I wrote my letters to the Governor General and MP's yesterday. The bottom line is without the Bloc seats, there is no coalition. Giving a party sworn to divide the country the balance of power is....hmmm, treasonous?

I asked Her Excellency to send us to an election rather than grant the coalition request.

BTW...all those politicians' (talking points) claiming they want to GIVE Canadians a 'stimulous package' etc...we DON'T want your so called gifts. If we did we would have voted your party in. Canadians voted for economic stability and you want to rob us of that. Shame on all of you!

As for Taliban Jack...I suggest you move to Afghanistan and attempt a coup there! You know, have your sit down with Bin Laden while aligning his followers with your ideals.

Stephan...you need a tissue to wipe the drool from your face.

I believe it is just amatter of time when we will see the "Dirty Dozen" come forward and prop up the Conservatives to a majority so we can stop this stupidity presently happening. Who wants Jack Layton for Prime Minister

See the Survey

http://www.cfra.com/listen/default.asp

I feel like im being patted on the head by The Liberals, NDP, and Bloc and being told it was cute that I voted for someone else but I couldnt have known what I was doing. Jack Layton and his gang of seperatists are here to make it better and represent the people. There was no combo platter on the ballot so the argument saying this coalition represents a majority is BS. I have voted Liberal and Conservative in the past and never did I consider my vote interchangeable with the NDP and Bloc so stop combining my vote as you see fit.

that if you're on Sasktel, you can only send emails to 100 recipients at a time. You can send up to 5000 emails, but only 100 at a time.

ROTFLMAO...This province is full of tory blue with john sitting at the front of it! Now with the threat of a coalition harper has folded quicker than a 2 cent tent! He should have stuck to his guns and maybe I could support a guy like that. But as soon as the announced a coalition he pulled everything off the table.

Bring on the coalition.

After the election was won by Prime Minister Harper he asked for suggestions from the losers that would help Canada through these tough times , only the block made any.Now the libs @ndp say he hasn't tried to work with them. I say he wanted to show them if you don't try you don't deserve the buck 95.This will be in the next platform.If the opposition get to govern without a vote the West will be it's own Master.
Charley Edmonton.

JOHN, I PLAN TO SPEND MY DAY EMAILING EVERY MP, EXCEPT THE BLOC( DON'T SPEAK FRENCH) AND LETTING THEM KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS COALTION.....I SHAKE WHEN I THINK ABOUT DION, RAE, LAYTON, IN ANY POWER POSTION...ALSO SEND MY DONATION TO HARPER,CASE WE HAVE TO GO TO THE POLLS...i'M SO ANGRY THAT IT'S GONE THIS WAY BUT WHO KNOW MAYBE WE'LL DESTROY THE LIBERAL ONCE AND FOR ALL ...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

Fran. Stop. Yelling.

All day long I have been listening to this garbage and have been so mad I've wanted to reach through my radio and now my television to punch someone on the face. The slimy Jack LIE-ton, campaigned all along he wanted to be Prime Minister, but he failed to tell people he would do it "by any means possible." Do you people realize that if this goes through, Dion will be PM until a leadership campaign, then either Ignatieff or Rae, so in effect we could have the next two prime ministers be people that no one voted for. We cannot let this happen. Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their country and send these treasonous bastards packing..

I just heard Jack Layton comment that the "coalition government" would be "bold and rapid" in its action with regard to matters currently before the House -- including, of course, those matters economic. No. His method is both vile and underhanded. He and his cronies, M Duceppe and M. Dion, seem determined to overthrow a democratically elected, legally constituted, government -- still in its infancy. Why? Is Dion that hungry for power, that determined to have Canada follow on the U-S coattails into the economic abyss?? He is usurping power, at any cost. He is the same as any other small-minded, self-serving despot in any other part of the world. He is reminiscent of my time in East Africa in 1995 -- and probably worse, because he is blind to his own motives. Hopefully, his actions, and those of his hangers-on, don't result in civil war in Canada. No wonder this country has lost its credibility. I am absolutely ill listening to all this tripe, and feeling completely thwarted in any positive action to affect it.

