Could this be PM Harper's undoing?

[MAD Dave]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/01/25/pol-royal-baby-bill-pandoras-box.html

Snip.....

Canada's republican movement is not as strong as it is in Australia, but it does exist. While this legislation is intended to be a simple, quick process of making limited reforms, some may want a wider debate.

The Parti Québécois government in Quebec so far has been officially mute on how it feels about the reforms. But in the House of Commons, sovereigntist Bloc Québécois MPs seem unlikely to agree to anything that renews or modernizes the institution of the monarchy, so unanimous consent for the Canadian bill seems unlikely.

That would mean it will likely have to pass through the House of Commons in the usual, stage-by-stage fashion.

Would other republican-leaning MPs also give voice to concerns? What would potential parliamentary committee hearings draw out?

And will the Harper government be forced to set time limits on the bill to keep its commitment to the Commonwealth? British Prime Minsiter David Cameron fast-tracked his government's legislation.

The prime minister's office has said from the start it wants this bill passed "quickly."

Perhaps otherwise, legislation intended to breathe new life into a centuries-old institution may end up giving birth to other changes.


Snip.....

I sincerely believe that the proposed changes to royal succession could bring down our Conservative government.

[elleng]

1. 'page can't be found'

Darn.

[Astrad]

2. Here's a working link

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/01/25/pol-royal-baby-bill-pandoras-box.html

[elleng]

3. Thanks

[MAD Dave]

4. Thanks Astrad!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

5. Not sure I understand how this could bring the Cons down.

Maybe I'm missing something.

What does seem to be the risk here, is that uninterested provinces defer a constitutional change to the Feds, who then act unilaterally and thereby create a dangerous precedent.

[MAD Dave]

6. PM Harper thrives on Apathy

The debate on the constitution partially caused by the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords was one of the issues that awakened the Canadian electorate to the corruption and bad policies of the Mulroney Conservatives leading to the first Chrétien majority government - the election that essentially destroyed the Progressive Conservative Party.

PM Harper thrives on apathy and has taken advantage of that apathy in side stepping a series of political scandals (In & Out, Afghan detainee, Robocall scandals). PM Harper's grasp on power is dependant upon maintaining that apathy.

All it takes us one issue to re-engage Canadians and remind us of the series of scandals that have plagued PM Harper's government - thereby ensuring his defeat in 2015.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

7. Ok, I understand your angle now,

but I'm still unconvinced that some simple Constitutional bookkeeping to update gender equality in GB is going to rise to the level of awakening anybody.

I do agree Harper exploits apathy, and thats why I think opening the Charter without direct and complete provincial approval is dangerous. That type of apathy could afford Harper extra-constitutional powers, and his laundry list would be scary.

Further, people are far more informed than they were in the late 80's and 90's thanks to the internet, and citizen journalism. A constitutional debate is not required anymore to expose egregious corruption and bad policies. We know about Pierre Poutine, F-35's, Idle No More, Quebec student protests, Northern Gateway and Keystone XL, OAS changes, EI reform and austerity measures.

So awareness isn't the problem. If these policies aren't enough to re-engage citizens, then I'm not so sure a debate about monarchy will have that much gravitas.

Edit to add: At this point if anything is capable of stopping Harper before 2015, I think it would be a combination of Conservative MPs crossing the floor to the Liberals, an internal party coup ousting him, and/or Elections Canada proving that its not a wing of the Con party and actually charging a few MPs with election fraud; triggering bye-elections.

[MAD Dave]

8. I agree with your edit.

Those are good examples of possible wys for PM Harper to be ousted. Unfortunately, I have no illusions of his downfall before 2015. I hope were can have a robust opposition that can win an election.