Canadians Returning to the Polls!!??
 

I know that this is the nature of minority governments, but I really don't feel like returning to the polls just yet. However I didn't think the sponsorship scandal would turn into such a mess. I don't even know who I would vote for...

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/natio...lec050413.html

Martin warns of early election
Last Updated Wed, 13 Apr 2005 14:29:59 EDT
CBC News
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Paul Martin suggested political opportunism will trigger an early election, but he said such a vote should be delayed at least until the Gomery commission has reported.


INDEPTH: Sponsorship Scandal


Paul Martin in Ottawa on Wednesday.
Martin raised the possibility a Conservative-separatist alliance could topple his minority Liberal government and force an election.

"Obviously if Stephen Harper and the Bloc Québécois are going to come together to force an election, then there's going to be an election," said Martin Wednesday, after a Liberal caucus meeting.

Martin said that recent revelations from the inquiry into the federal sponsorship scandal have hurt him and his party, but he suggested Canadians need to hear the conclusions reached by Justice John Gomery, the inquiry's commissioner, before an election is called.

On Tuesday, Harper said he might not wait for Gomery's report, which will probably not be delivered until at least the fall, before his party votes to bring down Martin's minority government.


FROM APRIL 12, 2005: Parties hint spring election is possible

But Martin said defending the integrity of the political process "matters a great deal more than the ambitions of any political leader – Stephen Harper, Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton or myself."

Conservative, New Democrat and Bloc Québécois MPs have been stepping up plans for a spring election as polls show the Liberals' support plummeting.

Some recent polls have shown the Conservatives ahead of the Liberals.

I think it all depends on how much of a political impact the Sponsorship Scandal makes publically - and how willing the public is to have another election...

While other governments have had serious issues (Mulroney) there hasn't been any recent minority governments that have had to contend with a scandal.

In the end if an election happens it'll come down to whether or not the various oposition parties think they can make a significant enough gain to justify a second hit to the respective party's coffers...

It would really depend on how everything goes. Judging from the polls right now, the Conservatives and Liberals rank very close, at 31% and 30% respectively. If an election were to be held today, we'll be heading towards another minority government.