Changes

In addition, Harper focused his energy on rebuilding the Canadian Forces and the [[Afghanistan War|War in Afghanistan]].  

In addition, Harper focused his energy on rebuilding the Canadian Forces and the [[Afghanistan War|War in Afghanistan]].  

In 2007 Harper promised Canadian farmers over $1 billion Canadian in farm subsidies but at the same time promised to end the Wheat Board of Canada's sales monopoly in Western Canada,<ref>[http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/ cwb.ca]</ref> (a government group that manipulates the prices of wheat and barley through [[supply management]]).  Some farmers believe this would cost the Canadian farming industry billions of dollars in lost revenues while others feel the industry would benefit by allowing farmers in the West to market and sell their produce as they see fit; just as farmers in the east are allowed to do. The [[United States]] also wanted the Wheat Board of Canada removed from power because it claims price fixing is unfair to free-trade. Wheat exports to the United States account for only 10% of Canada's wheat production.

In 2007 Harper promised Canadian farmers over $1 billion Canadian in farm subsidies but at the same time promised to end the Wheat Board of Canada's sales monopoly in Western Canada,<ref>[http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/ cwb.ca]</ref> (a government group that manipulates the prices of wheat and barley through [[supply management]]).  Some farmers believed this would cost the Canadian farming industry billions of dollars in lost revenues while others felt the industry would benefit by allowing farmers in the West to market and sell their produce as they saw fit; just as farmers in the east were allowed to do. The [[United States]] also wanted the Wheat Board of Canada removed from power because it claims price fixing is unfair to free-trade. Wheat exports to the United States accounted for only 10% of Canada's wheat production.

A fixed election date measure was passed, setting the next general election for October, 2009.  However, the measure was not binding, and on September 7, 2008, Harper advised the Governor-General to call a general election for October 14, 2008, one year early.  The Conservatives won the election, increasing their total number of seats, however they did not win an outright majority of the seats in the House of Commons. This left open the possibility of the remaining parties forming a coalition and displacing the Conservative government, and an unofficial Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition was formed a month after the election; however, Harper successfully had parliament suspended until February 2009 before the coalition could bring forth a vote of no confidence. Liberal leader [[Stephane Dion]] resigned his position after the suspension of parliament, and succeeding leader [[Michael Ignatieff]] has distanced himself from the coalition, meaning that the Harper government was theoretically safe for the foreseeable future (although not truly safe, like any minority government).

A fixed election date measure was passed, setting the next general election for October, 2009.  However, the measure was not binding, and on September 7, 2008, Harper advised the Governor-General to call a general election for October 14, 2008, one year early.  The Conservatives won the election, increasing their total number of seats, however they did not win an outright majority of the seats in the House of Commons. This left open the possibility of the remaining parties forming a coalition and displacing the Conservative government, and an unofficial Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition was formed a month after the election; however, Harper successfully had parliament suspended until February 2009 before the coalition could bring forth a vote of no confidence. Liberal leader [[Stephane Dion]] resigned his position after the suspension of parliament, and succeeding leader [[Michael Ignatieff]] has distanced himself from the coalition, meaning that the Harper government was theoretically safe for the foreseeable future (although not truly safe, like any minority government).