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unimaginative2
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The federal government has just won its confidence motion and will presumably be in for several more months at the very least. The budget with that housing and infrastructure funding is almost through.
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Antiloop33rpm
Guest
While Im glad to see this budget get one step closer, its almost a shame that the circus is going to calm down. This has been the most fascinating couple of months in Canadian politics that I have been able to witness (or at least am old enough to fully understand) since the 95 referendum. The CBC also made a comment that with a byelection next week in Labrador that will most likely see the Liberals pick up one more seat that the chaos is likely to settle down somewhat. It still however is a minority government and one misstep with Layton or the independents and it could all fall like a house of cards. We need more minority governments. They seem to be the only time anything productive actually happens.
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dan e 1980
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GeekyBoyTO
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LOL @ unimaginative - what an understated topic heading for such a historical event!
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unimaginative2
Guest
Hehe...well I guess I'm not one for hyperbole!
For the record, I suppose I should say that I was biting my tongue and then cheering and bashing the table as they said "Mrs. Parrish, Mrs. Parrish ... Mr. Cadman, Mr. Cadman." I'm happy because I like the budget and I think there are so many other bills that are winding their way through the house that deserve to be passed. The same-sex, marijuana, veterans and other bills come to mind. Not to mention the first nations deals that John Ibbitson was talking about this morning. It's interesting to reflect on how an election would have gone had the government lost the bill. The Globe had just started to turn on Harper a bit, and Gomery has been out of the papers. Now, the election will come right after the Gomery report. I wonder what would have been better for the Liberals. Either way, I just hope that the the MPs calm their partisanship and start to behave like polite human beings.
Well it looks like Stronach was the difference!
For the record, I suppose I should say that I was biting my tongue and then cheering and bashing the table as they said "Mrs. Parrish, Mrs. Parrish ... Mr. Cadman, Mr. Cadman." I'm happy because I like the budget and I think there are so many other bills that are winding their way through the house that deserve to be passed. The same-sex, marijuana, veterans and other bills come to mind. Not to mention the first nations deals that John Ibbitson was talking about this morning. It's interesting to reflect on how an election would have gone had the government lost the bill. The Globe had just started to turn on Harper a bit, and Gomery has been out of the papers. Now, the election will come right after the Gomery report. I wonder what would have been better for the Liberals. Either way, I just hope that the the MPs calm their partisanship and start to behave like polite human beings.
Well it looks like Stronach was the difference!
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GeekyBoyTO
Guest
unimaginative:
Either way, the old way of doing politics obviously has to go. We've seen the effects it had on the country and I don't think any of us, pro or against the Liberals, can say we're proud of the mess. Dirty deeds might be the constant in politics, but that doesn't mean it should be accepted as is.
This goes for all the parties involved in this debacle. Quite frankly, the sheer lack of decorum shocks.
GB
Either way, the old way of doing politics obviously has to go. We've seen the effects it had on the country and I don't think any of us, pro or against the Liberals, can say we're proud of the mess. Dirty deeds might be the constant in politics, but that doesn't mean it should be accepted as is.
This goes for all the parties involved in this debacle. Quite frankly, the sheer lack of decorum shocks.
GB
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RJR123
Guest
The Tories would be foolish to want an election now. They're down in the polls, and the majority of Canadians don't want an election. Plus, the budget responds to what many Canadians voted for.
If the Tories aren't in front at a time when the Liberals should be dead in the water because of Gomery, good luck ever achieving power.
If the Tories aren't in front at a time when the Liberals should be dead in the water because of Gomery, good luck ever achieving power.
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spmarshall
Guest
Yes, this is a great budget, thanks to the Liberals, NDP and independants making this work, and particularly the NDP for expediting the promised funds for cities - they came out of this the best of all, but the Liberals will bounce back somewhat due to this as well.
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GeekyBoyTO
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I think Harper is playing the blame game now, after being smacked in the face. Sounds sore.
From CBC News:
'I regret this decision deeply': Harper
Last Updated Thu, 19 May 2005 19:39:30 EDT
CBC News
OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Stephen Harper blamed the outcome of the confidence vote Thursday night on the "shameless efforts" of the Liberals to win votes.
"Tonight, parliament has voted by the slimmest of margins to keep the Liberal party in power," Harper said to his caucus shortly after the razor-thin vote.
