News Notes The Not-So Dire Situation in Ottawa Don't Expect the Government to Fall Anytime Soon Kerry hattles back into race with Bush -aantial Nominee YOh® | ast week, the media speculated on a crisis ‘ presidentia+ ‘ a pemocratic resi George W- push’ s 4 ryt ry erased Presiaent Kerry nas a ; er in the potis tmmed) tely after che on Parliament Hill that threatened to bring down the government of Paul Martin and ead cont enner Tete recent CNN ; . : two debated on ae S tied at 49 %, — possibly send Canadians back to the polls —e ee ty {ce NGLGGASs e ~« 2m 50< i pokt shed. Per oe ae press poll shows 4 °°- only months after the last election. Expect a an ASSOCIAaTe FEV Es Nt has . . while = cy Rerey Be appears ee to hear plenty of media speculation con- 46 iea iA? a : Septer of ° : . stemmed Bush's nance asext. the cerning the Martin government being and is on a bit oF es ng over the past defeated over the next year or so, but don't WwW sn * ; a x * . . polls have been trend makes predicting af expect the Liberal minority government to aad CAS ee wt : : abate month, Bre aa aes The last on fall. winner Bikw. ond Kerry takes a on between. Puen ae ats 10:00PM AST: ‘ Wednesday, October i = If the government is defeated, the Governor ~ General can either call an election or ask the opposition to form the government, the Martha Stewart starts Prison Term Last Pri to 2Pidav,” Maren é Setving her Y, Martha Stewa five Month sent most common response being to call an election. Keeping this consequences in minimum Security Iprigc, oo tn 8 mind, none of the four major parties would 3 ee Despite being eek ae want to appear responsible in bringing pee si found guilty of teciaeg Rite down the government and likely forcing an Syd ts ae. Of justice relateg pe election call immediately after an election Said, "There ee Gan defiant Stewart had just occurred. Pie who have gone * Many good peo- €O prison. Someone's n Mandela was’ Nelson Mandela.s herself! Look at Of full of The so-called crisis was fuelled by political nade SKUINO be a niic, | rhetoric from all four parties. On Thursday, rT oe Ga gee ¥ SO achieve Ke Stewart ripped ore = his country the Bloc Quebecois introduced an amend- Fh Cr co fo PBR a: * 5 Sats ‘ Yeah, they're de cinged | Shareholders. ment which included giving Quebec more lavin ee Rtaeen OF é Vea Playing field, eet 8 A eed control over finances at the expense of the federal government. The media jumped on the tough political talk and proclaimed the Staunch Bush Ally Re-elected in Australia government might fall, making the situation * at -Nationa-+ ne of austraiias : : 1a John Howard has ‘ in australia: 4, a dominated a aise an ~roops pegan. : ine Livera+ coaL xime beet pomestic election, igsue, 3S pee Be since in {rag © Pe) f rw {Lion governmen* a ft . Minister : ye-e1ectes {ssues $ << ~ ag Was uo ap she: a nas had trail Sioa rhe conflic® = ed © Pie Th alt Howard pledger 900. ee gee ee 44 ce oy we Labor complimen Trad while Se aL re ci eee ees sa would pees Seek announced at ea q by 2440 ne Q tra gene enon our. Of 2. 3 che christmas * appear much more desperate than it really was. After the evening the four parties reached a deal on the amendment, removing the statement promising Quebec control over federal funds. Indeed all four parties say they want this minority government to work, but how exactly will this work? If all members are present, 154 votes are needed for a majori- ty. If any three of the parties vote together, UPEI Cadre October 12, 2004 page 3 they control the house, but if this is not the case things get interesting, as some lines were drawn in the sand last week. The NDP planned to vote with the Liberals against the amendment before it was revised, while the Conservatives were to vote with the Bloc. These two rival camps appear to have emerged. The NDP and the Liberals com- bined control 153 seats, as do the Bloc and the Tories. If these parties vote together, the deciding vote belongs to an Independent MP, Chuck Cadman, a former Conservative who failed to win the party nomination in the last election. While many expect him to vote with the Conservatives, he did not reveal which side he would have voted with last week. If all four parties fail to co-oper- ate and these two camps emerge on some issues, this single Independent would hold the balance of power in the House of Commons. However, this may not happen. On Friday, the Liberals introduced tough new legisla- tion to combat child pornography which is sure to please the Conservatives who have been pushing for this. Expect the parties to work together, despite continuing to throw political barbs back and forth, and the media to use: these comments to exaggerate the situation. At the same time, remember, the average minority government has lasted 18 months. It would be a safe bet to expect more of the same in this government, because for at least a year, no party will be willing to force an election and face angry voters.