Canada federal election Oct. 14
CBC News will bring you the latest news from the campaign trail in our live blog every weekday from now until election day, Oct. 19.
3rd & 7 37yd
3rd & 7 37yd
B
S
O
close
close

-





-
Two similar questions now about the caretaker convention and the appointment of senators under these potentially delicate circumstances... (recall that Harper has left a lot of vacancies at the moment)
-
Notwithstanding caretaker conventions and promises made in the last few months - should the PM and Cabinet decide to request the appointment of senators in the next few days - does the GG have the discretion to decline, or delay, accepting the advice and appointing the senators?
-
Hi. My question has to do with the vacancies in the Senate. Currently there are 22 of them. Since the Prime Minister remains the Prime Minister until he steps down, no matter where his party finishes, could Stephen Harper, in a minority government position, still appoint Senators to fill those spots if it looked like he was going to defeated in the House on a confidence motion? Especially since if Justin Trudeau had a chance to fill those spots, it would give the Liberals a majority in the Senate - making it easier to pass legislation?
-
First, let's outline when the caretaker period ends. There are two conditions.
-
1) Caretaker ends when an incumbent PM resigns, a new PM is appointed and a new Cabinet formed and sworn. So if the LPC or NDP were to form government, the caretaker period would end when their Cabinet leaves Rideau Hall.
-
2) Caretaker ends if an incumber ministry's party wins a 'clear' result during the election. What 'clear' means is, well, unclear.
-
However, the literature tells us that it would ultimately be the PM's call.
-
Now, it's important to note that caretaker can end before a formal confidence vote.
-
Also, we have the precedent of Joe Clark naming senators before he meet the House in 1979.
-
But we also have the precedent of 1896 where the GG refused to accept senatorial nominations from Tupper during what we would today call a caretaker period.
-
However, Tupper had been defeated, which adds an extra layer.
-
So, to sum all that up, a new ministry could appoint senators before meeting the House first. An incumbent could do so if they won a plurality and it was accepted that the caretaker period was over.
-
More from our guest on the caretaker convention, in this blog from last Friday:
Clarifying the Caretaker Convention - Policy Options
Policy OptionsThese questions should be pretty simple to answer. Shortly after the federal election began, the Privy Council Office (PCO) released Canada’s caretaker guidelines. They’re right here for all to read. Regardless, the past weeks have seen commentators distort and misinterpret the convention. In the interest of kindness, let’s chalk the errors up to overheated rhetoric or carelessness. But to … -
Another good question based on what might happen next week:
-
Has a Canadian Prime Minister ever resigned despite having a plurality of seats following an election?
-
No case comes to mind, but I'd need to check my notes!
-
Is there a constitutional DEADLINE for forming a government after an election.
-
This is important: we always have a government in place. Always.
-
The question is who gets to head that government and for how long. That's where confidence convention and other conventions kick in.
-
But Canada is never without a ministry that can advise the Crown and exercise executive power.
-
This is a political question, so I won't blame you for ducking it. But given the close relationship between the GG and Harper, can we really trust the GG to be impartial in any of these scenarios?
-
The Office of Governor General was designed to be utterly independent and non-partisan. It is the second highest office of state, second only to the Sovereign. I personally have no doubts that the current GG will act impartially and I do not believe we have any reasons to think otherwise. Those who claim we do, I'd argue, are mistaking partiality for a proper, perhaps cautious, application of conventions.
-
-
Thanks so much for taking everyone's questions! I have one last nagging one: you talked about conventions... do you think we need these rules written down?
-
-
-
(The way some other countries have more explicit written rules about what happens...)
-
-
Our conventions are written down in numerous places. The question is whether they should be officially codified.
-
I'm not opposed to codification per se. However, as we say with the recent codification of the caretaker conventions and of the Fixed election law in the UK, there will always be differing interpretations out there.
-
And codification may in fact make things worse, since it attempts to concretize conventions that work best when they are allowed to be supple.
-
That said, if we could all agree on what a codified convention means, it might be helpful, particularly at a time when the conventions are so often misinterpreted.
-
Debate continues on that, eh? Thank you so much for taking the time to inform us all. And thanks for all the great questions, dear readers - we were only able to use a fraction of what you suggested. It's heartening for those of us working to cover this campaign to see so much participation and engagement in our democracy. (Hope that doesn't sound too cheesey... I mean it sincerely!)
-
-
Thanks to Philippe and thanks to CBC's Janyce McGregor for asking the questions. Now back to your regularly scheduled live blog.
-
We gave the blog over to the live chat before Conservative Leader Stephen Harper was finished taking questions from the media. We'll recap that now.
-
Look up. The lengths (heights!) a photographer goes to in order to get the shot. #elxn42 http://t.co/ZP0syuL6fh1:56 PM - 14 Oct 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
"We don't take away your benefits and we do not raise your taxes," says Harper. #elxn42 http://t.co/rOcQl1c5dA1:58 PM - 14 Oct 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
Stephen Harper says time to be clear - Liberals want Canadians to pay more taxes will reach into your wallets #cdnpoli #elxn421:51 PM - 14 Oct 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
Stephen Harper says other parties have 3 or 4 slogans says its time to look at the platforms #cdnpoli #elxn422:03 PM - 14 Oct 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
-
- Canadian Press
Harper on Fords & tough-on-crime agenda: Our platform is very clear & the support of that family for our party is longstanding & well known.2:23 PM - 14 Oct 2015- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
Harper: I think our position on these issues is very well known & the support we've had from those individuals for our party is longstanding2:27 PM - 14 Oct 2015- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
- Canadian Press
-
Here's a partial rundown of the questions Conservative Leader Stephen Harper took from the media and his answers:Q on opposition to marijuana yet accepting support from Rob and Doug FordA: Our position is well known. Those individuals are well known for their support of the party.Q from Catherine Cullen: Why should Canada fear Justin Trudeau?
A: Liberals don't want us to talk about the details of their platform. Increased spending of $150 billion. Challenging economic times. Liberals will launch job-killing spending spree.Q on Fahmy feeling betrayed and abandoned.
A: Have said all along that we intervened regularly, glad to see this matter has been resolved.Q: Asked again about the support of the Fords
A: Our position on these issues are clear. I'm not going to cast judgments. The support of that family for our party is well known.Q. Companies in Brantford have had to retool to compete in U.S. Jobless rate high in area. What in your trade deals will help create permanent, well-paid jobs here.
A: Series of measures. Canadian Association of Manufacturers and Exporters has been very supportive - transformation into a bright future for Canadian manufacturing. Seeing higher wages. Our deals will give free-trade access to two-thirds of global economy in next century. -
Finally, here are some photos from the event. (All photos: Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)by CBC Newsby CBC Newsby CBC News
-
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau made a campaign stop in Welland, Ont. today. (All photos Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)by CBC Newsby CBC Newsby CBC News
-
3:07 PM - 14 Oct 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
2:01 PM - 14 Oct 2015- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
1:56 PM - 14 Oct 2015- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite