Courtesy of the Soloman Show, today's poll question; "Should the government be required to hold parliamentary votes on all of Canada's military missions?" I was actually kind of shocked that Evan's audience only voted 63% yes. Extending the Afghanistan mission without a vote is the sort of thing that typically gets Evan's panties in a bunch, and often his audience will vote 90% plus in favour of Soloman's opinion. Granted I think Ryan Hicks sets the agenda at the Soloman Show, E-Solo just reads the cue cards like a liberal Ron Burgundy. I think there was some pull back by Ignatieff supporters who don't want to put a pox on Iggy for supporting the extension without a vote. Many on the right want to stay in Afghanistan in some capacity while many on the left want to leave altogether. And where this kind of poll question would have normally voted 90% to vote on it, I think many of Evan's Liberal viewers are trying to defend Iggy's position to shore up their left flank.
Ignatieff, you have a problem. It is among the left-wing swing votes that you don't want to see turn NDP.
That question should have been asked years ago when our soldiers lives were put on the line in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThey were sent to war without a vote in a minority parliament by the Martin gov't.
That ship has sailed.
I suspect that the Libs are not bitching for a vote because they know full well their caucus is split. It would only show Canadians that they cannot even agree on policy on something as symbolic as war.
This is further proof that this crop in the official opposition is not fit to govern.They cannot be coherent in even the most fundamental of debates. They are unable to force the gov't to even debate such decisions.
Not while the NDP and Bloc are sitting at the grown-up table. Both have immature views and rarely place country over ideology. Responsible people don't let children play with matches.
ReplyDeleteShould Parliament Have To Vote On Military Missions
ReplyDeleteNO.
The party with 14% support in Canada should not be able to railroad a decision of Cabinet.
The party that wants to break up our country shouldn't even be in Parliament, let alone have a say in Cabinet decisons.
Winnipeg Free Press Editorial
ReplyDeletePrime Minister Stephen Harper is acting appropriately in deciding not to seek the approval of Parliament to deploy about 1,000 soldiers to a training mission near Kabul. Fortunately, the Liberal Party of Canada agrees with him, a reflection of its own understanding that the government must be free to govern.
The other parties — the NDP, Bloc Quebecois and the Greens — want the matter put to a vote, but then it’s easy to make wild and irresponsible demands when it’s unlikely any of them will ever be in a position to make hard choices as a government.
In Canada, the government does not require parliamentary approval to, among other things, declare war, make foreign policy, or deploy troops overseas. These are discretionary prerogative powers that rest with the Crown, but are exercised by the prime minister and his or her cabinet.
Mr. Harper has never required parliamentary approval for the government’s actions in Afghanistan, but he nevertheless submitted a motion in 2008 to extend the mission until 2011. He said at the time he felt such a vote was necessary for “the sake of legitimacy.”
Read rest at
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/afghan-mission-evolves-107676748.html
Concurance Ice.
ReplyDeleteWhat we are seeing on display is the rift in the liberal party.
The establishment knows they risk what left wing support they have if they don't find a fig leaf of cover on this, they also risk losing the blu-lib faction should Iggy take the advice of Justin Trudeau and his shadow cabinet and demand a vote on this.
parliament did vote.
ReplyDelete