Can I get fries with that?

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ will get you started if you're interested.

Basic facts: The Canadian federal government is represented by (currently) four parties. The Bloc (Quebec seperatists), the Liberals, the New Democratic Party and the Conservatives. Our governments are either majority (the party who got the most seats has over 50% of the seats in the house) or minority (they have the most seats, but not 50%). Currently we are in a minority, which *can* work well when all the players are interested in governing, but not at all if the reigning minority party is just interested in trying to bull their way through everything they want. Basically, a minority government that works forces the party in charge to compromise on a lot of things, which works out nicely for the voters. You know, IF the party in charge is willing to do that instead of insisting that everyone bend over and grab their ankles.

The Conservatives forced an election just prior to the American elections as part of a power grab, and it didn't work as well as they wanted because it was a bald faced power grab. They still managed to take a few seats from the left wing because they'd spent millions of dollars for three years discrediting the left wing leader, who then had the audacity to try and run on a strongly environmental platform which was quite frankly, too much for voters.

So anyway, in summary, that's where we were about a month ago. "New" minority government, same faces at the table, lots of money basically wasted on an election.

Then last week the Conservatives tried a bald power grab in their budget proposal. They wanted to change the funding structure of how parties recieve taxpayer dollars. Currently every time you vote for a specific party, they get $4 or something on that order. Conservatives (who, just like the republicans, have a much higher socio-economic bracket as the majority of their voters) say "stop that entirely and let all the parties fend for themselves (because then we'll be the only ones who have any money!!!)". Oh, and the slap in the face of "What stimulus package for the economy? Alberta doesn't need one, so why bother?"

So the left wing parties have decided to form a coalition. They have proposed it to the Governor General and we are all waiting to find out what she'll say... do we (a) go to the polls AGAIN, at Christmas (b) she'll oust the current PM and let the coalition rule as per their written proposal or (c) refuse to do anything?

Obviously I'm in favour of this because I voted for the underdog, and think the Conservatives are amoral, power-hungry and not interested in what is right for the country, only looking out for themselves. But a lot of people are horrified that the current Liberal leader, who is not particularly charismatic although very smart, patient and surrounded by very good advisors, would then be PM. He wasn't ELECTED as PM. So that's... odd.

Yes, this is all completely constitutional. Pretty interesting (to me, anyway)!

So, fellow Canadians and non Canadians? What do you think? Did you have any idea any of this was going on? What do you think of the system? None of this electoral college stuff here!

i like anything that has "coalition" in the name.

it does seem wierd to have a new PM that you didn't elect. but i guess it's not wierd if there are other major positions that are appointed by parties rather than general election (for example, in the US the voters have no say as to who the senate majority leader is). but then again, if i'm understanding it correctly, the bloc was actually voted on by a majority of citizens (because it's 3 parties becoming one, right?), so in that case a vote for the PM would be inappropriate and wasteful.

also, as an american i'm interested if this bloc effectively makes Canada's government essentially a 2-party government now?

I am all for this if they can make it work. Basically they are uniting the left wing parties. With some concerns about the Bloc but I really don't think the majority of Quebecers do want to separate any more.

It'll be interesting to see what Harper does. My guess is he will try to stop Parliament from sitting so they can't do a vote. I don't think he is stupid enough to call an election just to spite the other side. I think (hope!) Canadians would be pretty pissed. I've been reading some of the comments on the cbc.ca blog and it's really one side or the other. People either think the Coalition is a great idea or they think the whole thing is "undemocatic!" The Cons seem to forget that Harper tried to do the whole coalition government himself back in 2004.

Here's hoping for not another election. I hope the GG makes the right call.

I completely support the coalition government and hope that the GG doesn't require an election or Harper doesn't call in one big sick month so that he can prolong the inevitable. I look forward to the day the coalition takes over and Harper's head explodes into a mass of springs and gears.

I have someone I used to be really good friends with back in University who has updated her Facebook status to indicate that perhaps another election would be the lesser of two evils. I looked at that with "who are you?" in my mind. I think her Prairie town husband has gotten to her!

I have to say, this is fascinating to me, and I realize how woefully ignorant I am of my Northern Neighbors system (well, probably most other systems). I'm unclear on the duties of the Governor General and how that person works with the PM? Can she just oust the PM? That seems in need of some balance, but I'm probably missing something.

So as it stands now, the Cons are majority and the Liberals are the minorities in power, and the other two are not in power? What are the ideological differences between the Libs and the New Dems? Other than the Blocs looking for separatism, do you have other concerns about them? Do they lean left or right?

You can bill me for the civics lesson if you want to.

I have nothing to add to the discussion, but as I was aware that something had happened in Canadian politics but wasn't sure quite what, I appreciate Wookie's explanation. Thanks!

is anyone going to the rallies this weekend?

Let's see:

The Governor General is the Queen's representative in Canada. Largely ceremonial, but all major decisions have to go through (in this case) her. She is going to have to decide if she is going to a) allow the Cons to shut the government down early, b) allow Harper to call an election or c) accept the coalition government depending on what the current PM will do in the next few days.

As it currently stands, all parties are in a minority. The Cons are just in less of a minority than the rest. In our last election (the week before the American one) no one party received 51% of the vote. This is the breakdown of the election results:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Government#Elections

For a quick read on the parties:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Party_of_Canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_of_Canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloc_Quebecois
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democratic_Party

Hope that helps!

It sounds fascinating and has always struck me as preferable to a winner-take-all system.

goddamn i am angry today that jean let harper get away with his tantrum.

let there be rioting!

I've got a pitchfork you can use. I'll carry the torch!