So Stephen Harper does not feel parliament is working.
Perhaps it would work better if Harper and his Conservatives did not publish and use instructions on how to obstruct the workings of parliament. Or perhaps it would work better if Harper and his Conservatives paid attention to the laws of the land (and the spirit behind those laws) … like the fixed election date.
Perhaps it is simply that when Mr. Harper said parliament is not working he neglected to finish his sentence: parliament is not working to the benefit of the Conservative party and the PMO (prime minister’s office).
Without a majority Mr. Harper cannot run amok but is forced to consult and work with the other parties. Worse the lack of a majority means he does not control parliamentary committees and thus will have to answer for and face the consequences of the conservative party’s actions such as “in-and-out” campaign financing and the government’s role in the listeriosis outbreak.
Despite Mr. Harper’s condemnation of the behaviour of the previous Liberal governments it would appear Mr. Harper is calling an election in hopes that he can behave in the manor that, when in opposition, he condemned in the majority government of the day. Proof that at heart and in his soul Mr. Harper is truly a politician; that it is about him and not about Canada or Canadians.
I have never been a fan of proportional representation because it tends to produce minority governments. Seeing how well, how much better, the parliamentary committee system seems to work in the interests of Canadians when not controlled by the government; seeing how the need to work with the other parties moderates the behaviour of the government; given the lack of ideas, ideals, vision, leadership and integrity in our major political parties; a system that results in minority governments is looking very good.
Given our current choices on the federal political scene is it any wonder that most Canadians do not want an election, preferring the current state of Parliament with its minority government?