Postmedia News reports that, “Prime Minister Stephen Harper will endure a couple of more days in the House of Commons before it wraps up its fall session this week. …(But) there are some political time bombs ticking away that could easily blow his government off course early next year.”
“One of the biggest questions is whether Canadians will be whipped into a frenzy against a border-security deal that Harper’s government is quietly negotiating with the United States.”
“The business community is welcoming the initiative, but opposition parties and groups such as the Council of Canadians say they aren’t so sure. They say the deal is being negotiated in secret and, if bungled, could compromise Canadian sovereignty and infringe the privacy rights of this country’s citizens.”
Yesterday, CBC Radio reported that, “Stuart Trew, trade campaigner with the Council of Canadians, says talk of a deal is worrying. ‘When you talk about perimeter security, you’re talking about one set of rules for the entire continent,’ Trew said. ‘Who’s going to set those rules? Well, it’s not going to be Canada, it’s going to be the United States.'”
ELECTION?
The Postmedia News article adds, “With the Tories riding high in recent public opinion polls, speculation is mounting over whether Harper will try to spark a spring election.”
PROROGATION?
“There’s talk of a possible prorogation to clear the way for a Throne Speech that would act as a springboard for a budget and subsequent election campaign.”
“Right now, all this is mere speculation. Harper has to keep his public opinion ratings high, and avoid getting blown apart by the political time bombs (the Security perimeter, disclosure on Afghan detainees, their new legislation ON refugees) that lie in wait.”
The full Postmedia News article is at http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/story.html?id=3966709.