Should the West rise triumphant, before we are pillaged and raped into oblivion??

Keith Howell

I see a coalition government as being the best thing for this country. If Harper wants to be so arrogant as to run a minority government like a majority government, it's his fault he's in this mess and because of it he will lose the leadership of the tories. Maybe we can be back to having a PROGRESSIVE conservative party.

Also, anyone saying that this coalition government is anti-democratic and treasonous is flat-out wrong. It's in our constitution for something like this to be allowed, and since we vote for our MP to vote in parliment on our behalf, this is much more democratic than letting a party which only 37% of the population voted for to run the government. Now we'll have a party that is made up of party, of which 63% of the population voted for. And for all those liberal supporters, would you of actually voted for the conservatives if you had know that the liberals and ndp would form a coalition government? If so, you should have done your homework and realized that it could have happened and just voted conservative.

Mad? Of course not, John. In fact I believe I'll send an e-mail to the governor general to let her now how I feel. Anyone who is enjoying this as much as me should consider doing the same.

I am so diappointed with the federal politicians, they should all be canned. With the world economy the way it is, the wars, poverty, and all the other issues including so many social issues in Canada, it is unbelievable that our leaders have come to this.
Disgusting!

I have stayed quiet for a long time when it comes to politics. Have always exersized my vote at every election whether it be local, municipal, provincial or national. There has historically been a difference of opinion on the national government west vrs east. The west finally won the past 2 fed elections, most recent 7 week term. They were both minority for a reason and it's because the east has a different way of thinking than the west does. In my view the happenings of today are strong signals that it's time to seperate the west from the east. It's time for us to join the Pacific Northwest Region of North America and become our own state.

Thanks for listnening

Canada just entered the world of the stupid, the stock market, the job loss
the sense that the west is about to be raped again!!!!!!!!
I'm so mad I can`t even spit!!!!!!!

i phoned every libral office i let them know how much they suck

As Lorne Calvert said in his concession speech "In a democracy the people are never wrong". The Canadian people voted for a concervite minority government, and the Canadians people are about to be robbed of their vote, very sad. I guess the wishes Jean, Roy, Ed, Stephan, Jack and Gilles are more important then ours.

Disapointed Voter,

Are the coalition group planning to give the auto industry money? If US does not support 3 auto companies, do they think the industry will be in Canada?
Dion & Leyton being in bed with the Bloc who want to divide the country is treason - how they can sell their fellow Canadians is unbelieveable! All they want is power & obviously they do not care what they have to do to get it. They have no pride or honor for Canada!

Just finished writing the govenor general and my MP, Ralf Goodale. It felt so good to voice my opinion, that I sent what I wrote to everyone I know and encouraged them to do the same. What ever your opinion, it is your duty to voice it to the people in power. Thinking now, I'm going to write Mr. Harper as well to let him know I support him...

Let's be heard loud and clear!!!

There's no reason for our youth to care about politics. We're all taught throughout college/university that WE are the future, and that WE should vote to have our voice heard...

What's the point in voting, or getting US to care about government when we're shown at such a young age that even though "out vote" counts, it doesn't really count for anything at all?

Governments are not elected. I don't care what you say, they will do what they want. How can a government who only years ago strived to separate Canada be part of a coalition to "better" our futures...

I love this debate... it's unfortuate there are so many more pressing issues in front of our federal politicians than who should make up the government, especially so soon after an election. Too many political games being played here and the fingers should point to all federal politicians...

FREE THE WEST!!!!

