Canadian Political Crisis: Citizens React With Disgust, Anxiety

Last week in Canada, three opposition parties united against Prime Minister Stephen Harper, charging he failed to insulate our neighbors up north from the global financial crisis.

How did Harper respond? The controversial leader swiftly shut down Parliament, an unprecedented move that fended off a no-confidence vote the PM was all but certain to lose. C'est la vie, democracy!

And how did ordinary Canadians reacted to Harper's power grab? I put the question to popular actor/comedian Neil Crone, the Second City Television veteran and stand-up comic who currently appears as radio host Fred Tupper on the CBC television comedy Little Mosque on the Prairie.

Crone told Huffington Post, "Believe me, I'm the furthest thing from a Stephen Harper fan, but I'm really peeved about this turn of events. The three stooges from the opposition parties -- Dion, Layton and Duceppe -- claim they formed the coalition to oust Harper for the good of the nation. But that's baloney. Their political slight-of-hand ranks right up there with the Bush-Gore butterfly ballot robbery.

"It seems to me that democracy, which some of us care about enough to oh, let me see, die for, has been hijacked by Harper's opposition. It's true that Harper is an egomaniacal despot, nevertheless he is a democratically elected despot," added Crone.

Turns out Harper's prorogation was legal. But was it a good idea?

Canadians are almost evenly divided on this question. Perhaps more telling, pollsters report an unusually high number of "I don't know" responses. Let me be blunt: a significant number of those polled admit they have no idea how a parliamentary democracy actually works.

But they do know that "Sir Harp-alot" is very political, with a tendency to be controlling. "The Prime Minister acts like he doesn't have to answer to anyone," said corporate sustainability consultant Arie Moyal, who lives in Montreal. Moyal told Huffington Post he hopes Harper gets booted out.

Unfortunately for the anti-Harper crowd, liberal opposition leader Stephane Dion has been almost comically ineffective. His televised response to Harper looked like it was taped in his rec room using a cell phone. "Dion led the Liberal Party to their worst popular vote in history. He's not qualified to lead the coalition," said Joanne Ott, a skin care specialist from Victoria who told Huffington Post she's glad Dion recently stepped aside in favor of Michael Ignatieff.

All across Canada, anxiety is on the rise -- but not because of the shutdown. Voters are angry with Parliament for making no progress whatsoever on the economic meltdown, while miraculously finding time to cook up a national crisis. One in three Canadians feel they have "lost all control" over their financial future.

The country's demographics reinforce their anxiety: Canada has the largest baby boom generation of all western societies except Australia. All those former yuppies are becoming retiring grumpies.

For Crone, it's no laughing matter.

"To this country's everlasting shame, we hit a historical low for voter turnout on October 14th. There really should be a publishable list of no-shows," said the comedian. "And by the way, if you didn't vote, shut up. Your bitching about what's happening now accomplishes absolutely nothing."

Canadian actor/comedian Neil Crone

Comments

[Graceless]

What a lot of people, Canadians included, fail to remember is that we here in Canada do not elect a Prime Minister. We vote for an MP. That is it.

What comes of the voting process is a tally of elected Parliamentary members. Historically, minority leaders come out of an election vowing to work with other parties informally (or formally) to ensure that they maintain continued support of the majority of the MP's, who in turn represent their constituents. Read that again. The minority leaders work with other parties to ensure they maintain continued support of the majority of Parliament.

Stephen Harper has failed to do so, so much so that two other federal parties that previously supported him have turned their back on his party. And, just like proroguing Parliament, the opportunity to form a majority from within the ranks of Parliament that does not include the minority leader is also perfectly legal. Harper himself sent a letter to the GG in 2004 indicating his willingness to form a coalition with the Bloc and the NDP should the Liberal minority government fall.

So, with respect to Mr. Crone, I think he should probably re-read what it is we Canadians go to the polls for. When we don't elect the PM, merely seats, Canadians need to understand that the coalition is just another way of looking at the votes. And he is right. If you didn't vote, you can shut up.

A perfectly democratic option.

[YesWeCanada]

Michael Ignatieff will be a great leader for Canada.
As for the coalition it was only formed to push back from the blatant attack by Harper. He saw them as too weak and under-funded to trigger an election so he tried to pull taxpayer election funding which the opposition parties rely on more. Without a response (ie. coalition) one or more parties could possibly be forced to fold in the near future.