"I regret this decision deeply."
With the support of Independent MP Chuck Cadman and the Speaker of the House Peter Milliken, the House voted 153 to 152 on Bill C-48, an amendment to the budget that adds $4.6 billion in social program spending and delays corporate tax cuts.
If the amendment had failed, Martin would have asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a general election likely for the end of June, only a year after the last election, in June 2004.
Harper said the vote was an unfortunate result for the country, but that it gives the party persuasive arguments for change "when Canadians finally and inevitably head to the polls."
"You may have lost tonight's battle but you have done it in order to win the war," he said.
Harper said he was "embarrassed" that parliament had decided to to maintain its confidence in a "corrupt party."
Harper also praised his caucus in the wake of rumours and accusations that Liberals were offering Conservatives plum positions to change their vote.
"You have resisted every opportunity to take unethical payoffs and rewards and you've stuck by your principle," he said.
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Regret this decision deeply? It isn't your decision to regret.
GB
From CBC News:
'I regret this decision deeply': Harper
Last Updated Thu, 19 May 2005 19:39:30 EDT
CBC News
OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Stephen Harper blamed the outcome of the confidence vote Thursday night on the "shameless efforts" of the Liberals to win votes.
"Tonight, parliament has voted by the slimmest of margins to keep the Liberal party in power," Harper said to his caucus shortly after the razor-thin vote.
"I regret this decision deeply."
With the support of Independent MP Chuck Cadman and the Speaker of the House Peter Milliken, the House voted 153 to 152 on Bill C-48, an amendment to the budget that adds $4.6 billion in social program spending and delays corporate tax cuts.
If the amendment had failed, Martin would have asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a general election likely for the end of June, only a year after the last election, in June 2004.
Harper said the vote was an unfortunate result for the country, but that it gives the party persuasive arguments for change "when Canadians finally and inevitably head to the polls."
"You may have lost tonight's battle but you have done it in order to win the war," he said.
Harper said he was "embarrassed" that parliament had decided to to maintain its confidence in a "corrupt party."
Harper also praised his caucus in the wake of rumours and accusations that Liberals were offering Conservatives plum positions to change their vote.
"You have resisted every opportunity to take unethical payoffs and rewards and you've stuck by your principle," he said.
_________________________________________________
Regret this decision deeply? It isn't your decision to regret.
GB
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unimaginative2
Guest
Winning votes! Shameful! That is not what a politician should be doing. Fortunately the Conservatives take the high road. Otherwise they might win enough votes to win an election!
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spmarshall
Guest
Let's see - Harper allowed one of his highest profile MPs (though not much of one as what I heard) to jump ship, with the reason that he's too socially regressive. Before that he allowed popular MP Chuck Cadman's renomination to be challenged and defeated (a la Shelia Copps) but with the result that Cadman won anyway. Now he is sputtering and spewing as his reasons for forcing an election change as much as the justifcation for the US/British war on Iraq.
And now he lost his momentum, particularly in Ontario.
Take it...
Nayh na na na, nayh na na na, hey eh eh,
GOODBYE!
And now he lost his momentum, particularly in Ontario.
Take it...
Nayh na na na, nayh na na na, hey eh eh,
GOODBYE!
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GeekyBoyTO
Guest
The ironic thing about this budget vote is, prior to the Gomery "bombshell", the Cons have plenty of chance to support the Liberals such that it would negate the need of an NPD-Liberal deal. They chose to pursue the course of toppling the government. Quite frankly, they're in no position to complain about the "fiscal concerns".
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geo8
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I watched this live on TV and I am so happy with this result. This budget is basically an NDP budget and I hope Jack Layton becomes Prime Minister one day.
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building babel
Guest
Last year during the election campaign I expressed the wish to see a minority government - with Jack and Olivia running the country. We're getting there, I think.
But the War Measures Act was a much more exciting time to live through.
But the War Measures Act was a much more exciting time to live through.
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Antiloop33rpm
Guest
babel: There is always the next referendum in 5 - 10 years time. And possibley even more exciting than that will be the political ramifications of peak oil. Can you imagine the debate that will take place in the House of Commons and among Canadians when we have to decide whether to stop supplying the United States with Natural Gas because we need it for our own needs or to simply roll over and give it to the Americans and find our own solution? I would call this last year in politics a precursor to what could potentially take place over the next decade.