Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada — Robert Nicholson

Leader of the Government in the Senate — Marjory LeBreton

Minister of National Defence — Peter MacKay
Minister of Public Safety — Vic Toews
Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women — Rona Ambrose
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development — Diane Finley
Minister of International Cooperation — Bev Oda
Minister of Foreign Affairs — John Baird
President of the Treasury Board & Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario — Tony Clement
Minister of Finance — Jim Flaherty
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons — Peter Van Loan
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism — Jason Kenney
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board — Gerry Ritz
Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture) — Christian Paradis
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages — James Moore
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec — Denis Lebel
Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency — Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway — Keith Ashfield
Minister of the Environment — Peter Kent
Minister of Labour — Lisa Raitt
Minister of National Revenue — Gail Shea
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development — John Duncan
Minister of Veterans Affairs — Steven Blaney
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway — Edward Fast
Minister of Natural Resources — Joe Oliver
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada — Peter Penashue
Associate Minister of National Defence — Julian Fantino

Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie) — Bernard Valcourt
Minister of State and Chief Government Whip — Gordon O’Connor
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) — Maxime Bernier
Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs) — Diane Ablonczy
Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification) — Lynne Yelich
Minister of State (Transport) — Steven Fletcher
Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) — Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Finance) — Ted Menzies
Minister of State (Democratic Reform) — Tim Uppal
Minister of State (Seniors) — Alice Wong
Minister of State (Sport) — Bal Gosal
 
 
 
[ Source ]

 
 
• Universal Health Care — Under Stephen Harper — NO.
   
   
  With a majority, Stephen Harper will end universal health care in Canada: http://is.gd/eKs4kh #cdnpoli #elxn41 #cv11

 
 

• Women’s Rights — Under Stephen Harper — NO.
   
   
  Harper’s minority gov’t removed “equality” from SWC mandate—w/ majority Harper will erode women’s rights: http://is.gd/g4VvJG #elxn41

 
 

• Maternal Health — Under Stephen Harper — NO.
   
   
  Harper ended funding for safe abortions in the third world—w/ a majority Harper will make abortion illegal here: http://is.gd/qzZvtD #elxn41

 
 

• Same-Sex Marriage — Under Stephen Harper — NO.
   
   
  In 2006, w/ a minority gov’t, Harper declared same-sex marriage issue closed—what will Harper do w/ a majority? http://is.gd/GwBJnr #elxn41

 
 

• Death Penalty — Under Stephen Harper — YES.
   
   
  Another reason why a CPC majority is a bad idea… Stephen Harper supports the death penalty: http://is.gd/x1hjgL #CPC #cdnpoli #elxn41

 
 

• Per-Vote Subsidy — Under Stephen Harper — NO.
   
   
  Stephen Harper will be happy with zero opposition, no Parliament. Dictatorships are started just like this, people. #cdnpoli #elxn41 #cv11

 
 
Follow @somecanuckchick for more #cdnpoli + #elxn41 + #cv11 tweets.

For the first time in the history of Canada, a government — Stephen Harper’s Conservative government — has been found in contempt of Parliament.

That means the majority of the MPs in the House of Commons found Stephen Harper and the Conservative government in contempt of Parliament.

How did we get here?

The Harper government had big plans: super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. But the Harper government offered up very little by way of information and failed to disclose even less details — often citing ‘Cabinet Confidence’ when repeatedly asked what these big ticket items were going cost Canadian taxpayers.

Canada’s Parliamentary Process requires that MPs debate and decide the merit of any government’s plans — even the Harper government’s plans for super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc.

That means, MPs need to see the actual estimates and real figures for these big ticket items.

For months now, the Harper government refused to provide adequate, complete and true information regarding how much these super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. would cost Canadian taxpayers.

Not knowing how much these super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. would cost Canadian taxpayers makes it impossible for MPs to debate and decide the merit of these big ticket items.

That in mind, MPs sought a ruling from the Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House initially ruled that the Harper government had not been forthcoming and gave the Harper government another chance to provide all the information requested.

Again, the Harper government failed to provide adequate, complete and true information regarding how much these super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. would cost Canadian taxpayers.

Finally, the House of Commons moved to find the Harper government in contempt. With 156 Yeas/Pour and 145 Nays/Contre, the Speaker of the House declared the non-confidence motion carried.

And then what happened?

Shortly thereafter, Stephen Harper held a press conference…

Prior to this press conference, Stephen Harper told the press gallery that he would be reading from a prepared statement and would not be taking any questions.

At no time during his prepared statement did Stephen Harper even acknowledge the contempt ruling.

In fact, rather than talk about the vote of non-confidence which just brought down his Conservative government, Stephen Harper opted to talk about a budget that never passed — a budget that never will pass now that the 40th Parliament has been dissolved.

And at the end of his prepared statement, Stephen Harper did not take any questions.

What happens now?

Tomorrow, Stephen Harper will walk across the street from 24 Sussex Drive to Rideau Hall and ask the Governor General of Canada for an election…

Here we go!

Questions/comments? Email somecanuckchick.

You have been warned.

In other news, T-Minus 24 days until Parliament resumes… how do I satiate my taste for Politics until then?

Stephen Harper has dissolved Parliament.

In other words, the (current) Prime Minister of Canada has called an election; this, despite passing Fixed Election Date Legislation.

Instead, we Canadians will be going to the polls October 14, 2008 because the Stephen Harper cannot play well with others, much less respect his own legislation.

With any luck, Stephen Harper will be ousted. *fingers crossed*