Categories: Need to know

Harper: "No one wants another election"

Prime Minister to focus on fixing the economy

by macleans.ca on Friday, July 31, 2009 3:25pm - 48 Comments

Speaking in rural Quebec yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that Canadians don’t want a fall election. The country, he said, is recovering from “the biggest economic crisis since World War II,” and Canadians don’t want instability. When asked about the Liberal’s plans to overthrow the government this fall, Harper said, “We will see.” The Conservatives are currently at odds with the Liberals over changes in employment-insurance benefits, which has led some to conclude that the Liberals will use the issue to trigger a fall election.

Canwest News Service

Tags: Canada

Wayne

Boy is he right on this issue : I know personally half a dozen people I work with that if an election is forced on them any time this year the party that does will be punished unless there is a very good reason – a few on line web polls as well the last one was 69 % of polled said they would punish the offending party – I have no doubt that the all the parties internal polling is saying the same thing. I mean really give us at least one year off once in awhile … I doubt there will be a meeting of the opposition minds and a photo op in front of the GG"s residence this year. In fact I would bet anything right now that no one including the Igster wants a fall election it's only how can he keep looking strong and actually stand up to Harper which is where it gets interesting because then it's up to Jack and then Gilles – so we shall see!

http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

I'm curious about these half dozen people that will punish the party that forces a fall election:
– they typically vote Liberal or NDP or Bloc but if those parties combine to force an election those people will vote CPC, or
– they typically vote CPC but if the CPC somehow causes an election those people will vote Liberal / NDP / other, or
– they won't actually change the way they vote, but they will work extra hard to make sure that their party wins?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Habitant Habitant

No sense in telling this to folks out in Québec… They want nothing to do with Harper! They will gladly vote him out given the opportunity.

wilson

They already did.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

I'd be more inclined to believe Harper's haste at not wanting an election and your quickly agreeing with him, but for the simple fact he broke his own election law last fall to try and get a majority.. and no one wanted that election either apparently.

People get over it, and they go vote.

wilson

That was after 3 budgets, 2 years and 9 months of governing in a minority parliament.
There is a difference. The January 2009 budget has not yet gone thru parliament, just thru ways and means.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

Do not be fooled, wilson. Harper is a coward. The man prorogued Parliament at the first sign of ousting and has been playing chicken ever since. Every time he cries wolf, he's trying to distract the Canadian public from some serious problems.

Reminds me of abusive (mostly male) people that I've encountered. "You have a pretty face. I'd be a shame if anything were to happen to it." There is zero benevolence in Harper's words.

Election please!
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

Do not be fooled, wilson. Harper is a coward. The man prorogued Parliament at the first sign of ousting and has been playing chicken ever since. Every time he cries wolf, he's trying to distract the Canadian public from some serious problems, i.e. red herring. (Chickens and wolves and herrings, oh my!)

Reminds me of abusive (mostly male) people that I've encountered. "You have a pretty face. I'd be a shame if anything were to happen to it." There is zero benevolence in Harper's words.

Election please!
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/ottawasteph ottawasteph

Do not be fooled, wilson. Harper is a coward. The man prorogued Parliament at the first sign of ousting and has been playing chicken ever since. Every time he cries wolf, he's trying to distract the Canadian public from some serious problems, i.e. red herring. (Chickens and wolves and herrings, oh my!)

Reminds me of abusive people that I've encountered. "You have a pretty face. I'd be a shame if anything were to happen to it." There is zero benevolence in Harper's words.

Election please!

http://intensedebate.com/people/PaulWilbee PaulWilbee

The next election – if it ever comes – will be Canadians' last chance to rid themselves of government of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations, by electing an NDP government.

I urge them as strongly as I possibly can not to miss that opportunity.

joe in ottawa

Paulwilbee, do use all a favor and just go back in the corner pick up your pipe and smoke away. Leave the thinking to the smart people :)
uncool

Corporations are people too!

(no, seriously…hahaha)
hosertohoosier

How will the next election be the "last chance" to get rid of those dastardly corporations? The NDP or CCF has been on the ballot in every federal election since 1935.

