Meanwhile In Ottawa...

So yeah, if you haven't been paying attention to Canadian politics this week (I dunnae blame you on that) it's looking like their own version of the government shutdown play is about to lead to a no-confidence vote for PM Stephen Harper and new elections in May.

The Harper government is set to fall Friday on a non-confidence motion, plunging the country into a fifth election campaign in just over 10 years and setting the stage for a vote in early May.


The Conservatives knew their days were numbered after the opposition panned this week’s federal budget. But they would have preferred to be brought down on the budget vote, helping them to campaign on their financial plan.

Instead, the Liberals have managed to delay the vote, making their non-confidence motion the election trigger. And the theme of that motion — respect for democracy and Parliament — is something the Tories don’t want in the spotlight.

The motion chides the government for showing contempt for Parliament by failing to fully disclose the multibillion-dollar costs of its tough-on-crime agenda, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets.

While an election appears unavoidable, both the Conservatives and NDP claimed Wednesday that there was still a chance to steer clear.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois could yet change their minds on the budget.

"The opposition still have the opportunity to put Canadians’ interests first," he said. "It is not too late for them to step back.

"Our economy is not a political game."

Maybe, but if there's anything Canada has imported over the last decade from us, it's rabid conservatism.  The Conservatives took power in 2008 and avoided most of the financial crisis then, but it's caught up to our northern neighbors big time here in 2011 as Harper and the Conservatives are looking to cut social spending and increase military spending (sound familiar?)  However, opposition parties have the votes to crack the Harper government wide open, and that vote is expected tomorrow.

Harper's problem is he's stuck in no-man's land.  The cuts he's trying to make aren't big enough to please Canada's right (who want to dismantle entire programs) and are large enough to piss off Canada's left (who are angry at the tax cuts and military spending.)  When you walk down the middle of the road, you get hit by the truck, and that's exactly where Harper's heading.

Not a whole lot is expected to change (this is Canada, folks) but it could be interesting to see who emerges as the new PM and where the budget will go.