Oh Canada!

[mrv3000]

Okay, I'm trying to understand this Canadian thing. Trying.

So you've got Canada. Good-sized country with lots of snow. This snow-filled country has a Prime Minister named Stephen Harper. Let's call him Harper since I always wind up pondering Stephen vs. Steven for a good half hour. Harper is very pale, which you would expect living in a country covered in snow. He's also a Conservative which party is in the minority at the moment. They have a non-elephant logo.

Things would be simple if Canada had a two-party system. They would then bitch at each other and get nothing done. You know, like normal governments. However, there are three other parties represented in the House of Commons (which does not have a logo.)

• Bloc (which goes for another letter logo) - they'd like the French Canadians to have their own country, please.
  
  
• The Liberal Party (sporting the maple leaf hiding behind a hill, I believe) - you know, liberal-types.
  
  
• New Democratic Party (blinding neon color logo) - a different kind of liberal.

And since there are more than 2 players, it's now turned into Canadian Survivor where everyone's trying to create a coalition to vote the Conservatives off the island. I'm not quite sure what set this off, but it most likely involved curling.

So quite possibly the Queen of Canada is sending her BFF Michaëlle Jean to get all Jeff Probst on their ass and shut down the government. Because you have to swallow the slugs whole before you can take over the government, goddamnit.

At least, this is my understanding of the situation.

Comments

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

Um.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

I just don't think I can be as eloquent about the situation as referring to it as "Canadian Survivor."

Also, it's long been speculated that Stephen Harper is actually a robot.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

HI!

[millylicious.livejournal.com]

So quite possibly the Queen of Canada is sending her BFF Michaëlle Jean to get all Jeff Probst on their ass and shut down the government.

Queen of England, please ;) Michaëlle Jean's the queen's representative in Canada (her title is governor, or more precisely, governor-general). She, like the actual Queen, has no real power per se. She can dissolve the current government if they lose a vote of confidence and a) say they want elections b) refuse to ask elections, in which case, it's never happened but she could force them to do so. If a or b happens, she has the option of asking the other parties to form a coalition and form a new government, which has happened once, and it lasted 3 days, or announce elections like the party asked.

This time is different, however, because the coalition has been formed BEFORE the vote of confidence (on the budget? I think?), with the goal of forming a government by voting against the vote of confidence and forming a government.

Also, Liberal Party are liberal economists, I'd say. NDP is liberal in the broader sense of the word.

But that was entirely too hilarious.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Queen of England, please ;)

My bad!

Queen of England. And Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Duke of Lancaster and Duke of Normandy, Commander-in-Chief, Lord Admiral and Defender of the Faith.

(Ever think that Wiki's too much of a good thing?)

She, like the actual Queen, has no real power per se.

Sorta like Jeff Probst!

This time is different, however, because the coalition has been formed BEFORE the vote of confidence (on the budget? I think?), with the goal of forming a government by voting against the vote of confidence and forming a government.

So they could run off with the government this time!

Also, Liberal Party are liberal economists, I'd say. NDP is liberal in the broader sense of the word.

Okay, that's the difference. I was trying to figure it out but wandered off.

But that was entirely too hilarious.

:D

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

Reading updates at Bourque newswatch may assist the situation. It is a nasty mess. There is another party that received more than 5% of the popular vote in the last election, though they did not win a seat: the Green Party of Canada.
This is a bizarre situation for sure.

If you go to CBC and scroll down a bit, there are a few articles that will shed more light on it. There's also a sidebar with info on the last time this happened in Canadian history, the King-Byng Affair.

At least we Canadians can't say our politics is boring right now!! ;)

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

There is another party that received more than 5% of the popular vote in the last election, though they did not win a seat: the Green Party of Canada.

I think they won 7.5 percent!!! Which is exciting since they are led by Elizabeth May and I want to be just like her when I grow up. (Only hopefully leading a party that's actually capable of winning seats in government.)

AND APPARENTLY DION IS TALKING ABOUT APPOINTING HER TO THE SENATE:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081202.wPOLcoalition1202/BNStory/politics/home

My whole world has just gone so crazy.

[crimsonkitty88.livejournal.com]

IDEK

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

It's a brain-strain, that's for sure.

[egeanin.livejournal.com]

*blink, blink*

That...makes a lot more sense now. As much as I hate to admit it - Canadians confuse me. I don't understand the government, the Yukon, the snow, the hockey. But I do try and now - Canadian Survivor. Everything is so clear. :D

[millylicious.livejournal.com]

Aww *pets*. It's okay, we still love you.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

*reads other comments*

Was I supposed to be serious?

Well, I seriously hope someone cries before this is all over. That'd be really hilarious.

Also, they totally quoted my public law professor in the newspaper today! He said something. About the Governor General, I think. You know, the Queen of Canada's BFF. It was... weird. Like even my breakfast was no longer a safe place.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Was I supposed to be serious?

