Now that Parliament has given us a gift-wrapped constitutional crisis, it’s tempting to shake the box and guess what it contains.
Let’s make a couple of assumptions: Harper loses a vote of confidence on the economic update, and Governor General Michaelle Jean accepts the Liberal/NDP offer to form a government. What would the coalition cabinet look like?
Two more assumptions: The coalition, as a cost-saving gesture, cuts the cabinet from 40 portfolios to 30 or so. The NDP, with a third of the coalition MPs, gets 10.
Which New Democrats ought to go into the cabinet, and in what jobs? And since this is the equivalent of fantasy hockey, let’s put a shameless B.C. bias into our speculations.
First, though, the easterners. Obviously, Jack Layton should be deputy prime minister, whoever the Liberals pick as PM, but let’s put him into Environment also.
His wife Olivia Chow is a natural for Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism. Joe Comartin looks good for Justice. Tom Mulcair will shake up Finance and cheer up Quebec.
Now the British Columbians, women first: Let’s put Dawn Black in National Defence, and Libby Davies in Health. Jean Crowder will do fine in Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Denise Savoie goes to Transportation, Infrastructure, and Communications.
For International Trade, let’s assign Peter Julian. And Nathan Cullen can go to Natural Resources and Energy.
Those 10 Dippers would add a wonderfully surreal look to the coalition front bench, while inducing visible nausea in the leader of the Conservative Opposition – whoever that turns out to be.
The Hook invites your suggestions for members of the Coalition Fantasy Cabinet – Liberals, New Democrats, even Blocquistes.
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realisticman
3 years ago
Ho Ho Ho!
"Tom Mulcair will shake up Finance and cheer up Quebec."
Yeah, right. The Québec Liberals would love that. It will sure demonstrate how the new Liberal government sneers at Québec. Québecers voted massively for the NDP, giving them a whopping 12% of the vote.
Ignore the 88% that didn't vote for the Dippers, who cares it's silly season. Cheer up!
Maybe I should smoke some of that stuff.
Frank
3 years ago
Crawford
Excellent choices, personally I'd like to see someone like Libby as Minister of Finance. Maybe then we'd finally have a gov't that works for the majority of people and not just the richest 20%.
Of course next election there will be fewer Conservative voters anyway because I think half of them are on the verge of heart attacks they're so angry.
Frank
3 years ago
Let's all sing
Is it just me or is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas?
OilbertaRedTory
3 years ago
reality Hits Harper Hard
When karma bites his dogma, will he stay or will he go ?
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=sEik1fg6rYY
brewster789
3 years ago
Pleeeeez!!!
I'm afraid Stephane will have to look for a new job, but ANY coalition to rid us of "Steve the Petulant" can only be for the good of my country
asp
3 years ago
~1 million green voters says...
Elizabeth May for finance minister.
Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Health and Welfare
Perhaps Libby should be the Minister of Health and Welfare?
Mr. Beer N. Hockey
3 years ago
The coupe ringleaders ought
The coupe ringleaders ought to offer the Conservatives positions in the new government. They are not all total boobs. But not Harper.
Frank
3 years ago
Mr Beer
Actually that's not a bad idea. I think a few reasonable Tories added to cabinet would be a good move.
OilbertaRedTory
3 years ago
reasonable Tories ...
... were all driven out many years ago.
This wrecking crew are not Tories - they are unCanadian continentalists, economic neo-liberals, theocratic, unjust, anti-democratic ideological schemers thieves and liars.
On their good days.
Frank
3 years ago
Wilfrid
Yes, I would think that was fantastic (in the words of Bill Z.) if Libby was minister of health and welfare.
munroe
3 years ago
Don Davies as Minister of
Don Davies as Minister of Labour!
sirjohna
3 years ago
'Excellent choices,
'Excellent choices, personally I'd like to see someone like Libby as Minister of Finance.'
oh my god! this is a joke, right frankie-boy? please say this is a joke. i thought dawn black in defence and jack 'the used car salesman' layton as deputy were funny enough, but now i'm on the floor screaming with laughter.
G West
3 years ago
Oh Well
The old dominion has lived through Joe 'Can't count' Clark; Brian 'Never met a bag man I didn't like' Mulroney; Jean 'I put pepper on my food' Chretien; Paul 'let the provinces pay for it' Martin and Pee Wee Rambo 'the boy who jumps out of airplanes without a parachute' Harper....
I guess we'll survive a few 'my God I can't believe it's a coalition that represents the majority of Canadians' Cabinet Members'
After all, it's been a long time since the people actually had a govenment that represented broad interests and not narrow prejudices.
Loretta
3 years ago
Constitutional crisis?
This is not a constitutional crisis, as it is being referred to in this article and by others.
This is a Conservative minority government crisis but it doesn't threaten constitution or our country, therefore the term is being used incorrectly.
No thoughts on potential cabinet ministers, etc. from me yet.
G West
3 years ago
Valid point Loretta
If Harper can't muster the votes on confidence the Governor General will pass the baton to a new bunch in a coalition - and rue the day he forgot that parliamentary democracy works that way.
NO constitutional crisis - that will only happen if Stephen tries what McKenzie King did to Arthur Meighen.
I think it is interesting to speculate though.
On the other hand, the Conmen are in full retreat this morning, so I expect the vote on December 8 will be about the equivalent of saying Yea to motherhood and apple pie.
The education of Stephen Harper continues apace - sadly, he's a slow learner. But I guess fundamentalist ideals die hard.
Frank
3 years ago
Harper
Our PM is humiliating himself, backing down on all fronts. I expect any minuite now he'll say "I'm sorry I was such an idiot and please please let me keep being prime minister".
OilbertaRedTory
3 years ago
for the Energy Portfolio
Peter Lougheed
http://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/?p=365
[accidentally posted in the wrong thread - oops !]