Monday, June 15, 2009

This Time We Mean It



So, Ignatieff has either backed down or tossed down the gauntlet, depending on your interpretation of things. Here's Kady's recap of Iggy's demands:

11:09:39 AM
On EI – he wants to hear what the PM is proposing, as far as reform of the existing system, now – not in three months, and he’s willing to sit longer if necessary, which prompts a collective silent scream from the hostages currently mentally rebooking their summer vacations.

Second – he wants to make sure shovels are in the ground — no specific demand that I can make out, just a general gripe.

Third – our public finances, and the governmen’s hamhanded handling thereof. What’s up with that?

11:13:14 AM
Okay, he seems to be asking for a more detailed five year plan to get the country out of deficit — more detailed than the accountability report card, that is — but no firm deadline on when he’s expecting to see it.

Also, isotopes; the alternative supply of, and a plan for the future.


Which is all good because, really, who out there isn't eager for another week of parliamentary chicken, and election speculation!

posted by calgarygrit at 11:24 a.m.

18 Comments:

  • What's after the "double secret probation"?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:57 a.m.  

  • How many Liberal MPs do you think will be mysteriously ill on Friday after the Conservatives ignore Iggy's rants.

    What a chickenshit paper tiger Iggy is.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:05 p.m.  

  • If Mr. Ignatieff does not pull the plug in the next 5 days...

    http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/10/06/bc-ndp-fall-session.html

    I PREDICT NO FALL SITTING. The B.C. Liberals did it last fall, and still got a majority this spring.

    Expect Harper to spend the rest of the year solidifying the "Just Visiting" moniker on Mr. Ignatieff.

    Then after Canada wins its first GOLD medal on home ice (none in Montreal or Calgary) and many, many more...

    http://www.infoplease.com/spot/winter-olympics-2006standings.html

    I PREDICT CANADA N0. 1 IN THE MEDAL STANDINGS. In 2006, Canada won only 4 less gold and 5 less total medals than the No. 1 performer Germany.

    Harper will be congratulating every hometown winner. Harper will bring his son to the hockey games to sit with the Gretzky family. Harper will be so, so proud of his Canadian athletes.

    Then Harper will call an election on his own terms.

    By Blogger MississaugaPeter, at 12:16 p.m.  

  • Good politics if nothing else..He keeps the perception that he is in control of the agenda, and ensures eyes remain on him for at least another week.
    Of course, at the end of the day there will be no summer election, but he is scoring points in the process.
    It will be interesting to see how hard line Harper responds (which he should), or if he gives Iggy an easy out.
    Luckily, it is between the two grown-ups in the house, driving the agenda, with the fringes just grasping for relevance.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:22 p.m.  

  • I tend to think the Liberals actually will pull the plug if Harper doesn't respond.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 12:22 p.m.  

  • Oh christ here we go again..Dion redux.
    Canadians NEVER want an election. Can't someone in this party get a set of balls?

    By Anonymous Stooner, at 12:24 p.m.  

  • I don't think he backed-down or threw down the gauntlet. He just postponed the game for a week or so. There are lot's of ways this could go...

    1: PMSH capitulates and gives Ignatieff what he demands.
    2: PMSH basically says "fuddle-duddle".
    3: PMSH gives in on some but not all of the demands.

    It's really only a backdown if the response is #2 and in the eyes of Jack Layton, but not me depending on which ones he gives in on, on #3. In the meantime by punting the ball back to Harpers end of the field he can mute the calls of rank obstructionism (Heck, he's even willing to work overtime to get it done, which removes an excuse for not getting it done) if he decides to vote non-confidence. It's childish to try and claim that anything other then a vote of non-confidence is a "backdown".

    Frankly, I think 2 is the most likely outcome, although the tories will try to spin it as a 3. In that case I think he should just let the Dippers or Bloc hold their noses for once.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:35 p.m.  

  • Sounds like somebody was just desperate today to not look like Stéphane Dion.

    Either way, it's too bad that the economic stimulus will be brought to a halt just so Iggy can become Prime Minister.

    And with the Liberals hardly in any shape to fight an election yet, Iggy just keeps on showing that he's only in it for himself.

    If Bob Rae was leader we wouldn't have these problems.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 12:59 p.m.  

  • Harper: I double dog dare ya to bring me down!

    By Blogger Hishighness, at 1:07 p.m.  

  • He demanded answers,
    not action now or else.

    All PMSH has to do is repeat what he has been saying for the last month, and he has fullfilled the Liberal demands.
    But this time, Canadians get to hear the answers. No sexy tape stuff drowing out the answers
    beauty.

    By Blogger wilson, at 1:44 p.m.  

  • If Harper makes a compromise on EI, he gets to govern till he gets defeated on next springs budget (by delaying opposition days in the fall until a 2009 defeat would lead to an Olympic conflict.)

    Does he offer a two-year time limited national standard on EI at say 420 hours?

    Harper may see a summer election as his best chance, since an unwanted election in the summer would probably hurt Conservative turnout the least.

    But a minority may not be enough for Harper to keep power, since he would likely fail a confidence vote on the speech from the throne, and then Iggy would go to the GG, and ask to be given a chance to form the government.

    An election next spring would make the most sense for all concerned, but it looks like an accident is about to happen.

    By Blogger whyshouldIsellyourwheat, at 1:54 p.m.  

  • I think those are all pretty reasonable demands that will make Ignatieff look good, and Harper rather bad. Particularly if the Tories go into details about their long-term deficit reduction strategy, which is going to involve spending cuts.

    However, I bet Harper thinks he can get a better deal from the NDP, despite their rhetoric.

    By Blogger french wedding cat, at 2:28 p.m.  

  • "Harper may see a summer election as his best chance, since an unwanted election in the summer would probably hurt Conservative turnout the least."

    I am not sure that strategy would work. There are two campaigns I can think of that blasted the opposition for calling an election at an inappropriate time. Clark in 1980 and Martin in 2006. Clark's slogan was "real change deserves a fair chance" and ran around the country making a big deal about all the programs that were lost as a result of the election. Martin bought into the notion that voters wouldn't want an election in the winter by not campaigning till January.

    By Blogger french wedding cat, at 3:00 p.m.  

  • I PREDICT Canada will be #1 in the Olympics because PMSH will not let any foreign athletes into Canada. Someone told him they'd just be visiting.

    By Anonymous John D, at 3:02 p.m.  

  • Will Pronger be allowed to play in a Canadian city?

    By Anonymous Phillip Huggan, at 4:04 p.m.  

  • H2H - I think the comment about summer election is more in reference to the Tories having the best GOTV and the most dedicated supporters, who will definitely vote, even if there's only 50% turn-out at the polls.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 4:08 p.m.  

  • The best reason to force an election is to bankrupt the NDP.

    By Anonymous Richard, at 6:11 p.m.  

  • Oh my god, there is really much helpful info here!

    By Anonymous экскурсии в барселоне, at 4:07 a.m.  

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