Posted on 12/01/2008 2:43:49 PM PST by fanfan
OTTAWA–NDP Leader Jack Layton and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion have signed an historic accord to form a coalition government to replace Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives.
In an extraordinary scene on Parliament Hill, Dion and Layton signed a formal deal to work together through to June, 2011.
And they signed an agreement with Bloc Quebecois Gilles Duceppe that commits the separatist party to support the coalition through to June, 2010.
The opposition parties are threatening to defeat the Conservatives next week.
However their plan to assume government would require the blessing of the Governor General.
Under the deal, the Liberal caucus would be responsible for choosing the finance minister, a key role as the country faces economic storms.
The NDP would get six positions in the 24-member cabinet as well as six parliamentary secretary positions.
Layton said the coalition would move with a stimulus package that is "prompt and prudent."
That plan includes infrastructure spending, home construction, renovations and financial support for "struggling sectors" that can demonstrate a viable business plan.
He urged Harper to accept his looming defeat "gracefully" and not make moves that create "further instability and delay."
Duceppe said his party would not introduce any non-confidence motions or vote against any budgets or speeches from the throne until the agreement expires but would be free to vote as it wishes on any other legislation.
Dion will serve as leader until a Liberal leadership convention in May.
The NDP and Liberals have settled on an agreement to form a coalition government, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois.
They could defeat the Conservatives as early as next Monday.
Liberals Michael Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc, all candidates for the party leadership, appeared together to show support for the decision.
Rae said "there’s no turning back" from plans to toss Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives from power.
Liberal MP Martha Hall Findlay said the deal was done and no announcement by Harper - short of proroguing parliament, which she does not believe he will do - is going to stop the opposition parties from defeating the government next Monday.
Ignatieff told reporters that the ongoing race would not preclude any of the contenders from serving in a coalition cabinet.
Ignatieff and Leblanc said it was the prerogative of the prime minister to choose.
"The decisions on who is in cabinet are made by the prime minister of Canada, they’re not made by me, they’re not made by Dom and they’re not made by Bob," said Ignatieff.
"And that’s very clear in the accord that’s to say the authority and the prerogatives of the prime minister have not been compromised. It’s up to Mr.Dion to make the choices that he feels are right for the country."
Leblanc responded: "Michael is always right!"
Harper got a standing ovation from Conservatives as he took his place in the Commons with two notable exceptions - Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and Trade Minister Stockwell Day.
Dion got a standing ovation from Liberal and NDP MPs as he kicked off question period with a question to the prime minister about stimulus for the country’s economy.
Lisa Raitt, a rookie Conservative minister, was among some Conservatives who put on a brave face, saying she was honoured to have served the people of her Halton riding even if it turns out to have been a short time.
The prime minister dismissed Dion’s shot in the Commons about playing partisan games in his economic statement.
Harper shot back that the Liberal leader was "about to play one of the biggest political games" in the country’s history.
Harper appealed to the opposition to wait until seeing the budget, scheduled for Jan. 27.
"I understand he wants to be Prime Minister. . . . I wouldn’t want to be governing the economy in his position," Harper said, referring to the coalition of "socialist economic" and "separatists."
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty accused the Liberals of making a "deal with the devil" and said the NDP "don’t know the first thing" about running the economy.
Sources said the deal calls for the coalition government to deliver a federal budget immediately after taking office. The budget would include a major package of stimulus measures to shore up the troubled economy.
The NDP said this morning that the deal has not been signed but the two sides are "very close."
The game of high-stakes political intrigue has set the stage for a week in which Harper's Conservatives will fight to retain power.
It appears nothing short of a fresh economic statement with measures to help Canadians cope with the recession is likely to dissuade the opposition from defeating the Conservative minority and trying to form a coalition government.
Flaherty kicked off the day yesterday with a full-scale retreat from his Nov. 27 economic statement, with a promise of economic stimulus measures in an early budget on Jan. 27.
For the first time, he hinted strongly that Ottawa would bail out Canada's struggling Big Three automakers.
But the Liberals and New Democrats said the latest concessions from the Conservatives are not enough to derail the move to defeat the Tory minority and take power with a coalition cabinet. A confidence vote that could topple the government is expected on Dec. 8.
Another bitter episode was spawned when the NDP said it might pursue legal action after the Conservatives taped a private New Democrat caucus meeting Saturday and distributed the transcripts and recordings to the media yesterday.
In the meeting, NDP Leader Jack Layton tells his caucus that "moves" with respect to the Bloc Québécois "a long time ago" helped lay the groundwork for the coalition now being discussed – a statement the Conservatives say suggests the fiscal update is merely an excuse for the revolt.
Yesterday, in another reversal from the economic package, Flaherty told a telephone news conference the government would remove from legislation implementing the package a bid to temporarily ban public service strikes. On Saturday, he backed down on the plan to scrap federal subsidies for political parties.
