Stephen Harper is amazing. Even when there is irrefutable evidence to the contrary, he is willing to lie on national TV about his unwillingness to share power with the Bloc Quebecois.
This is what Harper said last night in his broadcast to the nation:
Let me be very clear: Canada’s government cannot enter into a power-sharing coalition with a separatist party.
My how things change. This is an excerpt of a letter to then Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson signed by Stephen Harper, Jack Layton (NDP) and Gilles Duceppe (BQ) in September 2004:
As leaders of the opposition parties, we are well aware that, given the Liberal minority government, you could be asked by the prime minister to dissolve the 38th Parliament at any time should the House of Commons fail to support some part of the government’s program. We respectfully point out that the opposition parties, who together constitute a majority in the House, have been in close consultation. We believe that, should a request for a dissolution arise this should give you cause, as constitutional practice has determined, to consult the opposition leaders and consider all of your options before exercising your constitutional authority. Your attention to this matter is appreciated.
Maybe this is something he learned from Stockwell Day, who was evidently up to the same thing in 2000, according to an article in The Globe and Mail.
Can someone tell me if Harper wants to prorogue the current session of Parliament becasue he is, basically, pro rogue? (Sorry . . .)
In case you missed it, here are links to the texts of the speeches given by Harper, Dion and Layton last night.
Go, Coalition, go!!
Paul S. Graham 