Politics: Canada: Harper aces threatening ordeal of face-off with 3 oppo-parties on Throne Speech
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In an almost byzantine move, the three opposition parties in Canada's House of Commons have agreed not to cause a crisis around the reading of the Throne Speech which traditionally outlines the program for the coming session of Parliament, as determined by the governing party (or coalition). The Governor-General actually delivers the speech in one of the grand pretences of Canada's vestigial monarchism. But why not? There's lots worse things for this government to worry about.
In exchange for keeping mum, thereby waiving a confidence vote and otherwise entirely evading any offical record of an approval of the minority government's program, the 3 oppos worked out a deal with Stephen Harper, the new Conserv Prime Minister of Canada. Each of the oppos got to hack their way into the speech, with their own varying programs to some degree installed in the document. Harper is certainly proving himself adept at finessing an almost-impossible situation, forthr+tly negotiating his way thru the rapids.
Of course, the 3 oppos each have their own motives for playing into Harper's apparent cunning; displaying something of their own, but collectively the threesome are damned if they agree among themselves to fully thwart Harper, because none of them wants the government of their number-one political enemy to collapse (which would necessitate a new election).
To catch up on the oppo-installations in the over-orchestrated 4-party Throne Speech, click up Montreal's English-language Gazette to read Tim Naumetz (CanWest News Service) on "Backroom deal averts showdown and vote" (Apr14,2k6). The report lists all the items of all the parties which have found their way onto the Her Majesty's laundry list (politically speaking, of course), one of the most stunning and charming instances of political deceit made transparent and great fun.
What actually will get passed by this session of the Commons remains to be seen. But the present story leading up to the presumed adoption of the amalgamted Thronie on April 24, will be a cacophoney of episdoes worthy of TV's flagship of the soaps, The Young and the Restless. I suspect there will be some howlers along the way to the grand day. But we shall see. - Politicarp
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