I don't know, were you? :D

Well, I seriously hope someone cries before this is all over. That'd be really hilarious.

That would be hilarious!!

Also, they totally quoted my public law professor in the newspaper today! He said something. About the Governor General, I think. You know, the Queen of Canada's BFF. It was... weird. Like even my breakfast was no longer a safe place.

Oooooh! That's very cool!

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

I just had a long discussion with one of my friends about this whole situation! The animosity towards Harper isn't anything new. I visited Parliament during question period last year, and the opposition was extremely... shouty. The Conservatives had a minority government for awhile, and they tried to win a majority by having early elections back in October, but it didn't work.

The Queen's not exactly sending Michaelle Jean-she's Canadian and lives in Ottawa, she's just been away on a trip. But it's up to her whether the coalition gets a chance to try to govern or not. It's all pretty crazy and exciting. CBC.ca has lots of good articles.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I visited Parliament during question period last year, and the opposition was extremely... shouty.

HEH! That's entertaining. I don't think Congress ever really shouts at each other. Much less entertaining.

The Queen's not exactly sending Michaelle Jean-she's Canadian and lives in Ottawa, she's just been away on a trip.

Ohhh. Gotcha.

But it's up to her whether the coalition gets a chance to try to govern or not. It's all pretty crazy and exciting. CBC.ca has lots of good articles.

It is all pretty wild!

[nandamai]

I like your explanation a lot better than The Globe and Mail's.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

You know, I took an embarrassing amount of time googling and wiki-ing to try and sort things out. But the logos were especially helpful.

[janetmaca.livejournal.com]

Bwahaha. This post is made of win. Hell my mom (sorry, I had to show her this) said you nailed it. :D

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

WOO HOO! :D

I think I might have a new sport - Canadian Watching.

THIS IS ALL I CAN ADD

[a-white-rain.livejournal.com]

Actually having more than two parties is quite common.

Re: THIS IS ALL I CAN ADD

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

But not normal! Or so my American-centric worldview tells me.

[elly427.livejournal.com]

Harper is very pale,

Let us not forget he also appears to be dead behind his eyes. There is no soul there. Robot is maybe the best explanation I've heard.

(A few years ago the news showed him walking his kids to school. When he got there, he shook their hands goodbye. I kid you not.)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Let us not forget he also appears to be dead behind his eyes. There is no soul there. Robot is maybe the best explanation I've heard.

Or maybe a zombie? Has he ever tried to eat any brains?

(A few years ago the news showed him walking his kids to school. When he got there, he shook their hands goodbye. I kid you not.)

BWAH!!!!

[maypanic.livejournal.com]

My vote is for you to get your own political commentary show. Because finally it all makes sense now!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

HEH HEH! I could call it, "WTF? Okay, This is What I'm Getting From This..." A bit wordy, but fitting.

[skybound2]

I think that this is possibly the best "What the - Canada?!" Primer I've seen ;-P Kudos for this, and thank you!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Heh heh heh!

[goodtoast.livejournal.com]

I'm not quite sure what set this off, but it most likely involved curling.

BWA!!!!

I'd actually love nothing more than to see the Canadian party leaders fight in a winner-take-all survivor battle. I can't even imagine who could win. Harper is, as you put it, PALE, and thus a wimp. The Quebec guy is the biggest nerd I've EVER SEEN, and that dude with a mustache is old. Okay, second thought. I don't want to see this fight. It'd be pathetic.

Anyways thanks for some clarification....OH Canada. You just love to give the US reasons to giggle at you :D

[stephdub.livejournal.com]

Yes! Extreme Fighting Challenge Leaders Edition! Winner takes all! Losers must go live in Northern Quebec (except Duceppe, he actually likes Quebec, so we'll send him to Northern Ontario if he loses) I love it! How do we get Michaelle Jean to propose this?

[stephdub.livejournal.com]

You know, I thought I was really sick and tired of hearing about American politics... and now I'm just sick and tired of hearing about ALL politics.

That said, you have clearly summed up the issue far better than any journalists that I follow. I'm going to recommend you as a guest speaker on the topic on our local news.

And for the record there is NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING PALE! Thank you. Harper was at the tv station I work for just before the last election and I had a picture taken with him. You should see it - Pale Squared. (It's logo would be a white box with a little 2 in the upper right corner) I'm also not sure if he's a robot, or actually dead and just being moved around by his eight million person entourage, kinda like Weekend At Bernie's but with Mounties.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

You know, I thought I was really sick and tired of hearing about American politics... and now I'm just sick and tired of hearing about ALL politics.

HA!!

You should see it - Pale Squared. (It's logo would be a white box with a little 2 in the upper right corner)

Awwww. *pinches* :D

kinda like Weekend At Bernie's but with Mounties.

