Nikalas Kryzanowski, Opinions Editor

opinions @theotherpress.ca

Our backs turn for one moment and Parliament

goes to Hi ai 4 3 By Nikalas Kryzanowski, Opinions Editor

Wat bad timing for The Other Press to go on break. Normally skinny-as-a-twig federal
politics has been full of meat and potatoes as of late. Here’s a quick recap of the events that
transpired in late November:

1. The Conservatives offer an economic update, which included a motion to end

government funds for political parties (a.k.a. campaign welfare). This would hurt every

party but the Conservatives and would save the government $1.95 per vote cast in the
last election.

2. The opposition parties, fearing for their finances, threaten to topple the government,

citing a lack of confidence in the House of Commons. This would normally result

in another election but this time the opposition does a head count in parliament and

decides, “Hey, we’ve got more guys! We could govern!” And so the three left-of-centre

parties sign an agreement to install a new Prime Minister, the most unpopular Liberal
leader ever.

3. Though this is totally legit from a legal point of view, Conservative-minded people,

painting it as an affront, hold a rally across the country for “democracy.”

4. Harper, hoping that time will reveal cracks in this bizarre coalition, wonders whether

he really has to deal with it now and asks the Governor General if she will give

everyone a six-week vacation. She agrees and suspends or “prorogues” Parliament until

January 27".

5. In the meantime, the Liberals hurriedly install Michael Ignatieff as leader.

In late January, the Conservatives will table a new budget, and the coalition will judge
whether it jives. If not, repeat steps 2,3 and 5.

Or, the whole sordid story could be put to Canadians’ judgment.

Frankly, I am in favour of the latter option. I understand that Canadians choose
Parliament, not government specifically, leaving the parliament to arrange the government;
but is this ideal? Perhaps we should elect the government directly. Doing so would allow us
to avoid the farcical situation we have now and more importantly, it would prevent the party

    

bent on tearing Canada apart from having a hand in directly dictating Canadian policy.

In my view, irreconcilable differences in Parliament should always be put to Canadians,
and this coalition loophole should be closed and more direct democracy should replace
it. Being elected to Parliament means that you have been hired by Canadians to mind
the country. If you can’t respect the role that you’ve been hired for, then it amounts to
insubordination to your employer and is grounds for termination.

Bring on another election if necessary.

 

Change is good! Do something productive!

~~By Nikalas Kryzanowski, Opinions Editor

Hu we are, back from a well earned break over the holidays, stuffed with turkey
leftovers, gift receipts in hand and grandma’s sweater on your back. You probably purged
your old binders of messy notes scrawled in that chicken scratch you call handwriting.

You now have a whole new slate of classes to go to with new profs in new rooms,
where, no matter how bad you did in the classes of your previous semester, you can come in
on day one with equal grades as all your classmates—every one of you in the same boat and
the same level of know-nothingness. On the first day, the prof will usually punch you down
with kid gloves on—did you know that you can actually get in trouble for plagiarism and
that there are computers in the library?

Don’t you just love the unsullied freshness of a new semester?

Challenge myself, bah! I’ll save that for the final exam where I teach myself the
entire course from my uncracked textbook (left pristine throughout the year so it would
fetch a higher price at the end of the semester... wait, what do you mean they changed the
edition?!).

The dawn of a new semester is full of that one intangible thing that means you’ re
perfect even if only for a week—potential! You’re full of it right now! No one can take that

away from you all in one go—it can only gradually dissipate over the course of three months

as the novelty wears off your classes and assignments pile up.

So savour this week, it’s the easiest one you'll have until April. Take advantage of
it and your potential; learn to screen print or sign up for that ethnic cooking course at the
community centre you were meaning to do. Or heck, why not get involved here at Douglas
and contribute to your campus paper with an opinion or review or even a hot local news
scoop! We look handsome on a résumé.

Or here’s an idea: get a group together and attend a few Douglas Students’ Union
meetings this winter— you know, those dozens of dollars extra that came out of your wallet
at the beginning of the semester on top of tuition? The ones you probably would have just
wasted on food and rent? Well, the DSU meets every so often to make decisions about how
to spend it, you know. They would love a big turnout at their meetings! It lets them know
you care. Find out when and where at your DSU office.

Make sure you make the most of your time here. If not, you’ll regret it. Oops, that’s not
a threat, but seriously, you’ll one day look back on these days and wish you had.

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