LB_

Well I think we're all hoping just to have a parliament not filled with bickering children.
http://intensedebate.com/people/WernerPatels WernerPatels

That's right: no more elections … ever!
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/WernerPatels WernerPatels

That's right: no more elections … ever!
.
.
.
.
….. kidding!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Whenever a politician says "No one wants X" you know exactly two things:
(1) Lots of people want X
(2) Those people are not on his side.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Whenever a politician or a lobbyist says "No one wants X" you know exactly two things:
(1) Lots of people want X
(2) Those people are not on his side.

http://intensedebate.com/people/sea_n_mountains sea_n_mountains

agreed. I for one want an election.

also, the instability argument is over-stated at this point.
hosertohoosier

Except that polling has shown that many people don't want an election. The problem with your trite analysis is that it ignores the possibility that people might simultaneously:

1. Not want an election
2. Not like the government currently in power

Yet that is precisely the case in Canada right now. Many Canadians dislike Harper, though the recentness of the 2008 election, lack of viable alternatives and likely prospect of an even more dysfunctional parliament do not have people clamoring for an election.

I agree with you that Harper is being disingenuous. He probably wants an election soon – perhaps about 9 months from now, when the economy is in recovery. He is also hedging his bets so that if there is an election, Michael Ignatieff gets blamed for it.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

If Harper had said "Many people do not want X" or even "The majority do not want X" then your point would be well taken.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Douglass Douglass

Good point.

I think he's trying too hard to convince the country we don't want an election.

http://intensedebate.com/people/CanadaAussie CanadaAussie

Our choices for PM's that could be elected are horrible. An indecisive wimp for the Liberals and a fight for my survival for the Conservatives. The NDP have a no chance at getting over 20%, and the Greens have some hippie leading them.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Bernie37 Bernie37

Harper, as usual, is incorrect. SOME Canadians don`t want an election. Many of us do. Maybe `want`is not the correct word. Substitute it with need`. We need to get rid of this administration.
Harper said, “Canadians don`t want instability“ . Well, that`s all we will ever get a long as Harper is PM.
If we don`t want instability, get rid us him and the sooner the better.
Next year is too late, the fall is too late, tomorrow is too late.
generalgruff

I am a Canadian and I want another election. I also want Harper to lose that election.
bbb

I'm a conservative and even I can't stand Harper. What a hypocrite, only out for personal power. he calls an election for last October, the same month i believe we officially entered the recession, and now dares to suggest that it would be irresponsible for ignatieff to force an election during this crisis. It was irresponsible of him to call an election last year when there was no good reason beyond having a weak opposition leader. It cost taxpayers millions of dollars, money that could have been better spent improving the economy at the time.
Linda

You are probably not a conservative, bbb, as conservatives do not share your views. Harper is correct. The Liberals have no policies except increasing unemployment west of the Maritimes by reducing EI eligibility periods. Clearly, since the polls have not changed much, neither will the outcome. But, if some urban Torontonians and Ottawans want an election, then bring it on! It is the Liberals who want power, and many Canadians will not be impressed with a fall wasted on campaigning vs. passing legislation. There could be a big backlash against the interloping, sabre-rattling professor. Instead, they should get to work fine-tuning legislation like a grown-up opposition party. Recovery from the recession is fragile, and the last thing we need is an untested new leader.
wilson

'and the last thing we need is an untested new leader'
Agree with you Linda, except imo he has had a few tests, some that he himself set up.
Like the EI360 threat in June, then he caved.
Danny's 6 tested him and he caved, they won.

The man has a brilliant mind, but no political sense.
40 years of academic learning, criticing 'other peoples' positions from both sides of the issue, does not a good politician make.

I'm assuming that what he is realistically aiming for, is a minority with enough Dipper seats to form a coalition majority in the house.
wilson

cont.
So what Canadians would get is swapping out the 2 main parties,
Con/Lib compromise government,
for a main + socialist , Lib/Dipper compromise government.
Not in the least bit more stable, as Paul Martin experienced.