*SNORTS*

[gowdie.livejournal.com]

Oh help me, I am actually going to try to explain the Parliamentary system - in American terms.

You, you being Americans, have three separate elections - one for President, one for the Congress House of Reps, and one for the Senate.

We have one election at the federal level. (There is also provincial and municipal, but that's not what we're talking about.) What you need to do is imagine our federal election is like your election for the Congress House of Reps. Then imagine that whichever party ended up with the most reps in congress wins - and that party leader becomes President. That's what we do. And senators are not elected - they are appointed, and they can stay a senator once appointed until they turn 75.

Now, you are exactly right about the parties. In the last election the Conservatives won 143 seats. Liberals won 77, Bloc won 49, and NDP won 37. Sadly the Green party did not win any. So - as the Conservatives were the party that won the most seats - their leader gets to be the pale faced Prime Minister Harper. However, they are a minority government because if you add the Liberals, the Bloc and the NDP together you get 164 seats.

Now, the Prime Minister is VERY different than the President, because he can't do ANYTHING without having a vote in the Parliament about it. If the Conservatives had a majority in the House, they would easily win any vote, and life would go on. BUT! they don't. Meaning if the other parties join together they can vote down any motion the Conservatives try to pass.

Not every vote is considered important enough to actually cause a defeat of the government if it doesn't pass. But one that DOES bring down the government is the vote on the annual federal budget. That is where Harper has gotten himself into major dog doo right now. His proposed budget pisses off all the other parties in a way that is rather shocking.

Normally, if a budget vote fails, they simply call an election. However, in this case, Harper's proposed budget is so offensive to the other parties that they have actually joined together. They are agreeing to work as one party coalition for an agreed amount of time. They plan on voting down the budget, and then asking the Governor General to appoint their coalition leader (Dion) as the Prime Minister, since, as a coalition, they will effectively have the majority of the house.

One of the reasons this is interesting is wondering what the Gov Gen will do. Because really, she doesn't have REAL power. She is appointed by the Prime Minister. And she does what she is told. She is a functional symbol, not a real person of power.

So yes - it is a lot like Survivor. You know, when there is one alliance of four members, and a couple others of two or three. AND THEN the small alliances figure it out - and join together to vote out someone from the big headed, thinking they have it in the bag, and can do whatever the hell they want, alliance of four.

[loriel-eris.livejournal.com]

This? Makes everything make sense.

I have been very remiss in my news watching over the past few days, so the first I knew of Coup In Canada was this post. And I was so horrifically lost. Your comment has enlightened me beautifully.

Also. This is exactly like British politics! Oh. Wait. Even better comparison is the Scottish Parliament - right now the SNP have the most seats of any one party, but they don't have the majority. We have not yet had a coup tho. *g*

[frenchroast.livejournal.com]

What appalls me is I had the news on for an hour and a half at primetime this evening and heard not one word about what's going on in Canada. Not. One. Word. And I was flipping to other channels when there were commercials, so I was getting more "news" time than I would have if I'd stayed on one channel.

I mean, really, if the media can't even compete with LJ...

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I know - for some reason no one seems to think this is newsworthy around here. Strange.

[pro-hominum.livejournal.com]

*ruins a perfectly coherent discussion of the Canadian political system with a very loud rendition of.....*sings*

Blame Cananda, blame Canada, it's not even a real country anyway!

*ducks from all the annoyed Canucks*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

HA!

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Canada - so close yet so misunderstood...

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Very misunderstood.

[woodface]

However, there are three other parties represented in the House of Commons

Hahahahahahahaha. That is NOTHING!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

MEEP.

[shinyopals.livejournal.com]

When I move to Canada, I'm going to vote for the Absolutely Absurd Party!

Also, I get the feeling I must be misunderstanding something, because what's happening right now doesn't seem all that complicated. But I suppose they did borrow heavily from our political system, so maybe that's it!

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

I'd like to point out that it's not so much that we "borrowed heavily" from the UK, so much as Britain went: "We're tired of looking after you people. So we're setting you up a government that looks just like ours. Only bother us for the really important stuff." THIS IS IMPORTANT.

Our first Constitution is even called the British North America Act. It's interesting from a legal perspective (but what isn't interesting from a legal perspective? :D) because the preamble contains this line about setting up a government "similar in principle to the UK," so you still have random contemporary cases that look to how things are done in British government to resolve things.

Anyway, yes. Back when I was a political science major, I always did the questions about Britain in my European politics courses because you are the same as us!

[deepdarkness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, out government is really confusing...and frustrating. We have a "first past the post" system, which is how Harper was re-elected in the first place. Hopefully, he'll be gone soon.

Oh, and you forgot the Green Party! The representative is Elizabeth May, and they like the environment and pot. They're very cool.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Everyone keeps mentioning the Green Party! Wiki failed me in that they didn't point them out! Lousy Wiki. I like their swirly logo. :D