Liberals will try to bring down government: report

[daleo]

The federal Liberals plan to bring down the Conservative government in a confidence motion on Monday, saying they have a viable alternative, the Canadian Press reported Friday.

But Harper could still avert the immediate defeat of his minority government, re-elected six weeks ago, through procedural tactics.

According to the Canadian Press, the Liberal motion, which has the approval of the NDP and Bloc Québécois, reads:

"In light of the government's failure to recognize the seriousness of Canada's economic situation and its failure in particular to present any credible plan to stimulate the Canadian economy and to help workers and businesses in hard-pressed sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and forestry, this House has lost confidence in this government and is of the opinion that a viable alternative government can be formed within the present House of Commons."

A source says the opposition parties have agreed that Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion would lead the government for the next few months.

The announcement comes hours after reports that former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien and ex-NDP leader Ed Broadbent were talking about a potential coalition between the two parties following widespread disagreement over measures proposed in the minority Conservative government's fiscal update, which were announced Thursday.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/28/fed-govt.html

[Clintonista2]

1. Was *just* coming here to post this!

I'm stunned!

[HeresyLives]

2. Yahoo!

We have us a convoy!

[glarius]

3. The bastard Harper may just have outsmarted himself.....hahaha

:rofl:

[terrya]

4. I read this with great interest. An American here.

Is there any realistic possibility of this happening?

I think President Obama can do business very nicely with a Prime Minister Dion.

[HeresyLives]

5. Harper just delayed the vote till Dec 8.

But yes, a coalition of 3 parties to fight this is very realistic.

Obama and Dion would be very good, I agree.

[Bassic]

6. Vote has been delayed, so who knows what will happen before then.

but a coalition is certainly possible. As for Dion, considering he is on his way out I doubt that he would be the prime minister. Uncle Eddy and Mononc' Ti-Jean are going to arbitrate this for both parties, and either Ignatieff of Rae will be put at the head of the Liberal party. There is a possibility that LAyton becomes prime minister because of the Liberal leadership situation, but that is unliekly.

However, the vote is still more than a week away, and a lot can happen until then, so we'll see if the opposition acutally follows through and throws out the government.

I'm hoping agains hope that they do.

[HeresyLives]

7. Dion will lead it.

Announced today.

[Bassic]

8. Announced when?

Cause that's not what I heard an hour ago. I'll check it out.

[HeresyLives]

10. Early today

Liberals propose non-confidence motion, governing coalition

The Liberal Opposition plans to introduce a motion in the House of Commons on Monday declaring non-confidence in the minority Conservative government and proposing a governing coalition.

The motion comes as emissaries from the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois hold talks about forming a new government should Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority fall.

But Harper could still avert the immediate defeat of his weeks-old government through procedural tactics.
The Liberal motion, which has the approval of the NDP and Bloc Quebecois, reads:

"In light of the government's failure to recognize the seriousness of Canada's economic situation and its failure in particular to present any credible plan to stimulate the Canadian economy and to help workers and businesses in hard-pressed sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and forestry, this House has lost confidence in this government and is of the opinion that a viable alternative government can be formed within the present House of Commons."

A source says the opposition parties have agreed that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion would lead the government for the next few months.

National Newswatch ......

or also here:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9009594.html

[Bassic]

12. I heard differently on evening Radio-Canada newscasts.

They said that the Liberals would (under Chrétien's watchful eye) agree on either Rae or Ignatieff to lead the party asap. It's all conjecture at this point though.

[HeresyLives]

14. Well, it's Dion

And Chretien has nothing to say about it. Dion is the legal leader.

The others are only candidates, and the convention isn't till May.

[Bassic]

16. Dion has already announced his departure,

and almost everyone in the party thinks that is a good idea. There is no way that he will retain leadership if a coalition happens. I happen to agree that he got a shitty deal from the get go, and I think he would make a decent leader, but I just don't think it's possible.

[HeresyLives]

17. In May.

Look don't argue with me about it, it's already happened.

I gave you the url.

Go take it up with the coalition.

[Bassic]

22. Yes, thank you I read the article, it in no way assures that Dion

will be pm. There has been a lot of discussion on exactly who would lead it in the media.

And I'll argue whatever the fuck I want to argue, that's the whole point of a discussion board.