Certainly would give the NDP the crediability they have been seeking, but at what price to the LPC?

MI has proven he is indecisive and will easily cave.
Layton is a seasoned politician, and I have no doubt he would get the better of MI.
Do Canadians want a PM that caves to every Dipper demand?
Can we afford this coalition?
http://intensedebate.com/people/sharing sharing

Maybe no one wants an election but when the conservative party peddles the type of scurilous garbage (like produces like I guess) as the cpc propaganda below then an election is needed, As for a backlash it will be against the narrow minded angry old white western men who are Harper's core vote.__It seems that the summer holidays will offer us no respite from the Liberal Party of Canada's attempts to smear Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party. Still over a month before the resumption of Parliament and already they've kicked into high gear with their most baffling and unprincipled attack yet.____As you know, Liberals vigorously attacked the Prime Minister after a New Brunswick newspaper accused Stephen Harper of pocketing a communion wafer at a Roman Catholic Church at a recent state funeral – creating a divisive religious controversy and pitting one group of Canadians against another.____The story, of course, was proven to be manufactured: the newspaper issued a stunning front-page apology to the Prime Minister, while firing its editor and suspending its publisher.____

Linda

I am pleased to hear that you signed up to receive notices from CPC to party members to inform them about unethical news reporting. Perhaps you might contribute.

http://intensedebate.com/people/sharing sharing

Please follow this link for the apology.____…and for more on this story follow this link.____But there's more…____A member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery told a national television audience that Liberals passed the manufactured information to the paper's publisher.____What's worse, the Liberals have refused to deny that they were behind the manufactured story. Michael Ignatieff simply won't take responsibility for the actions of his office or his party.____It shows how insincere the chief fundraiser for the Liberal Party of Canada was when he wrote to party supporters in May, stating, "Canada deserves a government dedicated to solving problems, not partisan attacks."____This controversy demonstrates that the Liberals will do anything to get back into power. And it demonstrates that we need to have the resources necessary to fight back and defend both our Prime Minister and our record in government.____This is not acceptable, and I'd like you to show your support for our Prime Minister and your condemnation of these tactics by making a contribution of $200 or $100 by following this link right now.____Sincerely,____Doug Finley__Campaign Director,__Conservative Party of Canada__

http://intensedebate.com/people/sharing sharing

Can anyone imagine a slimier bunch of bastards than the conservative party? To be a Harper conservative you either have to be to stupid to know better (probably the majority of conservatives) or completely lacking anything which could be considered moral standards.

Ghatar

Time and time again, Con supporters prove the truism, "Not all Conservatives are stupid, but all stupid people are Conservatives." They really prove that all that matters to them is that they have someone in power to validate their hatreds and biases. Competence, the ability to manage the economy, the ability to manage Canada's reputation on the international stage…these things are all meaningless to Cons and their supporters. These factors MUST be meaningless to Con supporters, because the Cons under Harper have proven to be the most incompetent government Canada has ever seen. Just as Bush rode the US into the ground and still maintained a core of support no matter how worthless he proved himself to be, Harper has the guaranteed support of ignorant bible beaters NO MATTER HOW BADLY HE SCREWS UP. I have voted Conservative and Liberal in my life but will never cast a vote for the ignoramus who is currently PM.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

"Con supporters prove the truism, 'Not all Conservatives are stupid, but all stupid people are Conservatives'….. Harper has the guaranteed support of ignorant bible beaters NO MATTER HOW BADLY HE SCREWS UP."

You don't sound like a Conservative to me, so I question your truism.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

"Con supporters prove the truism, 'Not all Conservatives are stupid, but all stupid people are Conservatives'….. Harper has the guaranteed support of ignorant bible beaters NO MATTER HOW BADLY HE SCREWS UP."

You don't sound like a Conservative to me, so I question your "truism".

