Canadian Politics: Liberals push for fall election

[Arrowhead2k1]

Source: CBC

The Liberals say they will try to trigger the defeat of Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government at the earliest possible date this fall, delivering a message to the prime minister: "Your time is up."

In a campaign-style address to supporters in Sudbury, Ont., where his caucus is meeting, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Tuesday that Harper has failed to meet the four conditions the Liberals set out for him in June to remain in power.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/01/ignatieff-liberals090109.html#socialcomments

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Looks like it's time for the Liberals in Canada to get yet another chance on ridding the country of its very own neocon leader. Hope to have a little good old fashion DU moral support directed up north this fall. :D

[Oregone]

1. Good news

Hope it doesn't backfire on their new leader.

[PDJane]

2. I hope so.

The man has done some interesting things lately; like appointing senate members who are friends......and who have no lawmaking experience whatever. His answer to complaints was that he'll keep doing it until there's an elected senate. Translation: I'll keep acting like an asshole until I get what I want but more than half of Canadians don't. My way is better, so there.

[jannyk]

3. Canadian Liberals are not 'Liberals'!

The Canadian Liberal Party is not the party of 'Progressives'. It is way to the right of anything we would define as Liberal - probably even right of the Blue Dogs.

[RC]

4. What are you talking about?

The Canadians would be surprised to hear that.

[RedSock]

5. liberals are nothing special

... a lot of conservatives in canada are to the left to a lot of democrats.

there was a great blog post by someone comparing hillary clinton to stephen harper -- she was farther to the right than he is.
http://idealisticpragmatist.blogspot.com/2006/11/stephen-harper-and-hillary-clinton.html

[Spazito]

6. Ummm, right of the blue dogs?

No. Right of Dennis Kucinich, some. If you mean the 'left of the left', that would be the NDP party which has NEVER been elected to govern and it won't happen this time either.

Edited to add: The only 'Liberal Party' that is actually right-wing is the British Columbia Provincial Liberal Party, actually made up of a bunch of conservatives who's own parties died.

[leahcim]

9. Never elected to govern *federally*

But they have several times in various provinces.

When there is a minority government, they hold some not-insignificant sway in parliament since bills need some other party's support to pass. I'd hope for another minority government (albeit with the other guy in charge) so they stay that way.

[Spazito]

11. Seeing as the topic WAS a federal election...

and the NDP has NEVER been elected federally, I see no problem. As to another minority government, given the way Jackie boy has been schmoozing harper during this last CRAP minority government, no thanks. Normally, I would agree but with Jack, who tends to side with CRAP, as the NDP leader, I would like a majority Liberal government this time.

[geckosfeet]

10. You have it exactly backwards. Liberals here are to the right of conservatives there.

Perhaps overstating but our left is probably mainstream center in CA.

[Clintonista2]

13. Umm are you serious?

The liberal party of Canada is not to the right of US conservatives. Put down the crack pipe.

[Clintonista2]

12. What are you talking about?

[Vidar]

7. Good luck, Canada!

[Spazito]

8. It's damn time, imo

Ignatieff better get right into little Stevie's face and stay there! I can only hope some of Chretien's feistiness has 'rubbed off' of Ignatieff because he is going to need it.

The Liberals need to take the gloves off this time and soon, again imo.

[Bragi]

14. When it counts, Jack will prop up Harper

Forcing an election has nothing to do with policy, it's about electoral strategy. And the NDP has no reason to want to go to the polls when their support is down, and the Liberal's support is up.

So Jack will find a way to not support any non-confidence motion. This usually means making an amendment to the non-confidence motion the Libs can't support, followed by a refusal to then support the Libs on the main motiion.

This is how jack, great man of principle that he is, kept our troops in Afghanistan for two additional years while demanding their immediate withdrawal.

So unless Harper actually wants an election, there isn't going to be one this fall.

[Arrowhead2k1]

15. Yup, that's what I fear is going to go down. NDP are nothing but spoilers unfortunately.

[Spazito]

16. Layton is going to hold a press conference shortly...

the media rumor is he will offer to support CRAP if it backs NDP private members bills on issues such as extending EI benefits and regulating credit card rates. Harper is already stated publicly "no backroom deals".

This should be interesting.