Canada’s political landscape has changed. Most Canadians are probably disappointed to put it mildly, and angry at the changes to put it into the proper prospective. After claiming leadership as a world power even though a small nation in number of citizens, the country has recently turned away from the United Nations. True the UN is less than perfect but it is really the only game in the world when it comes to communicating with both friends and enemies. When Prime Minister Lester “Mike” Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for creating the blue helmeted International UN Peace Corps virtually the entire world looked towards Canada as the most nearly neutral nation for negotiating world peace. When the present Canadian political regime headed by Stephen Harper turned the country’s collective backs on trying to defuse world tensions and the threat of expanding wars through UN participation, the world stopped looking at Canada as a special nation.
If there was a really good reason for the change aside from catering to a few international political partners the move might be more acceptable. However the main reason for the move from moderating peace seems to be strictly political in nature. Political change is the trademark for the nation for most of the 13 years since the 21st century began. The current Canadian regime can hardly be considered a government in traditional terms. The new Conservatives comprised of a merger of the former Conservative party that stumbled into virtual obscurity after a stunning defeat after acquiring the last majority, and the Reform party, do not seem to believe in the traditional form of parliament. The Conservatives try not to including elect New Democratic or Liberal members in creating legislation and balk at suggestions for change or strengthening prior legislated programs from either party.
If there was a really good reason for the change aside from catering to a few international political partners the move might be more acceptable. However the main reason for the move from moderating peace seems to be strictly political in nature. Political change is the trademark for the nation for most of the 13 years since the 21st century began. The current Canadian regime can hardly be considered a government in traditional terms. The new Conservatives comprised of a merger of the former Conservative party that stumbled into virtual obscurity after a stunning defeat after acquiring the last majority, and the Reform party, do not seem to believe in the traditional form of parliament. The Conservatives try not to including elect New Democratic or Liberal members in creating legislation and balk at suggestions for change or strengthening prior legislated programs from either party.
The current government is able to enact changes without parliamentary participation simply by controlling the majority of sitting party members and convincing or maybe forcing them to vote in support of every proposed legislative idea. The country seems to be suffering from a lame duck parliament with question period a show of childish behavior and private members bills enacted regularly without discussion that was always the norm for the House of Commons. The procedure was always the way elected members of the opposition were able to participate in governing until the current sitting.
After the 2015 Federal election, Canada will likely return to the recent tradition of a minority government. Most Canadians will be satisfied with a minority after the loss of control experienced since the 2010 majority mandate given the current government. Much as the hard core Conservative support is satisfied with the current regime the voters that shift parties and create governments is not as enamored according the recent polls.
The upcoming by-elections might become an indicator with respect to the amount of control the government maintains with the electorate. A loss or gain of seats considered traditionally safe might change the direction of both the government and opposition over the next two years.
After the 2015 Federal election, Canada will likely return to the recent tradition of a minority government. Most Canadians will be satisfied with a minority after the loss of control experienced since the 2010 majority mandate given the current government. Much as the hard core Conservative support is satisfied with the current regime the voters that shift parties and create governments is not as enamored according the recent polls.
The upcoming by-elections might become an indicator with respect to the amount of control the government maintains with the electorate. A loss or gain of seats considered traditionally safe might change the direction of both the government and opposition over the next two years.
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