Leaving aside the bigotry you display toward evangelical Christians, have you honestly never heard of the CHP?
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

"Con supporters prove the truism, 'Not all Conservatives are stupid, but all stupid people are Conservatives'…..the Cons under Harper have proven to be the most incompetent government Canada has ever seen…. Harper has the guaranteed support of ignorant bible beaters NO MATTER HOW BADLY HE SCREWS UP."

You don't sound like a Conservative to me, so I question your "truism".

Leaving aside the bigotry you display toward evangelical Christians, have you honestly never heard of the CHP?

Ghatar

Many people look at things differently. Recently someone alerted me to something I hadn't considered before. Apparently, Harper and the Cons are the fattest government in Canadian history. Harper himself is an overweight ox. Baird, Kenney, van Loan, Moore…all of them are corpulent hogs.

At first I didn't attach much significance to this. But then I started thinking about it. Should you really trust people who by their very nature are greedy slobs who can't stop themselves from ramming food down their flabby cakeholes? The self-serving creep who always is eyeing the last piece of food on the table and then rams it into his diseased gob when no one else is looking. It definitely says something about the Cons and what motivates them.

Some may see this as a superficial way of judging character. But it is valid to some degree. Someone who is lean and in shape necessarily has some self-control.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Douglass Douglass

Or it says something about our health as a society. That people who work terrible hours are likely to eat fast and unhealthy food.

But hey, continue on the Tory bashing.

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/sharing sharing

Its not tory bashing. All one has to do is shed light on the truth. That in and of itself is sufficient to make any member of the conservative party look like what he is: a rather stupid narrow minded, intolerant old white man. Only when reality is concealed can the conservative party appeal to the more enlightened segments of society. fortunately they cannot be fooled all of the time.

http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

'Superficial' wasn't the first thought that came to mind….

Maggie

Methinks the Harper team have a look of panic in their eyes …. of course we want an election and the sooner the better.

http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

Just curious what Harper and team might be panicking about. Economy seems to be at least stable, Ignatieff isn't catching on like wildfire, Wafergate isn't a serious issue, so what is there to worry about?

http://intensedebate.com/people/sharing sharing

The complete lack of moral standards which is a characteristic of the CPC is made evident by the tragic results of their stupidity. we have lost 2 more heroes in the cause of harper's reelection__

RagingRanter

So Harper's reelection is enhanced by dead soldiers? Please explain. Anyone who would post such idiotic spittle should probably avoid lecturing others on moral standards.

delford t louis

code for….. i love my infinite authority over everyone in this country, love the money i make, love the corporations who will hire me when i get booted out, and i love the perks that come with this job and most of all i love the adoring fans and adulation from every man woman and child and all i have to do is show up everyday man what a ride i am having…… everybody else can go to hell, election you say!….. not on my watch
RagingRanter

I really get tired of this "no one wants an election" crap. Parliament was shut down for two months last fall/winter, and no one even noticed. Like the economy depends even a tiny bit on what Parliament is doing. If ever we needed proof of how inconsequential the federal government is, that was it. When you're faced with something like a bus strike in the middle of winter, or a garbage strike in the middle of summer, you realize which levels of government actually matter in your life. It ain't federal. In fact, a year-long moratorium on Parliament might be just what the economy needs. Shut it down for renovations. (Just don't call it "stimulus" – that's another figment of politicians' imaginations I'm sick of hearing about.)
Russ

Much of the criticisms hurled at Harper and is government appears largely baseless, that is if you can set aside partisanship and dogma long enough to face facts. We hear no specifics, just flowery rhetoric. I am by no means a Tory lover, but the Liberals haven't precisely spelled out where the Con's have fallen short, much less what they would have done different.

Campaigning on empty rhetoric may work in US elections, but I'm not so sure about up here. After all, Liberals allowed the last budget to go through as well as backed the stimulus spending. Plunging into deficit territory is simply the unfortunate reality all western nations face, and might I say, was done at the behest of both Liberal and NDP parties alike.

I therefore subscribe to the theory of a voter backlash directed against whichever party is viewed as the power-hungry obstructionists. There simply is no smoking gun here, [I]so the Liberals had better find one — and soon.[/I]