[HeresyLives]

23. Then argue it with someone else

and get rid of the chip on your shoulder, because I'm not interested in playing games.

[Bassic]

24. I'm playing no games, I was discussing the topic

You're the one who got mad because was contradicting you, so I don't know why you're saying I have the chipped shoulder. If you can't handle that you shouldn't be on here.

[HeresyLives]

25. I simply provided information.

I wasn't interested in arguing about it, nor did I.

Call Dion and ask him, since neither you nor I know for sure what's going on with the talks. And neither does the media.

You seem to be more concerned about me, than interested in a coalition, so I believe this 'discussion' is finished.

[Bassic]

26. On the contrary, IM very interested in the coalition

I was just saying that I dont believe for a second that Dion will lead it. For some reason this angers you. You're right the discussion is finished. You say it was announced, I simply pointed out that there was no such announcement.

[terrya]

9. Thank you for the information.

Dumb, but interested American here. My boyfriend is Canadian, so he's gotten me interested in your country's politics.

[Bassic]

13. My pleasure, nt

[CHIMO]

11. Now That They

Are talking, who knows what might happen?

For those that might like to counteract the coming Conservative ad campaign:

http://www.liberal.ca/default_e.aspx
http://www.ndp.ca/

If we did an Obama we might push Harper back with his dinosaurs.

[HeresyLives]

15. Yes, they might find they like it.

And decide to make it permanent.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

18. Let's hope they stick together.

I have this horrible suspicion that they won't. The Liberals are going to assume that they're the "first among equals", and that the other two parties will go along with whatever they decide. Their behaviour will motivate the NDP and the Bloc to assert their own independence at every opportunity, splitting most of the votes in Parliament. If they seriously fuck up, Harper could ride public opinion into a majority government within a year.

Assuming the coalition wins their confidence vote, watch who Dion associates with. If his cabinet is more than 49% Grits, it's time to start banging your head on the table. Or better yet, Dion's.

[HeresyLives]

19. Working, written agreement.

Decided on ahead of time. How hard can this be?

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

20. From your own article:

“They are supportive of the idea of a Liberal-led government, and it would be a Liberal government with strong support from the NDP and Bloc, and they accept that Stephane Dion would be the leader of that government, and the leadership race would continue to May,” said the source.

.....................

One of the things to be hammered out is whether the NDP would have cabinet seats — which would be unprecedented in Canadian politics, although it’s routine in European politics.

“Not necessarily,” said the Liberal source.

The NDP source said a deal could include NDP members of cabinet.

.....................

And so what if they have a written agreement? It's what people actually do that matters, not whatever promises they might have made to win votes. There's a real danger that the Liberals will simply put their party's agenda forward, and expect the others to quietly go along with it. The NDP and BQ know this, so they'll make every effort to confront the Grits and make themselves heard.

Harper is already trying to discredit the coalition, banking on the public not understanding what a confidence vote means. If the members keep up their usual working relationship (i.e. fighting like cats in a sack), they'll just give him more ammunition for 2009.

[HeresyLives]

21. Yes, Harper is running a PR campaign.

However, the law is on the side of a coalition that defeats the government.

And all 3 parties are so incensed about the 'fiscal update' that I'm sure they'll find a way to work together.

Do you want Harper out of there or not??

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

27. Of course I want Harper out of office.

But even more, I want solid representation of the left in Parliament (which will have the added bonus of helping Harper stay out of office). We don't have that solid representation, and we haven't had it for some time. The current crisis may force the three left-leaning parties to work together for now, but afterwards, if they go back to business as usual, then it will all have been for nothing.

[HeresyLives]

29. Canada isn't 'left,' that's why.

Isn't 'right' either'

Canada is, and always has been, middle of the road. No extremes.

[Mother Jones]

28. His PR campaign is pathetic

With so much that's troubling about this motion, perhaps the worst is that these clowns are thought to be the best, fiscally in a time of economic uncertainty. How then, do they defend throwing out a drastic, unpopular confidence-tied vote with a Minority govt? They knew the risks ..... and risking stability causes foreign investors to flee, markets to plunge and the dollar to drop.


I can't see how they can possibly defend this as being anything but arrogant and self-serving.