Heh.. Harper got most of his ideas *from* GW -- he's our "mini Bush".

The Queen is our ruler, and the GG is her representative in Canada. Harper is *her* "prime minister" (first minister among ministers).

The Q/GG have little real power, but one of those powers is deciding to dissolve parliament or not. Another is granting the break that Harper wanted.

Since Harper appointed her (because she's probably been a nice supporter of his party in the past), he has more influence on her than is healthy. In this case he seems to have managed to intimidate her into allowing him to withdraw a new parliament with no particular democratic justification.

So we have no reps until the end of January now.

Ugh.