No matter how you cut it, Harper brought this on and Canadians will demand better governance. What many Gormley listeners don't understand is that coalitions are actual options in a minority government. Only Stephen Harper and his weak minority grasp of power disagree. Remember Jim Melenchuk, Ron Osika and Jack Hillson? The difference in this case, is all three opposition parties are signing a deal with the other devil, if we want to see it that way. We need to get over the ugly, petty, child like behavoir of our politicians and those who support this type of immature pandering with name calling, bullying and war like measures that Canadians are sick and tired of. Oh Obama. You know, all this talk of separation looks good right now, only if it meant I could vote for Obama November 6, 2012, or run to be a democratic congress chick.

Fran, RELAX. This is not Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, but Canada - the best democratic country in the world. If you are so angry go help someone less fortunate, it will make you feel better.

I heard the rerun of your program tonight and I must say Political motivations aside I am dissapointed with some of the comments I heard. That Jack Leighton is a traitor, that we didn't elect a coalition government. Technically in a parliamentary system we did elect a coalition government. This isn't the US were we elect a specific leader and I wanted to commend you on correcting them.

Personally I believe that the Bloc and the Liberals planned a coalition government from the beginning of the election. Then upon failing to reach their goal Stephan Dion stepped down when they failed to achieve that goal. Their plan was to topple the conservatives via that coalition and silently merge their parties. Stephan Dion would strengthen the liberal position in Quebec prepping for the next election and minutely and slowly weakening the bloc.

Harper played politics, good for him. He's in a strong position. The Liberals and Bloc are ok...trying to scapegoat the proposal on the NDP. The last minute decision to include the NDP in the coalition was a mistake, Dion having stepped down means we wouldn't really have a leader for another five months. Canada can not be leaderless for five months and hand the reigns to an undisclosed PM, not during the US financial crisis which is bound to affect us.

If the three parties want to topple the government lets go to the polls and pick a leader. Legally the coalation are within their rights and I hope it turns out ok for the country, but being a libertarian minded westerner, I can't help but believe that Dion's platform was sucking up to the Bloc all along and now having stepped down their power grab puts Canada in a period of uncertainty that could result in the further erosion of our currency, through printing of money to stimulate the east at the expense of the west. It seems to me they are driving a rift down the middle of the country without good reason...

Dear anonymous.

State your name with your comments. It gives credibility to yourself and shows respect for both your opinions (that you should not be ashamed of) and the people you are debating. Who have all stated their names.

A debate is not about one side being right and the other wrong. Its about finding the truth behind the issue. How can you find the truth if you start off by hiding it(your name).

As for harper, i think the idea to cut funding was poor and crass. However, I would be deeply disappointed if i wasn't given the opportunity to vote if the government collapses. I may vote liberal, and a may vote conservative depending upon the issues at hand. But i will never vote for NDP. I dont think im alone with these sentiments.

If this coalition goes through, I am for the first time strongly in support of Western Seperation! We havn't even had 4 years of conservative power yet, and so far there hasn't been anything that I have to complain about with the conservatives. This is alot different than the previous rain of power with the liberals. I find it amazing that people are so willing to forgive and ignore the coruptions of the liberal government of the past, and so quick to critisize a conservative government.

Why do you think the liberals got so bent out of shape over the removal of the 30 million for political parties? I bet they jumped at this chance that the NDP provided them. Its win win either way for them in the short term. If the decision is to form a coalition then they can fill their pockets like last time(addscam)or if it goes to election then they get cash for each vote. Remember, the liberals have a hefty debt to pay off. What better way to do it than have the taxpayer foot the bill. Even if they lose a new election, they wouldt have been in power anyways but now they'll be debt free and focused on the next time around. Maybe as the "New" Liberal Party
I cant even guess at Laytons motivation other than power. Whenever I see him speechifying I feel like hes trying to sell me snakeoil. Beware of him people!
We all know what Duceppe wants dont we? You think Harper furthers his goals? Of course not, thats why hes going with this coalition. What better way to tear Canada apart.
Harper, you should have stuck by your guns but I realize you had to make concesions or the opposition would say you were unwilling to work within a minority govt. Offer a well thought out budget and let these vultures commit political suicide by voting against it.

