Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Let's Make a Deal?

LAYTON MEETS WITH PM IN ADVANCE OF FALL SESSION

Aug 25, 2009

OTTAWA – New Democrat Leader Jack Layton will meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Langevin Block to discuss the fall session of Parliament.

Layton plans to speak to reporters immediately following the meeting.


There's a lot of speculation there could be a Conservative-NDP coalition deal in the works. Jeff has a good run-down on why this might make sense. I suggested as much back in June too.

On the flip side, maybe our politicians are actually taking the minority government reality seriously and are, you know, talking to each other. As they should.

UPDATE: Sounds like it was just a friendly chat. Nothing wrong with that - that's probably something the party leaders should do more often.

posted by calgarygrit at 12:47 p.m.

10 Comments:

  • if a deal is made they might want to change more than the word "new" from their name

    By Blogger Anthony, at 2:26 p.m.  

  • If Jack Layton enters into a deal with Harper I will resign my NDP membership. I would bet money against this actually happening.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:34 p.m.  

  • Yeah, I wouldn't expect a deal today. Maybe something once we get closer to decision day, but even if Layton wants a deal, I suspect today is more about just getting the dialogue going.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 3:15 p.m.  

  • Where are all the Liberals who resigned in protest about their party voting confidence in Harper 79 times?

    By Blogger DL, at 3:45 p.m.  

  • DL - that doesn't even make sense and so, the NDP can count - WOW.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:04 p.m.  

  • "if a deal is made they might want to change more than the word "new" from their name"

    How dare the NDP try and influence a minority government to further their policy ends, who do they think they are? They should just support the Liberal Party, Canada's establishment party.

    You know Antonio, that's pretty arrogant, but typically Liberal.

    By Anonymous drake, at 7:16 p.m.  

  • CG: There's a lot of speculation there could be a Conservative-NDP coalition deal in the works

    I disagree, it should be:
    There's a lot of speculation there could be a Conservative-Socialist coalition deal in the works

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:30 p.m.  

  • A Harper - Layton coalition? Are you KIDDING me? Everyone knows Layton would get in to bed with anybody, anywhere, for a taste of power. But Harper knows that all (small c) conservatives, including CPC supporters, would kick him to the curb first chance they got, if Harper ever did anything for Jack Layton. After the next election, Jackie boy is toast anyway. After the Toronto garbage strike, Layton will have a battle just to win his own seat, because it's common knowledge the NDP is in bed with CUPE for support.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:57 p.m.  

  • Can you give a single example of Jack Layton coming out of any meeting with a sitting Prime Minister and saying anything other than that the PM refuses to compromise, etc, etc?

    The only example I can think of was with Paul Martin (yes, that long ago) when PMPM was desperate to cling to power for a few weeks longer and decided to let Jack run the show for a while.

    Kinda makes one think the NDP don't really want to make the meetings productive but just want an excuse to slag the Government in the media, doesn't it?

    By Blogger Paul, at 6:44 p.m.  

  • Here is why that specific proposal is hogwash.

    Unemployment in the depths of a recession is 8%. 92% of those looking for work have it. The Liberal position (or anything close to it) on EI is going to be unpopular, and would be a great election issue for Harper. Caving there makes little sense. Even the Liberals were backing away from it after that CD Howe Institute report.

    I agree that Harper thinks the Ipsos poll is an outlier, and believes that his poll numbers will only get better in the future. He may even have an incentive to work with the NDP (if Ignatieff gains seats in the next election he will probably get another kick at the can, while Harper probably won't without a majority).

    That isn't the issue, however. I could see the following areas for agreement:
    1. Senate abolition
    2. Promise of a referendum on electoral reform.
    3. Something on the environment (undercutting the Greens and Liberals).
    4. Even more stringent election finance reforms.
    5. Something on foreign aid.
    6. Or maybe a Tommy Douglas-Preston Manning theme park (where entrants are given a ticket for free healthcare, but have it taken away by a mad bespectacled mascot screaming "Reform").

    I think it is more likely that Layton and Harper are coordinating tactics to avoid the election they don't want, rather than planning a deal to keep each other alive.

    By Blogger french wedding cat, at 10:50 p.m.  

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