money on extensive travel budgets.
11 A. G. Tsakumis // Dec 5, 2008 at 7:37 am
Harvey–I agree with you entirely. Wonderfully written, as usual.
You cannot put political, partisan self interests before the best interests of the country.
The notion that Harper tried to cut a deal with Ducceppe previously is pure fraud. Bringing down a govt is completely different than forming a coalition with people whose sworn commitment it is to demolish the very govt they deliver(ed).
Besides, we just had a bloody election, if the Grits and Dippers could form a coalition without needing the Bloc, lovely, go right ahead I say.
But separatist vermin like Parizeau and certainly Levesque, were always so damned celebratory not just of Quebec independence, but moreso, the total failure of Canada–meaning they wanted our destruction, it was not enough to separate. That has always stuck in my beak. They are mean-spirited and evil, whereas Francophone CANADIANS are wonderful people.
Trudeau was right, the ransom we would pay…hefty.
Incidentally, I, too, noticed the missing lapel pin of the PM’s…what a clod.
Enjoy the sun Harv!
12 jaymac // Dec 13, 2008 at 7:34 am
>>Believe me … you won’t like that: even if the party you support is holding the reigns of power.<<
Surely you meant the “reins” of power. If you hold the reins of power you then reign. Actually, they are all a bunch of horses asses anyway and all need reins. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. Love the blog.
(Response: You’re absolutely right… reins. But on the other hand, maybe reigns also applies
Just back from vacation..Glad you like the blog. Will be picking it up again soon ..until I head south again in the New Year to get away from cold and snow. Retirement benefit. ho)
13 Paul // Dec 14, 2008 at 3:56 am
Harv ,hope you brought your parka ,as you’ll need it when you disembark from your flight ,as it going to be colder than the hobs, when you return.
14 Let It Rain // Dec 16, 2008 at 1:07 am
Has anybody noticed that the Conservatives, NDP and Bloc have all expressed a willingness to form a coalition with the Liberals?
Now that’s what I call climate change.
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