COALITION?

It could probably never be proven of course, but I’ve got a hunch about the manufacturing of news and crises by the media. Take for example the current parliamentary fracas taking place in our nation’s capital. Ottawa is all a-twitter over the apparent coalition deal that has been manufactured by the three opposition parties, the Liberals, the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois. Well, it really isn’t a coalition including the Bloc, because they are apparently not going to have representation in the new cabinet, if and when one is formed, after, if and when there is a confidence motion placed in the House that would be enough to topple Stephen Harper and his minority Conservative government.

So, how did the media manufacture this crisis? Well, I don’t suppose it was necessarily planned, but there is so much instantaneous reporting of somebody’s burps and gas emissions by the ever-present media that even a little hint of something or other raises the prospect of something else or other so that one brick of a story is placed upon another and the first thing you know we have a story that is this high and this wide.

The Conservatives blew this potentially workable minority government big time, it seems to me. They played a rhetorical game about a new attitude, one of conciliation and compromise and then promptly sent their little Finance minister, Jim Flaherty to tell the losers across the floor that they were going to lose more than an election, like the $1.95 per vote earned in the last Federal election. Remember that election? It took place just a few months ago. They also told the civil service they would be held to low salary increases and would be forbidden to strike for a year. Did you ever hold a red sheet in front of a bull? Well done, Jim!

So, instead of saying this is crap, which they probably did in parliamentary language anyway the members of the losers group, Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and their friends said something like this is undemocratic and plainly wrong and they set out to make some changes. Making changes means saying things like we have lost confidence in the government.

It is wrong to say bad things about our elected members of the Parliament of Canada, just for the sake of saying bad things about them. So, having tempered my thoughts somewhat I will just suggest that some of the wingnuts have lost their grapple grommets and before you know it the Governor General may have to make a very difficult decision, that is, to ask whether anyone in Ottawa can form a government, if it is not Stephen Harper.

What has the media got to do with this? Well, consider some of the speculation that is rife on any newscast on radio or on television. Consider the elongated special programming to cover this alleged parliamentary crisis. Some members of the media are so busy speculating on various scenarios being envisaged by Stephen Harper and his crew of nasties that we have heard of the G.G. being fired next week, members of the NDP in the House being appointed Senators next week, or simply the ridiculous step of prorogation of the House and ruling almost by divine right by Mr. Harper until the eve of January 26, when the House would meet again to hear the budget speech, moved up to then when Jim Flaherty could fire off again. Some of the speculation is so arcane that the guest commentators, the political scientists who join the media mouths at times like these couldn’t find answers to the what if questions posed by the media members in front of microphones and cameras.

I had a nurse tell me today in a hospital emergency room that it felt like we were about to undergo a coup and that she felt like Canada was a little like a banana republic, where things like this happen fairly frequently. Has this magnificent country become a laughing stock?

Does the media provide us with too much information? Probably they do not, but I wonder if the media have forgotten the difference between what we might call news and what we might call speculation. There is a difference.

Coaltion/709 Ernie
December 1, 2008

I am a twenty-six year old Financial Analyst and Commerce grad. I follow politics very closely and take pride in my democratic right to vote for my government. However, I am very distressed about the coalition government and their talks of over-throwing the Conservative minority next week. This is a slap in the face for all Canadians who voted this year. I realize that the 59.1% voter turnout was disappointing for everyone, but regardless of our voter turn-out, the Canadian people have spoken, and of those who voted, the majority chose the Conservatives to run this country. As a young Canadian voter, I feel that my vote is worthless if it can be overturned by those who lost the election that did not receive the confidence of my vote. Is that the intention of the opposing parties? To alienate young Canadian voters that will one day lead the country?

