Canada's Opposition Parties Vow to Bring Down Government, 1 month into its term...

[notyoueither]

In fact, we have only ever had a coalition in time of war.

What, are the Liberals and NDP going to propose conscription for Afganistan?

This situation is laughable.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
The Tories in the King-Byng affair were the largest party in the Commons, and had garnered the most votes.

Peterson was invited by his opponent to try to govern.

There is no precedent for the lame-brained coalition being proposed by Dion, Layton, and Duceppe.

And there is no precedent for the Governor General calling another election a month and a half after the last one either. There are, however, precedents which imply that:

1) While it may usually be the case that the plurality party gets to form a government this is by no means an unbreakable rule

2) The G-G (or L-G in Ontario's case) would rather not force an election so quickly after the first unless it is absolutely necessary

These facts, taken together appear to point the way for Jean.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


In a case where what they have to say has a direct impact on how she should proceed, she will.

The G-G is about to be forced into a decision. Whether she grants Harpers (hypothetical) request to dissolve Parliament or the opposition's request to form a government it will be a precedent.

There is NO precedent for dissolving Parliament in such a situation. There are a couple of precedents which point the other way (though they are not quite exactly on point).

In the sited 2005 case, Harper got to write a letter.

The GG did not meet with him. If she had, it would have been to invite him to form a government. That is how the GG works. She is not there to share a beer with.

You are correct though. She is about to be forced into a decision. The precedents point to an election as much as they point to a coalition government insofar as we have never been here.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
In fact, we have only ever had a coalition in time of war.

What, are the Liberals and NDP going to propose conscription for Afganistan?

This situation is laughable.

Not particularly. The histrionics of you and Asher are, however.

[notyoueither]

I suppose I will ask for the basement suite at Lancer's, eh?

[KrazyHorse]

The precedents point to an election as much as they point to a coalition government insofar as we have never been here.

This is absolute nonsense. Just because the situation is not exactly the same as previously does not mean that there are no precedents at all.

[notyoueither]

The situations are in no way similar. How about that?

[KrazyHorse]

I don't think that the case is black and white, on the other hand.

If I were arguing the other side my first point would be that the Tories have FAR more seats than the official opposition does. This is the biggest difference between the current situation and either King/Byng and Ontario 1985

[notyoueither]

No ****, I've already pointed that out.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
The situations are in no way similar. How about that?

How about the fact that you sound ridiculous? The situations are similar on their face. There are several details which are different. I have pointed to the most important one, as far as I'm concerned.

[notyoueither]

They are in no way similar, you buffoon.

[notyoueither]

Largest party in the Commons.

Hmm, Nope, I don't see that here.

Invited by the opponent to try to govern.

Hmm. No way in hell.

Try again. Maybe you can bring more Pythonomics to bear on the problem.

[KrazyHorse]

The Governor General is either about to increase her own power or decrease it.

If she decides to grant the request of the Tories it will say that she has made the judgment that the Tories are across some magic threshold where a government composed of the Liberals et al is insufficiently representative of the wishes of Canadians to allow it to form. She will have increased her competence to that of a final arbiter of the will of the people.

If she decides to refuse the Tory request it will further the argument that her only role is that of a mediator.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
They are in no way similar, you buffoon.

Yes they are, you dolt.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Largest party in the Commons.

Largest party in Commons is covered quite nicely by the ORIGINAL formation of King's government in 1925.

Thanks for playing. The fact that the Tories have a plurality doesn't mean ****. The fact that they have a plurality verging on a majority while the Liberals are a distant second MIGHT mean something.