Canadian Politics Hypothetical

[jamesq]

Question for you political wonks out there. Can a sitting government lose a non-confidence vote and not have to dissolve the government and call an election? What if the opposition simply doesn't like the motion, but doesn't think they'll do better in the ensuing election? Is it a matter of take the good with the bad (I suspect this is the truth of the matter, but want some confirmation).

I'm thinking the current opposition might not have the guts to pull the trigger on the federal Conservatives. Conversely, the Conservatives might introduce some real stinkers in the next sitting that the opposition will have to vote down.

Could we find ourselves in a situation where the government still stands, but can't actually do anything?

Comments

King-Byng Affair

[citation-orange.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King-Byng_Affair

[evilscientist.livejournal.com]

In the federal parliament, it's generally considered that government money bills, throne speeches and bills specifically marked as non-confidence motions are confidence motions. It's possible for a government to have bills defeated as long as they don't fit into the above categories. It is, of course, the right of the PM to decide if any bill is a non-confidence motion and then ask for parliament to be dissolved if the government loses.

As the link to the King-Bing affair above indicates, it is up to the Governor General to dissolve parliament or choose another PM from the other parties, but that rarely happens.

[devoidofthought.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA.
He ran in TORONTO? *blinks increduously*

[devoidofthought.livejournal.com]

Where's that?
I haven't been here long enough to be familiar with much.

[jamesq]

Eckville is the center of redneck-ness in Alberta, which makes it a damn good candidate for the center of redneck-ness in Canada. Rocky Mountain House is the nearest town of decent size.

Go north to Red Deer, turn left and go past Sylvan Lake. That puts you in the area.

I've occasionally entertained thoughts of trying to be the NDP candidate for the riding, because I think that would be funny. it also appeals to my nickname.

[bungle-lord.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me of my longing to run for the Bloc Quebecois here in Athabasca. Lucky for my life and limbs that I did not have the energy to do so. . . .

(Note, Athabasca is about an hour and a half North of Edmonton, Alberta. A couple-three thousand kilometres from La Belle Province.)

[jamesq]

I've also considered running for the Alberta Separatist party, then doing everything in my power to make them look ridiculous. A substitute for the Rhinos basically.

[jamesq]

Given his platform, he's better off running in Rocky Mountain House or Eckville.

Where Do These Clowns Come From?

[http://users.livejournal.com/-grog-/]

At least his antics will bring some comic relief to the campaign...

(BTW - Whatcott's so far off the deep end of the looney bin that he's been punted from both the Free Dominion and Project Alberta forums - and you know it's bad when those forums excise an extremist)