Posted on 04/27/2005 2:40:11 PM PDT by fanfan
Harper vows to take down Liberals
AMHERSTBURG, Ont. -- Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper vowed Wednesday to topple the fragile Liberal government "at the earliest opportunity" as he fumed about Paul Martin's "deal with the devil" -- a $4.6-billion budget agreement with the New Democrats.
Harper called Martin's willingness to accede to the NDP's demand to remove billions of dollars in corporate tax cuts from the federal budget the "most disgraceful thing" he'd ever seen as he tried to pin the blame for a snap election on the Liberal-NDP alliance.
"The prime minister went so far as to say that this arrangement in this particular episode shows that this Parliament works," Harper said during a luncheon speech in Amherstburg, a short drive south of Windsor, Ont.
"This is not how Parliament should work. As soon as we get back, I will be asking our caucus to put this government out of its misery at the earliest possible opportunity."
That could be as early as May 4, according to Conservative insiders who say that's the earliest date that a no-confidence motion that's currently before the public works committee could be brought before the House of Commons for a vote.
At an earlier stop in Ridgetown, Ont., Harper said the "fiscally irresponsible" deal to delay corporate tax cuts and siphon the $4.6-billion proceeds into social programs over the next two years was a sign the government is "seriously off the rails."
Harper said it would be impossible for Conservatives to support the budget, which favours NDP priorities and props up a government teetering on the brink of collapse from explosive allegations emerging daily from the Gomery inquiry into the federal sponsorship scandal.
In exchange for the changes to the budget, Layton has agreed to support the government in its effort to get the budget passed and in any no-confidence motions the Liberals face before the budget bill receives royal assent.
"We already have enough problems with Liberal corruption," Harper said. "Having an NDP budget is not going to make us support Liberal corruption."
But in an interview Wednesday with The Canadian Press, Martin said he intends to use a separate piece of legislation to push ahead with the tax cuts that were excised from the budget, provided the Conservatives are willing to support the move.
Planned cuts for small- and medium-sized businesses remain intact under the agreement, which calls for $4.6 billion in new investment over two years for the environment, affordable housing, foreign aid, and post-secondary education and training.
Speaking in Montreal, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe also slammed the proposed budget changes and said he doesn't intend to support them.
"What's good for Quebec, we'll support," Duceppe said. "What's bad for Quebec, we'll oppose. The Layton-Martin agreement is not good for Quebec. It's not a good budget for Quebec."
During his own election-style tour of southwestern Ontario, Layton said seeking the deal was an act of conscience and that voters will cast judgment on his actions when they go to the polls.
"I understand the criticism, and not everybody's going to like what we're doing; that's life, that's why we have a democracy. People will execute their judgment on voting day," Layton told students during a question-and-answer session.
"I couldn't sleep at night if I knew that I had the chance to help some people get off the street and I didn't take it because I wanted the political advantage. I couldn't sleep at night."
Recent polls suggest Canadians do not want an election so soon after last spring's campaign, which has the leaders frantically passing the political hot potato of who will be to blame for touching off a spring campaign.
The Tories and Bloc are widely expected to try to bring down the government next month by voting against the budget or provoking another kind of non-confidence vote.
Even with NDP support, the Liberal government's survival is uncertain.
The Liberals would need all their 131 votes, the NDP's 19, and possibly those of all three independents, allowing the Liberal Speaker to cast the deciding ballot to bring the tally to 154.
Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh! What? Huh?!?
Tell me I'm reading that post wrong.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Why? Who should I vote for in the BC election?
"I don't think there is ANY credible political party in Canada right now!"
Just because they don't hold hands with every two bit Arab doesn't mean they are not credible.
Conservatives will win, and they will win big!
I hope you're right.
"""I have not heard any positive programme from Mr. Harper. OK. What is there to come?"""
Monsieur Harper's programme & ideas are very similar to those of George Bush. But he had to clam up and has to wait until the "hate anything American" fad dies down up here before he can return from the closet and be himself again.
Now that it's becoming clear that even Benedict XVI is an avid George Bush fan, I think it's just a matter of time before Canadians see the light.
I'm betting heavily that Mr. Harper will win a majority government.
Maybe this summer, fanfan.
I've never been to Ottawa! I almost made it up for President Bush a little while back.
I'll let you know!
What a breath of fresh air that will be - it seems Liberals just can't help themselves but bash Americans. The NDP are far worse - Layton references George Bush in just about every point he brings up in Parliament - he must be pissed about the cold shoulder George gave him.
I prefer the Conservatives to wait and build their popular support, but then again I want National Daycare to crash and burn. A minority CP won't last long. The Bloc are communists as fanatical as the NDP.
What's up with Atlantic Canada. Their Liberals support hasn't changed - at 44%! And Alberta shows a 4 point rise from 22 to 26% to the Liberals - the party that insulted them to win the election.
I see the NDP support has risen - even after their deal with the devil. What the hell is wrong with people? CP support just collapsed in Ontario. I knew it was to good to be true. Gomery is not enough to stop the Liberal machine.
"""And handling the economy is not President Bush's strong point. He runs an enormous budget deficit after years of budget surpluses. I have not heard anything from Mr. Harper about fiscal responsibility being his top priority. Unfortunately."""
Well I happen to think that Mr. Harper is just as on the ball as is Mr.Bush and Mr.Ratzinger(Benedict XVI), and knows that in wartime it is not the time to hold 'em but the time to spend 'em. Fortunately.
I have not heard that Canada is at war.
"""I have not heard that Canada is at war."""
And neither did Mr Dithers', Showercaphead's or Bobblehead's parties.
You win!
"They started to bash immigrants that Liberals are buying immigrant votes"
This is not true?
"Last time, provincial Liberals won largely because Conservatives called the Liberals something like "evil kitten-eaters from outer space""
No they won because of the "Choose Change". They were sucessfull in spreading lies about the "bad" economy and the large debt/deficit. And Erny didn't believ in the "Common Sense Revolution"
"Now our economy is not too bad, really. What will be if Harper comes to power? I would actually prefer Belinda Stronach as a prime minister. She would not hurt the economy because she knows business.."
Harper is an econmist. Magma was doing fine when she took over and all she need to do was to walk around and look pretty.
"she is (or used to be) a single mother and she knows very well that life can be a bit more complicated than to be married once and live happily thereafter."
She's also a millionaire.
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