Canadian history has been made and future references for precedence set. The governor general has suspended parliament based on the request of a sitting prime minister.

This decision will undoubtedly fire the opposition in whichever form they take, coalition or individual parties, as they challenge Stephen Harper and his Conservatives on seemingly undemocratic and unfair reply to the situation. The simple fact of the matter is everything that has happened has been well within the rules of the parliamentary system we live under.

The fact that should upset Canadians most on each side of the partisan line is that each party has done what they did with only their own party’s best interest in mind. The interest of Canada is the furthest thing from the mind of anyone in this current prorogued parliament.

The Prime Minister will face the Governor General to realize his government’s future.

They both have options in the situation and need to leave emotion at the doorstep of 1 Sussex Drive. The GG is expected to either impose the coalition or call an election, she has a quiet third choice that the networks, especially the CBC, do not report. She can simply tell the PM to return to the house and revise the confidence motion for re-reading in the house.This option provides a calmer and less-expensive way to return the house to a functioning level again, leaving in tact the government that was just elected by Canadians 6-weeks ago.

Because the GG takes a great deal of creedence in the Prime Minister’s advice there is a fourth and very dangerous option for the current government. They could suggest a prorogue of the house (time out) in order to pass the expected confidence vote on Monday and return to the house on a timeline of their choosing. The problem and potential threat to them should they choose this option is the view from the rest of the nation. Simply packing up your toys and refusing to play is the worst thing Harper could suggest at this point. He and the party are currently enjoying a heightened level of support through empathy because of the potential slide into power by one of the least popular Liberal leaders in Canadian history (although very legal in our system of government). Just as the coalition is taking every possible opportunity at the risk of everything Canadians have valued in the past, Harper risks the support that came from the opposition to the coalition’s actions if he prorogues parliament.

Make no mistake about this political issue in the nation, although legal and although it stemmed from a mistake made by the PM it risks Canadian principles in every form. Stay tuned.