Flaherty stressed that the government has tried to stave off an economic slowdown by using lower taxes – he brought in a six-year, $60 billion tax reduction program in 2007 – to improve business conditions. But he said there will be further stimulus to the economy, and suggested it might include help for the auto sector.
"We're going to have to deal with the automotive issue, obviously," he added. "Will we have to help a particular sector or more than one particular sector? The answer is probably yes."
The federal and Ontario governments have asked Ford, General Motors and Chrysler – thought to be collectively seeking $3 billion to $4 billion in aid – to produce recovery plans by Friday.
Flaherty's statements indicate the Tories are trying to limit damage in the wake of an economic package that has raised questions about the government's credibility and political smarts.
"The stability of the government and the economy is paramount," he said. Rather than propose to scrap the federal subsidy for political parties, the Conservatives will move to freeze the payments at the current $1.95 per vote and put the issue before the public for future debate.
Flaherty sounded unusually subdued. While his future was not discussed, questions about his role as finance minister can be expected now that the economic strategy has blown up in the government's face.
Since last week, the Liberals, NDP and Bloc have been involved in closed-door talks aimed at preparing a coalition government.
There are questions whether the Liberals could act cohesively to join in an attempt to oust Harper. The main issue surrounds which Liberal would head the coalition and potentially become prime minister. It is known that Stéphane Dion, the caretaker leader, would expect to do so, despite doubts among some Liberals who blame him for the party's Oct. 14 election defeat.
In a meeting in Toronto last night, Liberal leadership contender Bob Rae tried to convince fellow contenders Michael Ignatieff and Dominic LeBlanc to show a unified front by accepting the deal with Dion as coalition leader, according to a Rae supporter. Rae argued there is no reason to change "the legitimate leadership process" that will replace Dion in May.
For the opposition, the "central issue" continues to be the Tories' lack of a package of significant new measures to address the economy, which Flaherty admits has fallen into a recession, said Liberal finance critic John McCallum.
"I still don't think anything has really changed," McCallum (Markam-Unionville) said after Flaherty's news conference.
He said there's also a growing question of credibility with the Harper government. "Here we are when they're desperate to save the government and they'll promise us the moon. But when we're promised the moon, I don't think we necessarily believe it."
Deputy NDP leader Thomas Mulcair said the provocative economic update was a "terrible miscalculation by the Conservatives."
"We're not going to give them another chance," he said. "We're structured, we're organized, we've worked very hard for the past four days and you're going to see the fruits of that labour very shortly."
Mulcair also said the covert taping of the NDP call "shows the desperation of the Conservatives."
Pierre Poilievre, Harper's parliamentary secretary, told CTV the transcript shows there were "members of the NDP who were working with the separatists who want to destroy Canada in order to take control of the country in a perilous coalition.
"All of this was hatched long ago, well before any of the controversy over the fall economic statement. That is shocking news," he said.
The recording was made by a Conservative who was able to dial into Layton's teleconference call with New Democrat MPs.
Mulcair denied his party was engaged in discussions with the Bloc before the Nov. 27 economic statement. The situation is no different from "consultations" Harper had with the NDP and the Bloc as opposition leader against the minority Liberals in 2004, Mulcair said.
He also said the NDP is looking at its legal options, saying party discussions were "illegally intercepted."
The Tories downplayed the 2004 consultations, saying there was never any intention of a coalition.
There were several signals over the weekend that the affair has damaged Harper's leadership. Several senior Conservative government members admitted they had been hearing from supporters outraged over Harper's moves.
With files from Linda Diebel
““So you’re blaming the greatest Canadian Conservative in quite literally decades for failure when the current situation”
In short, yes. And calling him the “greatest Canadian Conservative” in decades is to do a disservice to the real Progressive Conservatives who made the error of putting him in place and to dishonour their good names.
“My apologies if I’ve mischaracterised your position. In this day and age, finding someone who seems quite so thoughtless and heartless is unusual and my reaction was visceral.”
You only need look in your mirror to recognise just how close such people are
“The proper course is for the opposition to call for a no confidence votee.”
Which they will provided Harper doesn’t chicken-out and prorogue Parliament until January. He screwed up big time and has nobody to blame save himself and his be-sweatered ego
““Our Conservatives are by-and-large to the left of the Democrats”
Not accurate.”
Care to correct me then? That’s been the conventional wisdom for a few generations give or tak
Now you're taking umbrage at a critical (yet honest) depiction of the worst political leader in the history of Canada ? I really think you're out of place here. This isn't a liberal website, which is clearly more in line with your views.
"Now the grass-root funded Conservatives want to strangle their opposition who played by the rules."
"Oh, and by the way? The Conservatives want to sit on their hands and let the economy go in the dumper. That’s really a proactive response to the economic times we’re in."
As I said, I don't think this website is in line with your views.
