The Globe and Mail Calls for Harper's Resignation

 
The Globe and Mail claims to be Canada's national newspaper. It has a status in Canada that's comparable to that of the New York Times in the USA. Traditionally, the editorial staff of the Globe and Mail has been more conservative than most of the country and they have supported Stephen Harper in the past.¹

Today's editorial calls on Harper to resign for the good of his party and the good of the country [Competence and trust in question].

Not only has Mr. Harper's government failed to adequately address the economic crisis; it has created a political crisis and potentially a national-unity crisis in the process. Rather than working co-operatively on measures to strengthen the economy – something the opposition initially appeared willing to do – Parliament is now locked down, with the government's legitimacy undermined. Meanwhile, the Conservatives' excessive attacks on the Bloc Québécois, and indirectly on the millions of Quebeckers who voted for that party, have fuelled regional divides and reinvigorated the sovereigntist movement – raising a prospect of Quebec's federalist Liberals losing power in Monday's election, or at least failing to win the majority they seemed on track for.

If there is a saving grace in all this, it is that anger with the Conservatives is directed more toward Mr. Harper than his party. That raises the hope that, were he replaced as leader, the greatest barrier to inter-party co-operation with a Conservative minority government would be removed.

It is on that end, rather than the ascent of a coalition government, that the Liberals ought to focus. By hinting that the replacement of Mr. Harper as Tory leader could lessen the crisis, the Liberals would make clear that they are not engaged in a mere power grab – and allow themselves time to resolve their own leadership issues. If the Conservatives accepted that proposition, they could demonstrate that personal interests were secondary to those of the country. Both parties, in other words, could behave like adults. And the economy, rather than the personality of a single polarizing figure, could retake its rightful place as the primary focus of this Parliament.

I agree with the sentiment here. Replacing Harper as leader of the Conservative Party would go a long way toward restoring democracy to Canada.

Incidentally, let's not lose site of the fact that in addition to a provocative budget that the opposition could not accept, and in addition to stoking the flames of bigotry in Western Canada, Harper also misrepresented the nature of our parliamentary system by falsely claiming that it was illegitimate for Parliament to vote him out of office [Harper wrong on democracy claims: experts]. A man like Harper does not deserve to lead my country.

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1. Canadian Cynic provided a link to the Globe and Mail editorial that endorsed Stephen Harper last October 9th. I urge everyone who has an interest in this issue to read that editorial, it is astonishing in it's accuracy and warning of what might happen: Harper is growing into the job .