Sneaky Harper/Conservative attempt to bring down govt

[GeekyBoyTO]

From CP24:

Not Confident Of Victory


Despite the fact poll after poll indicates the majority of Canadians don’t want an immediate election, it appears the Conservatives aren’t willing to wait.

They were thwarted Thursday in a surprise attempt to bring down the Liberal minority in Ottawa.

The Tories tried to sneak through an amendment to an otherwise routine bill in the House of Commons, and if it had passed, it could have triggered a non-confidence vote and the fall of the federal Grits.

But the Speaker of the House saw through the gambit and ruled it out of order, quashing the chance to put the government, in leader Stephen Harper’s words, “out of its miseryâ€.

The Tories have made it clear they’re not willing to wait for results from the Gomery Inquiry into the sponsorship scandal. And they received further impetus on Wednesday, when some of former program head Chuck Guite’s previously censored testimony was released.

The bureaucrat testified both then-Finance Minister Paul Martin and former Industry Minister John Manley were aware of a deal to funnel money to a Quebec Liberal-friendly ad firm.

Both men adamantly deny the charge, insisting Guite’s information was hearsay and that he’s repeatedly changed his story.

Things should calm down a bit over the next few days, as all four party leaders travel to Holland to mark the 60th anniversary of the country’s liberation in WWII.

But it appears almost certain the Conservatives won’t give up after that temporary cease fire. They’re expected to introduce a full non-confidence motion on May 18th, although the Liberals have already asked the Speaker to rule that effort out of order, too.

Martin has promised to call a vote within 30 days after Justice John Gomery issues his final report on the spending disaster. But that may not happen until early next year.

Well, is this the Harper/Conservative modus operandi?

GB

 

[EnviroTO]

The Conservatives are starved for power. Their party financing probably relies on them getting into power so they can reward their corporate and private supporters with untendered deals, special financing, and public appointments. Anyone who thinks pocket padding government friendly companies and individuals will be less in a Conservative government isn't thinking straight. P3 deals (aka Private-Public Partnership, aka Private Pocket Padding) are a favourite of the Conservatives. Airbus deals, golf courses and cottages on known environmentally sensitive lands, etc, etc. I don't think they are any better.

 

[samplain]

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper whispers to Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppes during a Holocaust remembrance ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Thursday.

 

[GeekyBoyTO]

Hmm, Harper's "hidden agenda" - legalizing same-sex marriage so he can finally form a "conjugal relationship" with Duceppe.

GB

 

[afransen TO]

If the Liberals were smart, they could use that photo to be the graphical representation of Harper getting into bed with the sovereignist movement. Almost amazing that Harper's handlers would allow such a photo op to occur.

 

[GeekyBoyTO]

afransen:

It already made the cover of the Globe...

GB

 

[blixa442]

The Tories have made it clear they?re not willing to wait for results from the Gomery Inquiry into the sponsorship scandal.

...I am anxiously holding my breath to see the results of this. It's almost as it it's being implied that the Liberals are somehow going to be exonerated.

 

[EnviroTO]

They have also made it clear that regardless of whether or not Canadians want an election they will push for one. They don't care what Canadians want. Makes you want to vote for them doesn't it?

 

[mpolo2]

That was a nice piece of unbiased, objective journalism. It would not have seemed out of place had CP24 been just a user name on this thread.

 

[Mislav]

I would like to see this government fall. Can you honestly look into Paul Martin's face and say that he's trustworthy?

 

[EnviroTO]

I trust him more than Harper. Every time I see Harper I am waiting to see something behind him to catch fire. Harpers whole personality seems cold.

 

[Mislav]

I trust him more than Harper. Every time I see Harper I am waiting to see something behind him to catch fire. Harpers whole personality seems cold.

I think Harper is more honest than Martin. Although many liberal followers will immediately hit the panic button as soon as they hear his name or the word "Conservative", there is really no reason to believe that he is less trustworthy than Martin. All fear of him or the Conservatives is pretty much the result of people's prejudices and Liberal propaganda.

As for his personality being cold, I don't think that's the case. He can control himself well in public as opposed to Jack Layton who's always angry about something. I actually had the oppurtunity to meet Layton and I can tell you that he's not the personality I would like to see govern this country: he takes politics a bit too personally. In addition to that, his wife Olivia Chow is a well known anti-nightlife activist, and you know how I feel about those people.

 

[afransen TO]

"All fear of him or the Conservatives is pretty much the result of people's prejudices and Liberal propaganda."

Nice try.

The reason I fear what Harper would do stems from his past policy balloons, including the Alberta firewall, and the so-called "Belgium waffle" (where he proposed we turn Canada into an even more dysfunctional federation), plus his until very recently strong support for/affiliation with the Fraser Institute and its policies.

Sorry, my distaste for Harper is grounded in the reality of his policies and what he really wants to do (which he's trying to paper over in a desperate attempt to get elected).

I'll take an extra helping of Liberal corruption when the alternative is bad policy after bad policy from the Conservatives.

Not to mention, the idea of a staunchly provincialist Prime Minister propped up by the Bloq is a bit unsettling.

 

[Mislav]

The reason I fear what Harper would do stems from his past policy balloons, including the Alberta firewall, and the so-called "Belgium waffle" (where he proposed we turn Canada into an even more dysfunctional federation), plus his until very recently strong support for/affiliation with the Fraser Institute and its policies.

Please elaborate. This paragraph is unclear.

which he's trying to paper over in a desperate attempt to get elected

You've just described Martin there. He was the one who constantly pressured Chretien to step down for the sole purpose of his political goal of becoming Prime Minister. He was also the Finance Minister who was "clueless" about the country's finances. His track record is a lot less impressive than Harper's.

I'll take an extra helping of Liberal corruption when the alternative is bad policy after bad policy from the Conservatives.

Don't settle, vote for the party that most represents your views.

 

[afransen TO]

I would rather have a Green government, but realistically, with our voting system, that would be a vote for the Conservative Party.

Frankly, the Conservatives would lead us down a path to long term economic and fiscal ruin, similar to Mike Harris' utter divestment in Ontario.

Frankly, I don't know what you want in terms of clarification. Harper's policy ideas have generally been short-sighted and not in the interest of this country, in my opinion. He is staunchly provincialist. He is a neoconservative. Both of these traits make him a poor choice to represent me.

Martin is rather disappointing. But, I don't think he would do too much damage, which is more than I could say for Harper. Every indication I've received in watching Harper tells me that he and his ideas are bad news.