Elections, eh?

Canada could be headed for another election- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, sitting on a minority government is vowing to 'resist attempts' by the opposition (the Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois) to force a confidence vote and force him out.

He's asked the Governor-General to suspend Parliament to avoid a confidence vote- but the Opposition is arguing that it should be suspended- but only after the vote. So Canada's Governor-General is flying back from Europe to deal with this mess- and it could be a doozy- which is what makes Constitutional Crises like these so much fun to watch, north of the border.

The verdict seems to be that it's not out of the question that she'll give the Prime Minister what he wants- he wants a suspension until January 27th, when the Government is set to unveil its budget- and it's also not out of the question that she scrubs everything and calls for new elections even if the Confidence vote still goes through.

I would think the first option would be more likely. The government hasn't been in office two months yet! (Election results were finalized October 15th, giving Harper and the Conservatives a narrow win) This makes it hard to buy into the Opposition's argument that people have lost faith in the Conservatives. After two months? Eh, talk to me in four! And I don't think its out of the question to let Harper at least present a budget before you knee-cap him. I think, if I'm the Governor-General, you give him until January, get a budget in and see where you are. In these economic times, the last thing you want to do is rock the boat with political instability as well.

And with option 2- I wouldn't muck about and let everyone wallow in bad feeling. If you're going to let them have a confidence vote, let 'em- but make it clear that if it goes through, then new elections- and someone has to get a damn mandate. Because again, in these economic times, you need someone with something resembling a majority- because things need to get done without faffing about with the usual inter-party bickering.

But a fine mess in the Great White North. Stay tuned.