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.
Not a chance. We are all socialists. Even of the 30% that vote CP, many are Western protest votes - people that vote NDP in provincial elections.
I wasn't around to put Trudeau in power and I do not refer to people in the West as a bunch of rednecks. Quite possibly Alliance and Reform people in the West are quite worthy. However, they (and you) do not wish to reach to us here in the East, to your and their chagrin and the continuing rule of Liberals. Which is indeed not good for the country. However, you are above bridging the gaps by means other that blow jobs and therefore, unfortunately, Liberals will win again.
Reach you? Hell all our money goes to you - propping up the auto industry, subsidies here and there. Canada revolves around you guys. About time you pay attention to us here. We have bent over backwards trying to reach Ontario - even watering down our conservative values - to reach you voters. But every time you fall for Liberal fear mongering. We don't even want you money - unlike the welfare Atlantic provinces - we just want your respect. As soon as you feel the West may actually have a voice, Ontario turns against us. So what do you want from us? More bribes? Bail out Air Canada? Pass the Daycare Program so that we pay to babysit your children? Kiss your children on the election trail. Harper spent the lion's share of his time last election in Ontario.
This is exactly what the CPC stands for.
Heh, thanks for your patience. Most Ontarions have enough of me by the second post :)
My beef is more with the established parties of Canada, particularly the Liberals, but the PC was little better. After all Mulroney had no business stirring the hornets net of separatism. Separatism was dead, but Mulroney needed to stick his fingers in it. Then Charest went way left of centre.
The Liberals somehow just dont get it. They seem to believe they can bribe or spank the provinces into submission. For instance, Martin made a lot of crow of including the West. But his party seems to think like typical liberals (like Kerry and his gang). Its enough to talk about how wonderful things will be. But its as if they cannot help themselves but to continue to screw us. Their action does not support the rhetoric. At least I find it insulting that Nova Scotia has managed offshore for eons, but us hicks in BC cannot be trusted to do the same. I emailed a talk show here in Victoria when David Anderson was on accusing the Liberals of not doing a damn thing about softwood. His response was to retrain foresters. Great. So lets just abandon BCs number one industry and train airplane pilots or something.
What we want is less of them. We, at least Western conservatives, dont want bribes, dont want federally run daycare. We just want the Liberals to stop wasting our money. And to let us have the economic freedoms enjoyed by Ontario. For instance, Wheat Boards control the wheat trade in the prairies, but Ontario farmers are free to sell into the US free market.
"Excuse me? Bush neo-cons are the biggest spenders in all history. Bush has been far less fiscally conservative than Clinton. The two presidents are not even in the same ballpark."
Bush neo-cons? lolol. Can you name a few, please?
You're right about Bush and Clinton not being in the same league, though, but prob not in the way you mean, troll.
If you don't mind me asking.....What riding are you in?
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.