This article from the Globe and Mail also discusses the throne speech, but from the perspective of the Liberals and the leader Stephane Dion. The Liberal's do not want an election so they are going to put forward amendments and if they are not accepted they will support the Throne speech in order for an election not to be called. They believe that Canadians do not want an election, but simply want the government to do their jobs.
Dion states that there were some good and bad things that came out of the throne speech. The good includes such things as: a pending apology to victims of the Indian residential schools, increased attention to Northern Canada, and extending the scope of the action plan on official languages. However Dion argues that all of these things were not detailed enough. The bad includes such things as: the Conservatives promises in regards to the environment and the war in Afghanistan. I definitely do not agree with the Conservatives ideas on these issues. Although they appear to be taking action with the environment, it is not enough and over too long of a period.
Jack Layton believes that the Liberals need to stand up against the Conservative government and its agenda by having an election called. Although I agree that the Liberals need to show leadership and challenge the Conservatives; I am worried of what results will come of a federal election - Conservatives as a majority government!!! However, regardless of when an election is called this fear will always be!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I'm not buying Dion's 'I want to make parliament work' stance. He doesn't care about that at all. He just knows that if he were to call an election right away the Liberals' number of seats would shrink even more and his job would be on the line. He does need to get some good publicity these days though, and not forcing Canadians to the polls might get him some. If this doesn't work, maybe he should bring George and John back to life and get the Beatles back together...that might work.
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion says he will not force an election over the speech from the throne, adding that he wants to make Parliament work. I don’t think Dion was telling the Canadian citizen the truth and I don’t buy it. Just before the election Dion and his party faced a number of internal and external issues. The issue is not make the parliament work the issue was Dion and liberal unpopularity at this period. Dion did not have the hope and courage to trigger an election because he knew it was not the right time for liberal to go to a national election after the Quebec’s three by-elections. If Dion believed he and his party would win he would called an election.
Isn't the point of a minority government to "Make Parliament Work?"
If you read the throne speech it is easy to see Dion's point: It is too ambiguious to defeat on premise alone. Instead, you pick your issues, you amend them and if it doesn't work you defeat the government.
It's my prediction that the Government will fall, in good time, over Afghanistan.
The Conservatives have down the same thing in the past (2005) on the budget because they didn't want to force an election. And Dion's right, who does want an election right now.
It's easy to be a third party and criticise, the fall of the government would be on the Liberals heads, and all the potential wrath that could come with it. Yes, Dion may be afraid of the Liberals losing seats, but who isn't? Who really wants a Conservative Government that can do WHATEVER it wants.
This is politics... Or is it Sparta?
Post a Comment