Contributed by: evilscientist
This myth is only valid if you don't understand our political system. In this instance, since Harper keeps repeating it ad nauseam, it really speaks to one of two possibilities. One, Harper himself doesn't understand our political system or two, Harper does understand the system but is knowingly lying to the Canadian people about it. Either possibility is not one that looks favourably on a Prime Minister. This Tory myth works best on those Canadians who failed their civics classes. Those who didn't will know that in the Westminster model, you don't elect a government, you elect a parliament. You charge your member of parliament to set up the government. If one party has a majority of seats, things are straight forward, if not, then things get complicated. Generally a minority parliament will select the party with the most seats. With our system of responsible government, that party must maintain the support of a majority of the House to remain the government. If it doesn't that government falls. At this point one of two things happens, if another party can garner the support of a majority of MP's, it can form a new government without an election. If another party doesn't come forward, then an election can be held. Neither option is automatic, and both are constitutional.
So the forming of a coalition government by the current opposition is both legal and constitutional and definitely is not an overturning of the last election. Statements to the contrary are patently false.
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Evilness
http://www.evilscientist.ca/article.php?story=20081203183448851