Layton's Tune
Jack is unimpressed that Paul is refusing to crack down on private health care. Not too surprising since looking Ralph Klein in the eye and saying "no" is different than looking Jean Charest in the eye and saying "no". And hypothetically looking Ralph Klein in the eye and hypothetically saying no, during an election campaign, is a while lot easier than either of those two options I listed above.
Picking health care as their new number one issue is certainly a new strategy for the Dippers - they didn't even mention health care in their deal last spring. Obviously health care polls as a bigger issue than democratic reform or the environment so it might not be a terrible choice as their wedge issue with the Grits, especially if they're serious about getting tough with private health care in Quebec, where they have no hope of winning seats and the Liberals are in deep, deep, deep trouble. It also has a benefit of reminding people that a certain someone didn't exactly fix "health care for a generation". But...despite all of this, my gut instinct is that this isn't really the best choice of an issue for the NDP. Let's face it, when health care is the issue, Canadians vote Liberal.
Regardless, if Layton says he wasn't happy with his meeting, he's keeping his options open vis-a-vis a fall election. No one I talk to seems to think we'll see an attempt to bring down the government after Gomery but I'll definitely be paying a lot more attention to what Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Gilles Ducceppe say next Tuesday than I will to what Gomery does.
Picking health care as their new number one issue is certainly a new strategy for the Dippers - they didn't even mention health care in their deal last spring. Obviously health care polls as a bigger issue than democratic reform or the environment so it might not be a terrible choice as their wedge issue with the Grits, especially if they're serious about getting tough with private health care in Quebec, where they have no hope of winning seats and the Liberals are in deep, deep, deep trouble. It also has a benefit of reminding people that a certain someone didn't exactly fix "health care for a generation". But...despite all of this, my gut instinct is that this isn't really the best choice of an issue for the NDP. Let's face it, when health care is the issue, Canadians vote Liberal.
Regardless, if Layton says he wasn't happy with his meeting, he's keeping his options open vis-a-vis a fall election. No one I talk to seems to think we'll see an attempt to bring down the government after Gomery but I'll definitely be paying a lot more attention to what Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Gilles Ducceppe say next Tuesday than I will to what Gomery does.
posted by calgarygrit at
10:52 p.m.
6 Comments:
I love how it is now news when two poltical leaders meet for half and hour and do not emerge with a deal in hand.
By
Jason Cherniak, at 11:37 a.m.
Make it an issue, Mr. Layton, and everytime that hypocrite Martin opens his mouth ask him:
Why are you opposed to private delivery of publicly financed health services for regular Canadians when that's exactly what you have for you and the family???
CG, me thinks the Liberals won't be looking so good on this file in the next election.
At least Harper knows what regular people endure in the health care system because that's the system he and his family uses.
-QuebecHarpermaniac
http://chuckercanuck.blogsplot.com
By
Anonymous, at 12:39 p.m.
QuebecHArpermaniac? You must be the lonliest guy in the provonce.
Why is the aptly named Mr.HArper so quiet on the policy front?
Look at what Tommy Douglas accomplished as an opposition leader in PArliament. Look at what LAyton was able to do. HArper does nothing. No policy no agreement with the government over policy. Nothing.
You can support that vacant guy. Bonne Chance et bon voyage.
By
Anonymous, at 12:43 p.m.
Actually, anonymous, Harper and the Tories were okay with the first budget last year...
Remember, Harper left the house, told a scrum he was happy with the budget and wouldn't vote against it.
He got roundly criticised for being cooperative.
Of course, later we learned that Liberals funnel money from tax coffers to car-bombers and other rogue liberals.
That forced a reversal.
Harper issues:
Child care - support ALL parents. Not just the one's Dryden likes.
Softwood - Stand up for Canada. (everyone else was on vacation in August when he took the first bold step in this direction).
Promoting mass transit. Anything from Jack and Paul on that? Nope.
ps. I chose the name, QuebecHarpermaniac, because it is funny.
By
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