That’s Canadian politics these days.
If today’s opposition motion in parliament passes, then the Liberals say they won’t view it as a no-confidence vote, and they’ll simply ignore it. However, it clearly is a no-confidence vote, and there’s only so long they’ll be able to deny it.
However, if the Conservatives get their way and do succeed in bringing down the Liberal government with this motion, then they’ll have won the battle but lost the war. They can trigger an election but they don’t have the support to win it… and the Liberals will get right back into power with another minority and we’ll start all over again.
If Harper had any political horse sense, he’d lay off the no confidence votes and try to let the Liberals govern for a little while. In the meantime, he’d make some good speeches, hammer home some policy points, and try to look like a statesman. Instead, he’s continuing to push for this pyrrhic victory, regardless of the cost.
This is what we call a lose-lose situation. Unless, of course, you’re Gilles Duceppe.
Update: As predicted, the Liberals lost the vote but are still denying that it means anything.
It may seem ridiculous but denial, in this case, is golden, since if the Liberals continue to attempt to govern despite the motion, and the Conservatives are forced to use petty tactics like trying to shut down parliament, it doesn’t take much to figure out who will benefit at the polls.
Us!
Shutting down Parliament is not exactly petty tactics, Sari. Its a problem, I think, that people would think so: that would be exactly what Paul Martin would want people to think..that a non-confidence motion is ‘petty’ and would punish the Conservatives for it. Confidence of parliament in the government is at the basis of our system. If a majority of MPs don’t have it, then the government should not stand. Incidentally, the relative effects of Gomery in Quebec and the West will probably deny the Liberal party another government. A Conservative minority government is more likely. Depends on Ontario, as usual.