Stephen Harper's Battle with the House

In the first 12 months of Steven Harper’s minority government, he has fought to grant what he promised during his entire campaign, partisan politics. After bringing the two conservative sects together two years earlier the Liberal led House could be calling for an election in the spring.

The Hill Times recently reported that both parties are preparing for an election after the conservative Torries ran negative ads about the Liberals during the Super Bowl weekend. Chief Government whip Hill felt that the adds was a sign of the conservatives not letting go and will likely end up looking bad for them.

Negative ads weren’t the only other blow that the conservative party has taken within the last few weeks. Prime Minister Harper passed on a motion that was created by Liberal party leader Stephane Dion to embarrass the minority government. After Harper rejected the International Kyoto Protocal which called for Canada to reduce its greenhouse gas levels to that of 1990 Dion introduced another motion which simply pointed out the conservative’s lack of concern about environmental issues. Or, as Dion put it that the government is just stalling to see if any new businesses could be developed before any regulations are put into place. Harper felt the Dion’s suggestions and goals were ludicrous and that reaching those levels isn’t only impossible but irresponsible to say it could be done. Greenhouse gas emissions did however rise 30% while the Liberals were in power, but Dion blames the conservatives for not passing his bill.

Clearly, the division between the two parties is greater now than ever. The conservative Torries were pro sending Canadian troops to war in Iraq to support Bush’s war. There are now calls from all parties to bring them home which would be the only issue that is being agreed on. An election in the spring is to be expected but whether Harper can win the battle with the House or if there can be some level ground found is still to be seen.