Don't call an election, Mr. Harper

The Ottawa CitizenPublished: Friday, August 29, 2008

Re: PM's advisers certain of fall election call, Aug. 26.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's threats to call an election are offensive to voters on several counts. His government was elected as a minority, the public indicating that it did not have the confidence to give "Canada's New Government" free reign.

In any minority government, the party in power has to listen more closely to what the opposition has to say and has to negotiate and compromise when introducing legislation. This has worked relatively well so far, and the government could proceed effectively until the fall of 2009 without the need to make every vote a matter of confidence.

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No political party or political leader has the right answers all of the time. This is why minority governments often work effectively and keep the leaders on their toes. In a minority government the opposition always maintains the option of introducing a confidence motion if it can no longer support bills or ministerial decisions.

It was Mr. Harper's government that introduced legislation mandating fixed dates for elections every four years, unless defeated on a confidence vote. At the time, the prime minister indicated that fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for political advantage. Is that not what he is doing now?

Colin Hine,

Ottawa

© The Ottawa Citizen 2008