Parliament Suspended in Canada

STORY:

After a week of political drama in Canada, it came to this - Parliament suspended and Prime Minister Stephen Harper fending off calls for his resignation.

[Ken Dryden, Liberal]:
"No! Sorry! It's over, we can't trust you anymore. We need a new prime minister."

It started when Liberals and New Democrats - with the support of the separatist Bloc Quebecois - formed an opposition. In heated debates, they vowed to defeat Harper's minority Conservative government - in a confidence
vote.

The unlikely allies said Harper was not doing enough to cushion the effects of the global financial crisis.

Trying to hold on to his job the Prime Minister appealed to the public - in a rare televsison address Wednesday night.

[Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada]:
"Tonight I pledge to you that Canada's government will use every legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy, to protect our economy and to protect Canada."

Liberal leader Stephane Dion - the man who would become prime minister if the coalition succeeded in ousting Harper's government - responded.

[Stephane Dion, Liberal Leader]:
"I will work day and night to combat this economic crisis, to do what it takes to minimize its effects on Canadians, to protect jobs and to create jobs."

Thursday morning, Harper arrived at the residence of Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean.

Against the urging of the coalition, Jean agreed to Harper's rare request to suspend Parliament. As the representative of Canada's head of state Queen Elizabeth II, Jean has to power to open and close Parliament.

Parliament will reconvene late January - Harper has said the first order of business will be the budget.

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[harrisonconstantinou]

FUCK HARPER!!!!!!!

[DCFunBud]

Imagine political parties that stands for something besides corporate privilege. The U.S. congress has been totally co-opted by corporate interests. Don't let this happen to Canada. Control corporate campaign contributions.

[TheJosephPrice]

@apple2018

No one is defending Bush or his Administration. However my definition of Democracy is electing officials every 4-6 years(Depending on the position) and have a constant rotation of lawmakers in power. Keeps monopolies out of the picture(Usually, although special interest groups need to be dealt with). Where as The Queen can simply remove the PM if the House of Commons "Loses confidence". Don't work that way here. Here you vote them out, and that's that.

[apple2018]

@TheJosephPrice: Whats your definition of democracy? Power has to reside some where I would rather see it sit with one that is impartial like the Queen. The Queen is as powerful as the public needs her to be, and may be called on in times of constitutional crisis. Do you want a President who has more power than the Queen that would be dangerous given how Bush Jr used his authority to invade Iraq.

[TheJosephPrice]

@DCFunBud

Yeah but the problem with Canada is the Governor General(With direction by the Queen) can overrule anything done in Parliament. That isn't true Democracy.

[crayonplane]

When are you guys in NYC going to update the news here on the Canadian Parliament, naw nevermind, I don't want to know, lol.

[raycharest1]

Jack Layton is a VERY SCARY man.

Remember that a government with the power to give you everything you want will also have have the power to take everything you have.

[Jaymz5555]

@harrisonconstantinou

What a criminal

[irishgodfatherchris]

@patthespark its just made by conspiracy theorists who are angry Tony Abbott is not the PM

[irishgodfatherchris]

@patthespark it depends how its interpreted, remember that just like in just about every country the highest court can interpret any piece of legislation how they want to interpret it