Harper To Offer Cabinet Positions to Entire Liberal Caucus

Stephen Harper has expanded his cabinet from twenty-six to fifty-seven. However, none of those positions have immediately been filled. Prime Minister Harper indicated that the positions will be filled when they have found appropriate candidates. Harper then strongly hinted that he felt those candidates would come form other parties. Some pundits have speculated that the additional thirty-one cabinet positions are being used to lure more Liberal MPs or MPs from other parties into the Conservative caucus. Assuming all thirty-one new cabinet positions are filled with MPs from other parties the Conservatives will be able to form a majority government. Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois leadership have cried foul that the move is a dirty trick to attempt to form a majority government and an affront to democracy. Harper maintains that the Conservative Party is an umbrella party and anyone is welcome, that seems to include MPs that were elected under other party banners mere weeks prior.

The Conservatives offering cabinet positions to members of other parties follows in the wake of former Liberal David Emerson switching parties days after the election to join the Conservative cabinet. Some of Emerson’s constituents are calling for him to resign and run in a by-election, Emerson has indicated he has no plans to do so. It is unclear how Emerson would fare as a Conservative in his ridding, the Conservative candidate finished third behind the winning Liberal, Emerson, and the second place NDP candidate. Conservative leaning news papers who supported the Conservatives in the election have offered muted commentary, with none condemning the move. This is in stark contrast of the papers long and inflammatory comments after Belinda Stronach crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals, also becoming a cabinet minister.

Political Scientists warn that the move could increase cynicism in an electorate that is already brimming with it. University of Toronto Political Scientist Kevin Barns said, “The Conservatives got elected on a platform of anti-corruption and cleaning up politics, many Canadians voted for them because they thought the Conservatives would behave differently than the Conservatives. When the Conservatives get a elected and immediately start playing dirty politics it will not be surprising if this further alienates voters.”