- Reaction score
- 5,545
- Points
- 1,260
Well, given this report, reproduced under the Fair Dealing provisions (§29) of the Copyright Act from today’s CTV News web site, I’d say that: the coalition is dead and buried and we’re due for another general election in the spring:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081210/iggy_leader_081210/20081210?hub=TopStories
Tories will be defeated at first chance: Ignatieff
Updated Wed. Dec. 10 2008 12:18 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The Liberals will defeat the Tories at the first viable opportunity but will support next month's federal budget if it's acceptable, Michael Ignatieff told the party's caucus on Wednesday.
The caucus meeting ended shortly before noon, set up to endorse Ignatieff as interim party leader.
In the meeting, Bob Rae, who withdrew from the Liberal leadership race Tuesday, nominated Ignatieff for the position.
The nomination was then seconded by another former leadership contender, Dominic LeBlanc.
After the nomination, Ignatieff delivered a speech saying the Liberals would respect the coalition but that voting down the Jan. 27 budget was not absolute, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Wednesday.
"He said that if the Conservatives listen to the Liberals and bring in a budget that they can accept it would defy logic for the Liberals to defeat the Harper government on a budget if it's not necessary," Fife said.
"He's leaving all options open for himself."
Fife also said senior Liberals have told him that they may not need a coalition to form a new government.
"If they do defeat the Conservative government... Ignatieff will go to the Governor General and say 'We think we can form the government but we don't have to do it with a coalition,'" Fife said.
"In other words we don't have to give the NDP any seats in a Liberal government."
He said the NDP and Block would have to support the Liberals because they already have expressed their hatred towards the Conservative government.
In early January, the Liberal caucus will again come together for a three-day strategy meeting.
Then Ignatieff will travel across Canada to try and raise money to help fund the cash-strapped party.
Ignatieff will be named as permanent leader at the Liberal convention in Vancouver next May.
Fife said Ignatieff is a real "game-changer" and the Tories are worried about him.
"He's an international scholar, international well-known journalist, he's smart and he has around him hard-nosed political operatives who know how to play the game of politics," Fife said.
If the budget passes in early Feb, with Liberal support, then Harper will not give the Liberals much to work with until he is absolutely certain that the GG will not refuse a general election – which she will be advised that she cannot do if he stays in power until about May 09.
Harper’s budget has to provide some stimulus – partly through infrastructure spending in Québec, which it sorely needs it thanks to decades of inept, corrupt provincial and municipal administration.
Harper’s campaign will be:
• A repeat of: “slow and steady (economics) wins the (turnaround) race;”
• Ignatieff is an American who supported Bush and the war in Iraq;
• Duceppe gambled and lost; and
• Layton betrayed the NDP’s values in a crass grab for power.
Iggy and Duceppe will, likely, reduce Tory seats in Québec to five, maybe fewer.
The Tories should be able to gain one or two in Atlantic Canada, one or two more in the West (there aren’t many left to win) and quite a few more in Ontario – maybe even enough for a slim majority.
If, however, Harper goes to the polls again and gets another minority then I think he’ll be out on his ear.
--------------------
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081210/iggy_leader_081210/20081210?hub=TopStories
Tories will be defeated at first chance: Ignatieff
Updated Wed. Dec. 10 2008 12:18 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The Liberals will defeat the Tories at the first viable opportunity but will support next month's federal budget if it's acceptable, Michael Ignatieff told the party's caucus on Wednesday.
The caucus meeting ended shortly before noon, set up to endorse Ignatieff as interim party leader.
In the meeting, Bob Rae, who withdrew from the Liberal leadership race Tuesday, nominated Ignatieff for the position.
The nomination was then seconded by another former leadership contender, Dominic LeBlanc.
After the nomination, Ignatieff delivered a speech saying the Liberals would respect the coalition but that voting down the Jan. 27 budget was not absolute, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported Wednesday.
"He said that if the Conservatives listen to the Liberals and bring in a budget that they can accept it would defy logic for the Liberals to defeat the Harper government on a budget if it's not necessary," Fife said.
"He's leaving all options open for himself."
Fife also said senior Liberals have told him that they may not need a coalition to form a new government.
"If they do defeat the Conservative government... Ignatieff will go to the Governor General and say 'We think we can form the government but we don't have to do it with a coalition,'" Fife said.
"In other words we don't have to give the NDP any seats in a Liberal government."
He said the NDP and Block would have to support the Liberals because they already have expressed their hatred towards the Conservative government.
In early January, the Liberal caucus will again come together for a three-day strategy meeting.
Then Ignatieff will travel across Canada to try and raise money to help fund the cash-strapped party.
Ignatieff will be named as permanent leader at the Liberal convention in Vancouver next May.
Fife said Ignatieff is a real "game-changer" and the Tories are worried about him.
"He's an international scholar, international well-known journalist, he's smart and he has around him hard-nosed political operatives who know how to play the game of politics," Fife said.
--------------------
If the budget passes in early Feb, with Liberal support, then Harper will not give the Liberals much to work with until he is absolutely certain that the GG will not refuse a general election – which she will be advised that she cannot do if he stays in power until about May 09.
Harper’s budget has to provide some stimulus – partly through infrastructure spending in Québec, which it sorely needs it thanks to decades of inept, corrupt provincial and municipal administration.
Harper’s campaign will be:
• A repeat of: “slow and steady (economics) wins the (turnaround) race;”
• Ignatieff is an American who supported Bush and the war in Iraq;
• Duceppe gambled and lost; and
• Layton betrayed the NDP’s values in a crass grab for power.
Iggy and Duceppe will, likely, reduce Tory seats in Québec to five, maybe fewer.
The Tories should be able to gain one or two in Atlantic Canada, one or two more in the West (there aren’t many left to win) and quite a few more in Ontario – maybe even enough for a slim majority.
If, however, Harper goes to the polls again and gets another minority then I think he’ll be out on his ear.