Conservative government falls on contempt of parliament and corruption

CANADA - Allegations of corruption, lying and keeping secrets from parliament has resulted in Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government being kicked out of parliament today due to being "in contempt of parliament".

No government in the entire history of Canada has ever been removed from power due to being in contempt of parliament. It is a mark of the series of scandals and corruption within Stephen Harper's government.

A long list of legal problems is currently plaguing the Conservative party, including cheating in the last election in the "in and out scandal", a series of high security military leaks, the nuclear safety scandal, the proroguing of parliament twice to avoid scandals, Harper MPs lying about knowing about Canadian troops involved with torturing detainees in Afghanistan, the Bev Oda corruption scandal, the scandal where Stephen Harper stole a speech from the Australian Prime Minister, illegal lobbying using the Indian Affairs department, the Ottawa escort/prostitute scandal, the Guergis-Jaffer scandal, the fighter jet scandal and charges of fraud and corruption.

And to top it all off Stephen Harper stole $26 million of taxpayers money and used it for ads promoting the Conservative party.

Today's vote of non-confidence and contempt of parliament marks the start of a Spring election campaign.

(For Americans and non-Canadians reading this, this may be of interest. In Canadian politics the Prime Minister of Canada can be kicked out of office if he fails a confidence vote. In contrast American presidents cannot be kicked out so easily.)

Stephen Harper says his party's re-election campaign will be focusing on the economy, but his party's record on the economy is shoddy. His party has been spending stimulus money in their own ridings using large cheques marked with the logo of the Conservative party and ignoring the parts of Canada which need stimulus money the most.

Opposition leader Michael Ignatieff spoke both earlier today and also after Harper and talked about how Stephen Harper is out of touch with Canadians and out of control, and is ignoring the priorities of Canadians by wasting Canada's money on things like fighter jets which are not high priorities for Canadians like education, health care, the economy of all of Canada and not just Conservative ridings and that his party will stand for hope, unity and social justice.

Stephen Harper is the first Prime Minister of Canada to be found in contempt of parliament.