Federal election is Harper's to call - no matter what he says

We're likely days away from another Federal election campaign. Jim Flaherty's budget was not to the liking of any of the opposition parties, making it a good bet that it won't pass the house of commons. In Canada's parliamentary system, that makes it nearly automatic that we'll be going to the polls.

Mr. Harper and his Conservatives are trying very hard to lay the blame for the failure of parliament on the opposition, and in particular the NDP since the Liberals and Bloc have been emphatic in their disapproval before even seeing the text.

The Conservatives seem to be of the belief that the opposition has some sort of "duty" to support Conservative party policy by voting with the Government. In fact, the opposition's duty is to support the voters who put their respective representatives into parliament.

It's Mr. Harper that has taken on the responsibility to maintain the confidence of the house, by requesting and accepting the office of Prime Minister at the start of the session. So, if we are going to the polls, it is Mr Harper's government that has lost confidence. Trying to shift "blame" to the opposition is simply complaining that the opposition isn't Conservative. That's because Mr Harper is leading a minority government, a small fact that he seems to have trouble coming to terms with.