I firmly believe that Stephen Harper is the best person for the job in getting Canada through the economic crisis. Does my vote no longer count as a Canadian? Is it true that the sore losers in a Canadian election can make my decision for me? In an economic crisis, I believe it to be entirely justified to pull the tax-payer subsidized funding that the parties get for my vote. In an economic crisis, I believe it to be entirely justified not to provide a bail out for the auto manufacturing sector when they come begging for money in their corporate jets that they insist are pulled into a hangar so their shoes do not get wet. As a Canadian, I believe it to be completely ludicrous that the separatist party will be charged with helping run our country. The Liberal, NDP and Bloc parties have no regard for our economic situation. How is it that the Bloc gets more funding in return for being part of the coalition and will take part in leading our country when they do not even care to be part of it? That does not seem to be a responsible decision that was made in the interest of the Canadian people by the Liberal and NDP parties. Harper has a strong and healthy strategy to keep our economy strong during such economic hard times. He has promised not to cut infrastructure spending. What better way to create and maintain jobs within Canada? Is it some coincidence that Canada has one of the strongest economies in the world right now while the rest of the world struggles? I consider that to be no small feat on the Conservative’s part. The whole world is in a state of panic over the state of the economy and yet Canada is coming out on top. Conservatives are known for their hard line, but they are also known for their business and economic platforms which is what this country needs right now.

I strongly urge you to consider the ramifications of allowing a coalition government that includes a separatist party. A coalition government is bound to divide the country and alienate the Canadians who did vote. I know I researched each party’s platform. I know I thought long and hard about who I wanted to run my country. Those who did not vote made their choice to stay silent in their opinion of how the country should be run. My vote should not be overturned by the parties who lost, much less by a party who does not consider itself to be part of Canada.

comment.............I wonder why the three studges didn't do this a year ago when Harper had a smaller minority.......................

I think our Prime Minister did the right thing. No matter the consequences. Why should my Tax money fund a political party i don't support? The Liberals and NDP are looking to keep their wallet nice and fat. That's it that's all. There is no other motivation for this coalition other than money. The NDP, and the Liberals aren't concerned with economics at all, until their Priority #1 (CASH) is taken care of. I don't think we should be talking about seperating the West from the East. That makes us no better than the BQ's. I'll be emailing the Governor General's office all day long, and i suggest everyone else who is able does the same. We need another election. I think we have a very good Prime Minister in office right now, a Prime Minister who needs our support and our voices. We need to do everything we can to ensure that a vote takes place, and REAL DEMOCRACY decides our government. Not Layton and his Cling-ons.

John:

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Mr. Layton try this in 2004 to topple the Martin government?. Isn't it funny that Mr. Layton will cooperate with the "new friend - Mr. Dion" and a seperatist to topple "The enemy - P.M. Harper", whom he won't cooperate with to fix the country. Yet in 2004 he was willing to cooperate with "The old friend - Mr. Harper" and the seperatist to topple "The enemy - P.M. Martin"

What's old is new again - only some of the names change!

I'd apprecaite your response by email to this comment please.

I am very angry with this coalition talk. I have emailed all the political parties, the Governor General and Queen Elizabeth. We just had an election where the Conservatives made a strong gain in seats. Obviously, Stephen Dion and Jack Layton have had a hidden agenda all along and are not concerned about assisting to govern Canada as responsible opposition parties during these global financially trying times.

I am appalled with the dictatorial, bull headed attitude of the Prime Minister and his henchmen. What is it that Mr. Harper does not understand about minority government? Mr. Harper’s dictatorial, bull headed attitude has created this unfortunate situation and in the best interest of Canada, I have one word for him, RESIGN!

I usually don't get overly involved in government issues but I've never been quite so pissed off before!!! Did my vote count for nothing!!! Who told the Three STooges that we wanted them running the government? Was a coalition government on the last ballot? I sure don't remember it being there? I voted for who I wanted. Therefore, I did something I've never done before, I e-mailed government officials. I feel slightly better but not much. Apparently my views mean nothing anyway!!