DODGING A SPRING ELECTION Introduction While the attention of most Canadians Agreement government officials had held Focus This CBC News remained focused on the drama of the with U.S. presidential candidate Barack in Review story presidential contest taking place in Obama, with the intention of harming his focuses on the the U.S., this country’s own political campaign. Finally, like a ghost from the political parties, scene was beginning to heat up in the past, former Conservative prime minister leaders, issues, and early months of 2008. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was again in the strategies at play Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative news, testifying before a parliamentary as the minority government was facing a number of committee about the “Airbus scandal” of Conservative government and challenges to its survival in Parliament, the 1980s and his questionable financial the opposition where the combined votes of all the dealings with German businessman Karl- confront the opposition party members could defeat Heinz Schreiber. Mulroney’s continuing possibility of a it and force a federal election. Issues unpopularity with voters, coupled with federal election in such as the 2008 budget, the extension the fact that he was a Conservative, 2008. of Canada’s military commitment in posed a potential image problem for Afghanistan, and the government’s Harper, even though his party had long Quote insistence that the Liberal-dominated distanced itself from the widely reviled “There are some Senate pass its new anti-crime legislation former prime minister. of my colleagues all posed the real possibility of becoming Although the opposition kept up the who would rather matters of confidence—meaning that if pressure against the Harper government have their kidneys the Conservatives failed to pass them, on these and other issues, the likelihood harvested without they would be obliged to resign. To of a spring election, which had appeared anaesthetic than some observers, it appeared that the almost certain as 2008 dawned, began go to an election.” — former government was daring the opposition to fade. The budget of Finance Minister Conservative- to defeat it in the belief that Harper’s Jim Flaherty was introduced in February turned-Liberal MP popularity with voters and the perceived and was approved by Parliament over the Garth Turner (CBC weakness of his Liberal opponents might opposition of the Bloc Québécois and News in Review result in a majority for his party. the NDP. The crime bill was passed, and video) At the same time, the opposition, in a decision was made to extend Canada’s particular the Liberals, were raising troop commitment in Afghanistan a number of potentially damaging to 2011 from 2009. Stéphane Dion’s accusations against the Harper Liberals adopted the unusual and government in the hope that they would somewhat controversial tactic of erode its popularity with voters on the abstaining en masse from parliamentary brink of a spring election. The first of votes, making it impossible for Harper’s these was the allegation that Harper government to be defeated. Dion adopted had sought to buy the support of the this strategy of playing for time and not now-deceased Independent MP Chuck provoking an immediate election for Cadman during a close no-confidence various reasons: the party was not ready vote against the then-Liberal minority for an election and there were grave government of former prime minister concerns within Liberal ranks about Paul Martin in May 2005. Dion’s popularity with voters, especially Then there was the issue of “NAFTA- in Quebec. While opinion polls indicated gate”—the charge that the Conservatives that most Canadians did not favour had revealed secret conversations an early election on the heels of two about the North American Free Trade previous federal campaigns in 2004 CBC News in Review • April 2008 • Page 6 and 2006, the other opposition parties, were unable to win any seats, their Quote especially Jack Layton’s NDP, accused increased vote totals might influence “We will decide when the election the Liberals of cowardice and caving in many close races across the country. will come. We to Harper’s political agenda. The by-election results also contained will choose At the same time, most polls indicated some good news for the Liberals, who the trigger.” that if a new election were to be held, the held three of the ridings, and elected — Stéphane Dion results might not be much different from two former leadership candidates, (Toronto Star, those of the last one, with yet another Bob Rae and Martha Hall-Findlay in March 13, 2008) minority government in the cards. Toronto. However, the Conservatives The only wild card was the rise of the were successful in taking a seat from the Green Party, which currently holds no Liberals in Manitoba. The mixed results seats in Parliament. Its candidates were of the by-elections, representing no competitive with the Conservatives and clear trend in voters’ preferences, were NDP in four federal by-elections held further proof that a federal election was in March 2008 to fill vacancies in the beginning to appear increasingly unlikely House of Commons. Even if the Greens any time before the fall of 2008. To Consider 1. What were the main political issues that threatened to provoke a federal election in the spring of 2008? How were they resolved? 2. What allegations were the opposition parties making against the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper? 3. Why is a minority government always vulnerable to defeat in the House of Commons in a no-confidence vote? 4. Why did the Liberals decide to abstain from voting against the government in the House of Commons in order to avoid the calling of an election? 5. If a federal election were to be held soon, what do you think the results would be, and why? 6. Which party would you most likely support in an election? Explain your choice. CBC News in Review • April 2008 • Page DODGING A SPRING ELECTION Video Review Part l Watch the video and answer the following questions. 1. Complete the chart below. Name of Political Party Number of Seats Name of Leader in Parliament 2. What is meant by the term minority government? Why does a minority government make the possibility of an early election greater? 3. What changes in legislation are included in the government’s new anti- crime bill? 4. What political party holds most of the seats in the Canadian Senate? 5. Why did some political observers believe that Harper’s Conservatives wanted an early election? 6. What compromise was reached between the Conservatives and Liberals on the issue of Canada’s troop commitment in Afghanistan? CBC News in Review • April 2008 • Page 8 7. Why were the Liberals reluctant to trigger an early election by voting with Did you know . the Bloc and NDP against Harper’s government? Several of the leading candidates for the Liberal leadership in 2006 are still paying off huge debts from 8. What is the name of the federal Minister of Finance? What new policies that campaign, did he introduce in the federal budget of February 2008? including the winner, Stéphane Dion. 9. What was the response of the opposition parties to the budget? Which of them voted against it? Which did not? Why? 10. Why were the Liberals accused of being weak and indecisive as a result of their strategy of abstaining from confidence votes in the House of Commons? 11. How did some members of the Liberal parliamentary caucus feel about this strategy? CBC News in Review • April 2008 • Page 9 DODGING A SPRING ELECTION The Federal Budget: Pro and Con Finance Minister Jim Flaherty adopted did. For example, there was nothing to Did you know . Canada’s first a cautious approach to the nation’s assist the growing number of poor and budget, tabled economic prospects when he brought unemployed people in Canada, and not on December 7, down the Conservative government’s nearly enough for major infrastructure 1867, had $7.4- third federal budget on February 26, programs that Canada’s cities feel they million in revenues 2008. Unlike previous budgets, this one need. There was also little assistance and $5.3-million did not contain any sweeping promises of for the struggling automobile sector of in expenditures. further tax cuts or new federal spending the economy,—concentrated mainly Since 1867, there have been 143 initiatives. Instead, Flaherty sought to in southern Ontario and the Montreal budgets, as well as reassure Canadians in his budget speech area—where many auto workers have 22 mini-budgets, that, despite growing concerns about the been laid off. Both Quebec Premier interim budgets, health of the U.S. economy, Canada’s Jean Charest and Ontario Premier economic updates, economic fundamentals were strong, and Dalton McGuinty were quick to criticize and financial the likelihood of a serious recession was Flaherty and the federal Conservatives statements. minimal. For this reason, he intended for not offering enough relief to this to “stay the course,” introducing some beleaguered sector of the economy. minor changes to benefit various income There was also not much in the way of groups but not pursuing any dramatic new tax breaks or shelters for investors, alternative economic policies. The who are becoming increasingly alarmed centerpiece of the budget was a new tax- by the news of a growing credit crunch free savings account that would enable and mortgage meltdown south of the Canadians to deposit up to border. $5 000 annually in a special account For his part, Flaherty defended his that would not require them to pay government’s steady-as-she-goes taxes on any money withdrawn from it.