Posted on 05/19/2005 1:27:48 PM PDT by GMMAC
CP via canoe.ca
May 19, 2005
Kilgour to oppose government
OTTAWA (CP) - Independent MP David Kilgour says he will oppose the government in a key confidence vote that could bring down the minority Liberals.
Kilgour says that while he will support the government on a bill implementing the federal budget, he'll vote against a second bill that would add $4.6 billion in spending to the budget. Both votes are considered confidence motions that will decide the fate of the government.
The vote margin is expected to be razor-thin.
In order to survive, the Liberals now need the support of Independent Chuck Cadman who has strongly hinted he will back the government
..............
WINNIPEG SUN
Thu, May 19, 2005
A chance for justice
By TOM BRODBECK
I've never met Surrey, B.C. MP Chuck Cadman. But I've met people in his shoes. People whose loved ones were murdered in some senseless act.
People who've watched the justice system mete out soft sentences to the violent criminals who turned their lives upside down.
People left shaking their heads in bewilderment at how Canada -- a modern, civilized country -- could put such little stock in the lives of victims of violent crimes.
People who have discovered in horror that our federal government has passed legislation in recent years that allows violent criminals -- some of them murderers -- to serve their "sentences" at home.
People who cannot believe the federal government would reduce maximum sentences for young offenders and make it even more difficult to jail youth who commit violent acts.
People yearning for a reasonable, common-sense justice system.
Cadman's son Jesse, then 16, was murdered in 1992.
He was jumped by a group of thugs and stabbed by a teen who was out on probation and not legally allowed out of the house at the time.
It's the reason Cadman got into politics. After a few years as a victims' rights advocate, Cadman was elected as a Reform MP in 1997.
If you check out his website, you'll discover that almost every ounce of time and energy Cadman has poured into his career as an MP has been focused on trying to convince government to make violent criminals more accountable for their actions.
Private member's bills, news releases, speeches, members' statements, you name it -- all aimed at the Liberal government's lax, soft-on-crime justice system.
Despite his efforts, though -- and the efforts of others -- Canada's justice system has become more lax since Jesse was killed in 1992, a year before the Liberals won office.
During that time, the Liberals brought in conditional sentences, now handed out regularly to violent criminals who serve their time at home. The Liberals brought in the Youth Criminal Justice Act, with the emphasis on keeping violent youth out of jail.
And they gave us the faint hope clause which allows some murderers to get out of prison earlier than their minimum 25 years.
Just to name a few.
The Liberals brought in those changes because they don't fundamentally believe in violent criminals being held accountable for their actions.
They represent everything the Chuck Cadmans of the world are fighting against.
Cadman is now one of two MPs who will decide the fate of the Liberal government in a confidence vote scheduled for today.
I wouldn't be surprised if Prime Minister Paul Martin is trying to buy Cadman off the way he did Belinda Stronach by offering him some concession, such as passage of one of his many private member's bills. That's how the Liberals do business.
In the grand scheme of things, though, it doesn't matter much if any of Cadman's bills are passed -- including a very good one that would bring in minimum sentences for grown-ups -- if the Liberals remain in power.
I could understand the temptation Cadman might feel if offered such a concession.
But to what end? To keep a government in place that is not only corrupt but one that rejects the notion of holding violent criminals accountable for their actions?
I couldn't think of a better legacy for Chuck Cadman than to topple a government that has persistently ignored the rights of victims of violent crimes in favour of coddling dangerous criminals.
It would be a fitting and honourable act.
Source
Chuck Cadman via email
Come on Chuckie!!! You have the cards in your hand!!!
Do the right thing, Cadman. Bring that corrupt bunch of turds down. I'd dearly love to see Princess Belinda's face as she realizes her actions have been for naught.
"I'd dearly love to see Princess Belinda's face as she realizes her actions have been for naught."
Worse than for naught. It will be the end of her career. She will lose her seat in the election. The conservatives will never take her back. And the Liberals won't trust her enough to give her a seat after turning her back on the Conservatives.
T-minus one hour.
5;30?
5:45 Eastern
Wouldn't it be great if Canada became pro-American, or at least, less anti-American?
Belinda did a Jim Jeffords. We all know how well that turned out for the Democrats! I bet the act itself will increase voters' cynicism about the Liberals in Canada, if that's possible!
Soon we will see if the quisling's treachery is enough to save the Liberals.
So, what's the vote going to look like? Has Kilgour and Cadman made their choice yet?
another interesting twist
This sucks, I have to drive home which will take an hour, Then I will have my boys because my wife has a function she has to be at. Bottom line, I won't find out what happens until 9 or 10 pm EDT.
Come on Chuck, do your duty for Queen and country, vote the crooks out!
Kilgour is voting against the Gov.
GMMAC,
Why don't you ask Jim Rob to make this the live thread for the vote?
GLC
I bet Cadman is hearing it from all sides right about now...
McKenzie Bros. and Sorta WPG'er BUMP
I think he's probably hiding in the House of Commons until the vote starts at 5:45
Well, I'll tellya this...if this "Reform" MP actually votes for no reform at all, he should catch holy heck from his constituents.
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