Harper is a skilled partisan ideologue in the mold of George W. Bush and not the strong leader that Canada needs and deserves.

[CanuckChomsky]

I have to agree with Skepticat on this. Michael Ignatieff may have his intelligence, charm and is much less robotic than Harper, but has sided with U.S intelligentsia far too often for my liking. He is not as independent-minded as many Canadians would like to think. The comparisons made to Pierre Trudeau are overstated. Ignatieff has none of Trudeau's passion and quick-wittedness and NONE of his determination to uphold Canadian sovereignty. His vague platitudes undermine his committment to "planting our [the Liberal Party's] flag firmly on the centre-left". We have not heard, as has been pointed on on Politics with Don Newman earlier today, any hint of this certitude and principle. He appears to be a Harper-lite, blue Liberal. My expectations for him are quite low.

[max08]

Dead on. Ignatieff was hauled up from Boston, given a riding overnight and won an election within a few weeks. This is coup. A neocon coup.

[max08]

You cant compare Harper to Bush. That's too easy. At least Harper is an economist.

Neil Crone is dead on the money about what's going on.

[kimpea]

"Turns out Harper's prorogation was legal. But was it a good idea? Canadians are almost evenly divided on the question. Perhaps more telling, pollsters report an unusually high number of "I don't know" responses. Let me be blunt: a significant number of those polled admit they have no idea how a parliamentary democracy actually works. "

I find this statement almost insulting. For the record "I don't know if a prorogation was a good idea" does NOT translate to "I have no idea how a parliamentary democracy actually works." For many of us who know EXACTLY how a parliamentary democracy works, "I don't know" means "I am not sure who the 'good guys' are anymore and if there are any at all, so I'm just going to see what happens and hope for the best."

[hiNY]

Canada! Was that a country?! Just kidding! Anyways, your system seems more effective in disposing waste! Way to go Canada. But until you get rid of the crown, guess you won't have a full-say as citizens. (I am referring to the fact that Mr. Harper got his orders to shut down the parliament from the representative of the crown.)

[mredder4]

Agreed. What kind of government of a supposedly independent nation lets the representative of some figurehead monarch across an ocean decide the state of their government? Consider all of the countries that have left "the empire" behind and are now doing fine. Doesn't Canada think it can stand on it's own feet?

Time to grow up and move out of Mom's house, Canada.

[thebanana]

Do you ever think before you type? The GG is a figurehead. The role is part of our constitution. I'll take this form of government any day, especially compared to the bought and paid for politicians in the USA.

[warland]

In actual fact the Governer General acts on the Prime Ministers wishes. Also, she was selected by the PM, and he asked for the prorogue to save his political skin.

[thebanana]

Wrong. She was appointed by Mr. Martin of the Liberal party.

[LaFilleEnRose]

I think there's a misconception that the Canadian "Liberals" are just northern "Democrats" and the "Conservatives" correspondingly just "Republicans" who say, "eh?" a good deal." However, I don't think the political parties in Canada and in the US easily equate that way. Liberals in Canada are still much more closely aligned with strict law and order than US liberals (although Obama may help cause a shift down here in the Canadian liberal's direction). In years past at least, the Canadian Liberal Party was also the party of big business. Canadian liberals do equate with Democrats here culturally speaking (lifestyle etc) and have always believed in the dignity of their fellow citizens (unviersal healthcare, decent housing for the homeless etc.) So Ignatieff's position say on Iraq might not fit with US liberals but US liberals would welcome his stands on many other issues over the Canadian Conservative Party.

Those who are left culturally in Canada AND left every way else more often belong to the NDP Party, which is very liberal indeed but has never had enough of a following to be able to lead the government. It's power has remained as a coalition partner in Parliament. At least that's the way I remember it from years past. It may have changed and I hope some Canadians read this who have better insight and can comment and fix what I've gotten wrong.

[Skepticat]

Ignatieff supported the Iraq invasion, torture & rendition, and Israel's attack on Lebanon just like Mr Harper. Why would rushing to give this relatively unknown guy a majority government make Canadians suddenly smarter? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Diane Tucker - Huffpost Blogger]

Did you read the long 12-8-08 Globe and Mail piece on Ignatieff? I'm not sure what to hink. they don't really sell me on the guy. What do you think? Here's the link:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060825.wxboat26/BNStory/National/home

Thanks for reading!