Maybe the old PCs, maybe.
I’m not sure your aware are how awful our democraps are. Harper’s Tories are certainly well the the right of the demrat median.
I think it’s readily apparent to all in this thread that you are a troll.
May I ask, how would you describe your political beliefs?
Take a look and these videos. No wonder the Liberal Party got their ass kicked a few weeks ago. The leader of the French-only party in Quebec speaks BETTER English than the leader of “nationwide” Liberal Party! Their chosen one is complete inept. If guy becomes prime minister when 80% of Canadians opposed him, he's going to crash and burn big time.
Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Québécois Separatist Leader (Can articulate in English very well)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lknU8ba0MIg
Stephane Dion, Liberal Party Leader (incoherant french ramblings)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCM41v-Rs8g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrliDQs1Jps
Jack Layton, NDP leader (could pass for an American Marxist Kucinich type quite easily)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55kUfO02am8&feature=related
“You worked out west....LOL ....that makes you an eastern not a Western Canadian.”
I guess you must’ve missed the sentence where I said my family’s from out west. I guess I have to content myself with not being pure laine Albertan like yourself. Quite the loss it seems.
As for the rest of your screed, it contrasts rather poorly with my experience of westerners. However, enjoy your ivory tower FWIW.
This one of Steppie takes the cake...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8zxWe8LRcg&feature=related
Pay close attention, the money shot is about :47 seconds in.
Well, in a month or so after this pact, ( Harper will let the Nation have a real good look at these leftist prigs,prodding them to no end into whirling dervish hysterics, no place for them to hide), Harper will call an election, and guess what?
Can you say the words " Majority Government" slowly and clearly!
Brilliant!
GO HARPER, GO!!!!
” While I don’t profess Einstein-level knowledge of Canadian politics, I dare say I probably know more than the average American does about politics south of the border”
Which would be of great interest were the conversation not about politics NORTH of the border. And your “Einstein-level knowledge” of Canadian politics is making GWB’s look positively Hawkingish by comparison.
” Now, all I merely pointed out to you was the inherent hypocrisy of a party with that absurd title...”
“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That phrase ring a bell? Names notwithstanding, perhaps you might actually enlighten yourself before going off half-cocked?
“last I checked, it was Kim Campbell that saw the party wiped out to the point they could caucus in a phone booth.”
Campbell just happened to catch the hand grenade that Mulroney tossed. Smart lady. But then I don’t suppose you’re familiar with her in reality as opposed to ideology.
“So, FR is a “Desert Island” in your estimation?”
No. Actually in my experience, FR on the main is more balanced and nuanced than your posting style would indicate. I don’t tar Freepers as a whole for the shortcomings of one individual.
“Well, can’t all have such big liberal hearts like yours.”
Well, perhaps a little exposure to real life may help mend you. One can only hope
I’m sorry, I just saw your second Dion link. The man quite literally is a bumbling moron. The Tories should blanket that clip on tv from coast to coast and ask, “Is this what you want to lead our country ?”
“Con wee stuart ovarre agin ?” (Almost as good as Perot’s “Can I finish ?”)
Now, now, your liberal ruts are showing.
“Ah, it’s no wonder our friend, Volunteer, is so miffed.”
Actually, were it not for the dealing of Peter Joseph Willcocks McKay, the Progressive Conservative party would presently be a factor to be contended with, much to the chagrin of Harper et al.
But what most people miss is that Les Quebecois are essentially conservative by nature, and libertarian by vote. They have to be to conserve their culture.
And the leftists throw their bones to that conservative mind. It won't last much longer. The national conservatives do indeed now understand the conservative nature of Quebec, and play to it far better than Dion and his " motely crew."
I really enjoy Quebec, I am ususally in Montreal once a month.
To tell the truth, I have rarely met a Quebecois I do not get along with, and appreciate very much their sense of humor.
Colees de Tabernac!
Your tour d’horizon of Progressive Conservative thought is laughable. Let me guess, ...red Tory, red Tory...you’re Joe Clark? ... David Orchard?
Svend Robinson?
Give it up, troll.
“Now you’re taking umbrage at a critical (yet honest) depiction of the worst political leader in the history of Canada?”
Since you’ve thus far had to Google everything to get yourself up to speed on what you think you’re talking about, you’ll excuse me if I take your political characterisations with something more than a grain of salt
“I really think you’re out of place here.”
Is that your way of saying you prefer to preach to the converted?
“As I said, I don’t think this website is in line with your views.”
Uh huh. I understand that you feel the need to repeat yourself. Does discussion make you uncomfortable?
“Harper’s Tories are certainly well the the right of the demrat median.”
Wouldn’t be my read on it. Certainly, that seems to fly in the face of general opinion.
“May I ask, how would you describe your political beliefs?”
Red Tory. Fiscally conservative, socially liberal. Just right and just left of centre.
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