The Cons have called by-elections for
If you accept the position of the unnamed Conservatives (talking on the record is so uncool) that the Ontario by-elections should be delayed until after the Ontario provincial, just for argument’s sake, that still doesn’t explain Deceivin’ Steven’s decision to delay the by-elections in British Columbia and Saskatchewan as well.
Our unnamed Conservative friends speculate these by-elections could be delayed well into 2008. Some six months by my calendar. Why not call them at the same time as the
Is dodging the judgment of voters really accountability?
Monday, July 30, 2007
Briefly, on by-elections
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4 comments:
tactical positioning of by-elections is a sad reality. I think it should be for Elections Canada to call by-elections and take the decision out of partisan hands. The only exception should be if a seat vacates within say 6 months of the new fixed election dates, which by the time an election is held and the MP is sworn in his/her feet will barely be under the desk before the writ is dropped again.
...that still doesn’t explain Deceivin’ Steven’s decision to delay the by-elections in British Columbia and Saskatchewan as well.
Stephen Owen's resignation was effective July 27th, so Harper could have set the by-election date for Vancouver Quadra.
However, Gary Merasty's resignation is effective Aug 31st, so Harper will have to wait until then, at the earliest, to set a by-election date for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River.
I agree Mark, everyone plays with timing and some de-politicization via Elections Canada is worth exploring.
CJ, re: Owen and Merasty, that's true enough. However, given that the anonymous sources (whom I suspect are pretty authoritative, John Reynolds was saying the same recently too) indicate Harper has decided to wait until at least after the Ontario vote, and even into 2008, to call the non-Quebec byelections, I think the questions as to why wait so long remain valid.
By early 2008, the Harper government may have fallen :)
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