Whisper
September 20th, 2008, 09:27 AM
Canada's federal election process would be much less complicated if the Bloc Quebecois party just didn't exist.
Why Quebecers vote for the Bloc is a mystery to those living in the rest of Canada. The latest polls say most residents of that province don't want to separate, for economic, social or other reasons.
But they don't vote that way, at least not federally.
In the 2006 federal election, the Bloc picked up 51 of 75 seats in Quebec. The Tories had 124 MPs elected, the Liberals 103, the New Democrats 29, and one independent made the grade
So, Canada ended up with a minority government, which really didn't work for a number of rea - sons, and now voters are headed back to the polls again on Oct. 14 -- right after Thanksgiving.
The latest polls suggest Prime Minister Stephen Harper could win his treasured majority government, but a great deal could change before the election.
There were predictions, before the election was even called, that sending Canadians back to the ballot boxes wouldn't change things, that there would be another minority Conservative government elected.
But if Quebec voters didn't have the Bloc option, and had to select the Liberals or Conservatives or NDP, there probably would be a majority government in Ottawa.
And maybe one which could get something done.
Yes, yes, it is unfair, and undemocratic, to bar political parties or their candidates from an election. And it will never happen in Canada. But the process doesn't work very well, especially at a federal level.
Think about it. How can our national political process allow the election of MPs who want nothing more than to break up the nation? Because that's what Bloc MPs want.
They want Quebec to be an independent nation, separate from Canada.
In a minority government situation like Canada has had since January 2006, the Bloc vote can quite often be the difference between policy becoming law, or failing. And this is policy which affects all Canadians, not just those living in Quebec.
Do Bloc MPs understand this? Certainly they do. Do they take full advantage of it to gain benefits for Quebec? Yes. they do.
Fine, that's politics -- a game of give and take, of you give me this and I give you that.
The question is how much Bloc MPs care about the rest of Canada, and its future, if their agenda is breaking up the country.
The answer is probably not much. So what are they doing in Ottawa? And what are Quebecers doing voting for them, especially if most voters there don't favour separation?
Harper and Liberal leader Stephane Dion, and to a lesser extent Jack Layton of the NDP, will be trying to figure this out in the next few weeks. Eroding those 51 Bloc seats could play a huge role in who forms the next government, and whether it's a majority or minority.
But it would be a great deal simpler if the Bloc just wasn't part of our federal political mosaic.
Why Quebecers vote for the Bloc is a mystery to those living in the rest of Canada. The latest polls say most residents of that province don't want to separate, for economic, social or other reasons.
But they don't vote that way, at least not federally.
In the 2006 federal election, the Bloc picked up 51 of 75 seats in Quebec. The Tories had 124 MPs elected, the Liberals 103, the New Democrats 29, and one independent made the grade
So, Canada ended up with a minority government, which really didn't work for a number of rea - sons, and now voters are headed back to the polls again on Oct. 14 -- right after Thanksgiving.
The latest polls suggest Prime Minister Stephen Harper could win his treasured majority government, but a great deal could change before the election.
There were predictions, before the election was even called, that sending Canadians back to the ballot boxes wouldn't change things, that there would be another minority Conservative government elected.
But if Quebec voters didn't have the Bloc option, and had to select the Liberals or Conservatives or NDP, there probably would be a majority government in Ottawa.
And maybe one which could get something done.
Yes, yes, it is unfair, and undemocratic, to bar political parties or their candidates from an election. And it will never happen in Canada. But the process doesn't work very well, especially at a federal level.
Think about it. How can our national political process allow the election of MPs who want nothing more than to break up the nation? Because that's what Bloc MPs want.
They want Quebec to be an independent nation, separate from Canada.
In a minority government situation like Canada has had since January 2006, the Bloc vote can quite often be the difference between policy becoming law, or failing. And this is policy which affects all Canadians, not just those living in Quebec.
Do Bloc MPs understand this? Certainly they do. Do they take full advantage of it to gain benefits for Quebec? Yes. they do.
Fine, that's politics -- a game of give and take, of you give me this and I give you that.
The question is how much Bloc MPs care about the rest of Canada, and its future, if their agenda is breaking up the country.
The answer is probably not much. So what are they doing in Ottawa? And what are Quebecers doing voting for them, especially if most voters there don't favour separation?
Harper and Liberal leader Stephane Dion, and to a lesser extent Jack Layton of the NDP, will be trying to figure this out in the next few weeks. Eroding those 51 Bloc seats could play a huge role in who forms the next government, and whether it's a majority or minority.
But it would be a great deal simpler if the Bloc just wasn't part of our federal political mosaic.