[Diane Tucker - Huffpost Blogger]

Whoops -- hit "post" before correcting the spelling. Should be "I'm not sure what to think." Time for a nap...

[max08]

Agree wholeheartedly. What the writer leaves out is who first came to see him in Boston to convince him to come home, I am more terrified of Ignatieff than that idiot Dion. But what I find particularly devious was how Ignatieff was shuffled into power. In the small article I read a few years ago, it stressed that he would support action against Iran, and therein may lie the thick of it. But I dont know.

The LIberals were crooks during the 90s. They fully deserved being removed from power; they got too big for their britches.

[max08]

I grew up listening to Liberal party elders discuss strategy at the dinner table and during long boozy cocktail parties. My family lived in Rockcliffe Park in Ottawa, the political Georgetown of Canada. I was weaned on Stanfield and Trudeau and Mitch Sharp and Jack Pickersgill, etcetera, etcetera, discuss who was going to lead the party and how. SItting at the dining room table or in the den slugging it out, in word and drink. I was immersed in the ultimate Liberal family with power, prestige, and more inside than the Ottawa press knew were insiders. I heard the conversations at the Rideau Club, and the place where real discussions took place: the fishing club started by MacKenzie King.

If you think for one minute that some guy can come up from the States after being away for 27 years, get himself a powerful riding (district in US) overnight and almost win the Liberal party leadership except for a voting fluke (when Dion first got it), then whoever thinks this has bats in the belfry.

I dont know who is behind him, but they must be powerful forces to have engineered this phenomenon. And Iggy will be ruthlessly beholden to them.

Canadians are nutz to buy this story. And you, Diane, are correct in smelling a rat.

[kimpea]

While he did support it initially, he also wrote an article for the NYTimes exactly a year later admitting that it was a mistake and widely condemning the war.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E1D6173EF937A25750C0A9629C8B63

I am growing weary of the "propaganda" coming out of our conservative party. Ignatieff DID "see the light" and rather quickly compared to others. As this article shows, Ignatieff is a man who is willing to admit he made a mistake... something I have YET to see Harper do (and likely never will)...

[Omidal]

Canada should form a republic or a federal government as soon as possible.
It would be best.

[Furby]

joke right? and what's up with the comment layout here, making us look like a bunch of centrists :)

[11907281]

And then get stuck with a tyrant like bush for 5 years? No thanks, the coalition represents the majority of Canadians, that is true democracy. However, I don't agree with them bringing down the government but I also don't agree with harper getting parliment suspended and appointed 18 senators while it's closed.

[Blurp]

fyi: sleight-of-hand

[TheBlackCat]

Anyone see the Daily Show's take on the situation? It's on their website, it's in the intro from the December 8th episode. I thought it was great.

[CanuckChomsky]

Musing aloud may be acceptable in academia, where it is often expected, in studies relating to the humanities, that one not make irretrieveable conclusions about one matter or another, but he must use his instincts better or bow out of political life to let time bestow them upon him, in peace. Moreover, his authoritarian tendencies were well-documented in an article - I, unfortunately, cannot recall its exact title and the month & day of its publishing - in the Globe and Mail in 2006. I do not trust him.

And his ill-concealed discomfort with the Coalition irritates me. The Liberal Party has been, to say so politely, renowned for its pragmatism and goodwill in moments of trouble. To co-operate with the slime-ridden Harper, would be the grossest vioation of his signature upon the letter to Governor General Michaelle Jean, in support of the proposed Coalition/Bloc arrangement. Lowering himself to the level of underhanded, unreliable, liar-in-chief, that Stephen Harper now holds, will earn him few friends among the voters.

I am most concerned at the prospect of an Ignatieff majority government.

[ber6964]

Harper is know as Mini-Bush in some parts of the Great White North!!

[max08]

Because it's easy. Bush wouldn't last two minutes arguing before Parliament.

[GeorgeP922]

Am I too take from this article that the writer's opinion is against the events in Canada?

God if only liberal politicians in America had 1/4 of the backbone the things we could accomplish!

