New
Canadian leader's first test to forge a minority govt
By Michel Comte
AFP
OTTAWA
Petroleumworld.com 01 26 06
Stephen Harper faced his first tough political test Wednesday
as Canada's conservative prime minister-elect as he sought to
forge a new minority government from disparate interests.
Fresh from an election victory that saw his Conservative Party
end 12 years of Liberal rule in Monday's general election, Harper
faces a fractious Canadian parliament after ousting Prime Minister
Paul Martin's scandal-tainted Liberals.
Harper's rookie team faces a challenging task delivering the "change"
he promised voters during the campaign. Press reports suggest
Harper is not going to rush the process which will require some
nimble political diplomacy.
To govern, Harper must cosy up to the separatist Bloc Quebecois
and the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP), as both parties already
jockey for positions.
The Globe and Mail newspaper said in an editorial: "Compromise
is required if Mr. Harper wishes to enact the controversial parts
of his platform. If he pushes forward by degrees, there is no
reason that his government cannot survive and accomplish a great
deal."
The Toronto newspaper added that opposition parties will also
have to "find ways to accomodate" the Conservatives
to avoid a snap election.
Harper walked his two children to school Wednesday morning, before
attending a series of key meetings with close advisors and officials
intended to ease him into the prime minister's residence at 24
Sussex Drive.
He is due to be officially sworn into office sometime over the
next two weeks.
With little fanfare, Harper flew into Ottawa Tuesday night after
nervously awaiting the poll results in his hometown of Calgary
in western Canada.
"This morning our transition team began its work," Harper
told supporters gathered in a hanger at Ottawa airport.
"It has a lot of meetings planned for me today and tomorrow,"
he said, after vowing to hike military spending, cut consumption
taxes, clean up government and improve frayed relations with the
United States.
Harper's transition team is led by Canada's former ambassador
to Washington, Derek Burney, and the ex chief of staff to former
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
Canada's de-facto head of state, the representative of Britain's
Queen Elizabeth II in Canada, Governor General Michaelle Jean
formally asked Harper to form a government Tuesday night after
Martin tendered his resignation.
Martin will, however, stay on for a few weeks as power is transferred
and Harper chooses a cabinet.
Harper is expected to try and balance the regional sensibilities
of this vast country in a smaller cabinet with members from Quebec,
Ontario and disaffected Western Canada, particularly oil-rich
and socially conservative Alberta province.
He promised portfolios for francophone Quebec and Ontario, Canada's
economic hub, if the Conservatives made breakthroughs in those
provinces. And they did, winning their first 10 seats in Quebec
and nearly doubling to 40 their representation in Ontario.
In his victory speech late Monday, Harper listed his five top
priorities: A new law to clean up government and avoid scandals
that plagued the Liberals; tax cuts; tougher crime laws to douse
gang-related gun violence; the reduction of hospital waiting times;
and money for child care.
US President George W. Bush called Harper Wednesday to offer his
congratulations and Harper has said he wants to improve Canada's
relations with Washington which soured over the Iraq war and a
trade dispute.
AFP
01/25/06
Copyright
© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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