Challenges for a Conservative minority
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《加拿大医疗协会学报》
The new federal Conservative government's minority position means it will not be able to do anything too drastic, says a professor of political science at the University of Windsor.
"To the extent that [Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper] wants to undo any of the federal/provincial deals, that is going to be very hard to do," says Heather MacIvor. Although the Health Accord that the Liberals negotiated with the provinces in 2004 is not legally binding, for example, "there is a certain amount of political capital invested, especially on the provincial side," says MacIvor, a researcher on the rebuilding of the Conservative Party.
Any tampering would throw funding promises — some of which were guaranteed over 10 years — out the window. "It would be an incredible hornet's test for Harper to stir up," she said.
The Conservatives won 124 seats in the Jan. 23 election. The Liberals were reduced to 103, the Bloc Québécois dropped to 51, the NDP moved up to 29, and 1 MP, André Arthur, won a seat as an Independent. (Recounts are pending for some results.)
The majority government requires 155 seats, meaning that Harper will have to forge coalitions with other parties in the Commons, likely on an issue-by-issue basis, to remain in power.
In the early weeks of campaigning, Harper promised that any changes he made to medicare would comply with the principles of the Canada Health Act. "Anything less is the violation of a sacrosanct commitment that all governments have made to Canadians," he said.
"We must treat all patients equally for essential health care services, regardless of ability to pay — anything less is un-Canadian."
Only 4 of the 11 doctors who ran for federal office were elected — all 4 were sitting MPs. Dr. Carolyn Bennett (Toronto's St. Paul's riding), Dr. Bernard Patry (Quebec's Pierrefonds-Dollard), Dr. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre) and Dr. Keith Martin (BC's Esquimalt–Juan de Fuca) were all re-elected for the Liberals.
The 7 defeated physicians were:
? Conservative candidate Dr. Bob Mullan, who lost to Liberal Scott Brison in Nova Scotia's Kings–Hants;
? Liberal Dr. Robert Vaughan, in Ontario's Prince Edward–Hastings riding;
? Dr. Gordon Guyatt, an NDP candidate in the Ontario riding of Ancaster–Dun das–Flamborough–Westdale;
? Dr. Martin Plaisance, an NDP candidate in Quebec's Sherbrooke riding;
? Dr. Richard Mathias, who ran for the Green Party in BC's Richmond riding;
? Dr. Chris Milburn, a Green candidate in Nova Scotia's Sydney–Victoria; and
? Dr. Ron Matsusaki, trying for the Greens in PEI's Egmont riding.(Laura Eggertson and Barba)
"To the extent that [Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper] wants to undo any of the federal/provincial deals, that is going to be very hard to do," says Heather MacIvor. Although the Health Accord that the Liberals negotiated with the provinces in 2004 is not legally binding, for example, "there is a certain amount of political capital invested, especially on the provincial side," says MacIvor, a researcher on the rebuilding of the Conservative Party.
Any tampering would throw funding promises — some of which were guaranteed over 10 years — out the window. "It would be an incredible hornet's test for Harper to stir up," she said.
The Conservatives won 124 seats in the Jan. 23 election. The Liberals were reduced to 103, the Bloc Québécois dropped to 51, the NDP moved up to 29, and 1 MP, André Arthur, won a seat as an Independent. (Recounts are pending for some results.)
The majority government requires 155 seats, meaning that Harper will have to forge coalitions with other parties in the Commons, likely on an issue-by-issue basis, to remain in power.
In the early weeks of campaigning, Harper promised that any changes he made to medicare would comply with the principles of the Canada Health Act. "Anything less is the violation of a sacrosanct commitment that all governments have made to Canadians," he said.
"We must treat all patients equally for essential health care services, regardless of ability to pay — anything less is un-Canadian."
Only 4 of the 11 doctors who ran for federal office were elected — all 4 were sitting MPs. Dr. Carolyn Bennett (Toronto's St. Paul's riding), Dr. Bernard Patry (Quebec's Pierrefonds-Dollard), Dr. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre) and Dr. Keith Martin (BC's Esquimalt–Juan de Fuca) were all re-elected for the Liberals.
The 7 defeated physicians were:
? Conservative candidate Dr. Bob Mullan, who lost to Liberal Scott Brison in Nova Scotia's Kings–Hants;
? Liberal Dr. Robert Vaughan, in Ontario's Prince Edward–Hastings riding;
? Dr. Gordon Guyatt, an NDP candidate in the Ontario riding of Ancaster–Dun das–Flamborough–Westdale;
? Dr. Martin Plaisance, an NDP candidate in Quebec's Sherbrooke riding;
? Dr. Richard Mathias, who ran for the Green Party in BC's Richmond riding;
? Dr. Chris Milburn, a Green candidate in Nova Scotia's Sydney–Victoria; and
? Dr. Ron Matsusaki, trying for the Greens in PEI's Egmont riding.(Laura Eggertson and Barba)