[Diane Tucker - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi George,

I'm neither for or against events in Canada. My goal is to uncover what the non-pundits and non-politicos think. I get the impression there's no clear consensus. But you're closer to the action. What do YOU think?

[CanuckChomsky]

Well, I suppose this is progress. Here Ms. Tucker seems a plausibly impartial reporter, compared to Ms. Harris, the former Conservative candidate. It is lamentable that even here in Canada, "once a party member, always a party member". Her slavish sympathy to the Conservative Party's supposed moral purity and absolute infallibilty is revolting.

Therefore, on behalf of your Canadian viewers, Arianna Huffington, I humbly ask you to secure among your employees a permanent Canadian correspondent, preferable born and bred here in the Great White North, to furnish all other of your listeners, reader, well-wishers and admirers with a decidedly left-wing perspective. One of Dennis Kucinich's opinions would not be villified or outright ignored in Canada as opposed the the United States, and I would contend, would be welcomed in many corners of your fair land and around the globe.

An eager reader and political 'junkie', Matthew Velocci

[CanuckChomsky]

Apparently, I cannot correct the grammar in my own comments, so I will attempt to do so here: I require a comma after the 'Canada' in the second paragraph & the first 'the' in the aforementioned sentence should be replaced with 'to'.

LizM, I am not surprised by your reaction to Michael Ignatieff's coronation as Liberal leader (and, therefore, Leader of the Official Opposition). I will assume the best; that you have not been easily persuaded as to his suitability by the bombardment of favours the media is heaping upon Ignatieff.
I will therefore assume, that you have excellent reasons of your own to offer up in his defence.

I have no doubt that, on average, Liberal governments have beenof greater benefit to Canada than Conservative ones, with the exception of Sir John Alexander Macdonald, of course. Michael Ignatieff's professional qualifications, his calm demeanour and his thoughtfulness are worthy of much praise. Nevertheless, his support of the imperialist war of aggression in Iraq (which, to his credit, he recanted in 2007), of torture, generally, and specifically, the detension camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - which, to my constant amusement, has been repeatedly criticised ITSELF, by the United States, and other countries, as a flagrant violator of human rights - of his unqualified support of Israel's flattening of Lebanon during its summer invasion of 2006, on one day, and his complete reversal of opinion the very next day, after much outrage among Canadians.

[LeftyCanuk]

To borrow from Julies Ceasar 1:2 "Yond Iggy has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous."
He of the vulpine smile is not loved among progressive Canadians, where he goes by the nickname "Iggy Thumbscrews", thanks to his positive musings on the salutory effects of torture. He's pretty cool about the coalition, but I'm sure he won't scruple to use it as a lever against Harper. Were I Layton of the NDP, I'd smile but keep a safe distance.
With regard to the coalition itself, I guess Americans can be forgiven for not knowing much about the Parliementery system works, given how many Canadians seem sadly ignorant.

(first post btw, Hi all!)

[LizM]

I have been a Michael Ignatieff fan from way back. As for the media, I have been paying ZERO attention to the Canadian press, by and large...but you can bet I'll be paying attention now!

Where on earth would you get the idea that Ignatieff supports torture?

And, on a totally unrelated note...am I the only one around here who hopes the center-aligned comments should go away?

[Diane Tucker - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm from Detroit. Doesn't that make me quasi-Canadian?

Thanks for reading!

[YesWeCanada]

No it does not.

[CanuckChomsky]

Just maybe.

What is the proper way of pronouncing 'Toronto'?

And, more importantly, do you enjoy the weather scale described in Ian & Will Ferguson's book: How To Be A Canadian?

[LizM]

A new day may be dawning in Canada, assuming that Canadians are smart enough to elect a majority government with Michael Ignatieff firmly at the helm. Of course, that's a big assumption and I certainly wouldn't put much stock in it.

[Furby]

Keep the faith. Quebec is a pretty unpredictable province, politically speaking. They might just back up Ignatieff. As a former Quebecer (french) I've seen that province go completely red in a heartbeat when the Liberal Party leader was even moderately inspiring.

[ljkcan]

Harper divisive talk re:Quebec made Charest"s lead a lot narrower than it was prior to Harper waking the separatist sleeping dragon. I was born and raised there and if there is anything you hate to see is the the dreaded referendum.

Chretian made it a sea of red(liberal) lets hope it can happen again.