Former Mayor Larry Di Ianni and Mr. Ecklund's daughter Erika

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LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

former Mayor of Hamilton, Larry Di IanniDo Canadians Want A Federal Election?

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted September 17, 2009)

Now that I have decided to bow out of Federal politics, at least as a candidate, I am able to sit back a bit more dispassionately about the need for a Federal election and the ‘spin-doctoring’ that has gripped our nation over the last few weeks.

It may be instructive to remind ourselves of a few things:  firstly, it was Prime Minister Harper who dissolved parliament last fall citing its ‘dysfunctionality’ as a primary reason and decided to go to the polls.  At the time, the Liberals were headed by an uneasy and untested leader in Stephane Dion who had just ushered in a wonky new initiative called the Green Shift.  Harper saw his chance and buttressed by millions in spending on attack ads plunged us into a fall election even though he had vowed and passed into law a fixed election date.  The unpopularity of M. Dion to which I can attest personally, and the confusion over the well-intentioned but poorly communicated Green Shift led to a Conservative victory.  Harper would have gotten a majority if the economy hadn’t unravelled as quickly as it did, and if Harper had been more agile on the hustings.

Then, shortly after the new parliament was in session Harper did a few foolish things: he denied that we were in poor economic times with a fiscal statement which was pure fantasy.  He thumbed his nose at the opposition parties by trying to change the election financing rules.  He then demonstrated bravado as things were falling apart around him.  The three opposition parties formed an ill-advised coalition and wanted to ask the Governor General for the right to govern, since combined they had the majority in parliament.  Harper panicked and prorogued parliament.  In so doing, he created a constitutional crisis by putting a gun to the GG’s head forcing her to agree to proroguing the institution rather than asking other parties to form government.  The Prime Minister then created a parliamentary crisis by boarding the place up to save his political hide, and he created a national-unity crisis by blaming ‘separatists’ for meddling in the affairs of the country.  This trifecta of ineptitude will go down in history as a low point in Canada’s parliamentary system.

However, Mr. Harper proved himself to be a survivor.  The Liberals brought in a new leader in the worldly Michael Ignatieff.  He disbanded the coalition and has indicated that his party will now try to topple the government.  Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Layton, especially Mr. Layton who bragged about voting against the government 79 times and criticized the Liberals for not toppling them earlier, now vows to support the right wing Conservative government.  Talk about 180 degree shifts!  Jack is being pilloried by pundits for his hypocritical about-face.

But the essence of the question is this: do we want an election?  The answer is clearly no. Over 75% of respondents have indicated this.  Do we need an election?  Parliament isn’t any more functional now than it has ever been.  It would be best for all parties to rally together and pass laws which will address major issues.  Will we get an election?  Yes.  I predicted some months ago that it wouldn’t be this fall and the NDP/Bloc/Conservative coalition will guarantee that, barring any last second shenanigans or miscalculations.  However, we will have one in the spring.  We will get through Christmas and the Vancouver Olympics and then the plug will be pulled.  Who will win?  Stay tuned for a run-down of local candidates and their strengths as well as the national outlook.

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