• Listen to this segment

The US is not the only country whose financial recession has caused a political shift to the left. In Canada, political parties opposed to Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper have formed a coalition to oust him as the country’s economic situation worsens. On Monday, the Liberal Party led by Stephane Dion joined with the New Democratic Party and gained the outside support of the separatist Bloc Quebecois. Together the coalition has the numbers in Parliament to pass a vote of no confidence next week on the recently re-elected Harper government. The current political crisis intensified after the government released fiscal proposals aimed at bolstering Canada’s flailing economy. Opposition parties found Harper’s plans insufficient and criticized a number of provisions including the defunding of political parties. Hoping to form a new coalition government, the Liberals and New Democrats have put forth a stimulus package of their own which would focus government efforts on public works projects. The fate of this political struggle ultimately lies with Governor General Michaelle Jean who has cut short an overseas European trip to resolve the crisis. Her position holds the authority to either approve the coalition bid to form a new government or call for new elections.

GUEST: Justin Podur, Professor of Environmental Studies at York University, Toronto based activist and writer, blogs at www.killingtrain.com.