Harper promises to end per-vote taxpayer subsidy to political parties
Conservative leader Stephen Harper repeated earlier promises to cancel per-vote taxpayer subsidies to political parties, but only if he wins a majority government.
Federal election begins amid coalition promises, accusations and denials
Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper kicked-off the 2011 Federal Election campaign by accusing the opposition parties of having a hidden agenda to form a coalition government in the event of another Conservative minority parliament.
Unless Canadians elect a stable national government, Mr. Ignatieff will form a coalition with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois.
- Stephen Harper
Harper warns of hidden coalition agenda, Ignatieff denies it, Duceppe is willing,
and Layton would be Prime Minister of a minority government
After several days dodging the question, Liberal leader Micheal Ignatieff issued an early morning statement in which he rules out a coalition in the event of a Liberal minority parliament:
We will not enter a coalition with other federalist parties. In our system, coalitions are a legitimate constitutional option. However, I believe that issue-by-issue collaboration with other parties is the best way for minority Parliaments to function.
- Micheal Ignatieff
However, Ignateiff’s statement does not rule out a coalition if the Conservatives win the most number of seats, but not a majority.
Meanwhile, NDP leader Jack Layton is actively running to become Prime Minister of a minority government, especially if the election produces another Conservative minority parliament:
This time we have to do something different. This time, it’s not enough to keep Stephen Harper from his majority, this time we have to replace him …
I’m asking for a mandate to lead the next government. And if that turns out to be a minority parliament, as Prime Minister you can count on me to reach out to all members of Parliament who believe in building a better Canada.
And together we will provide an alternative to a Harper-led government — whether its on a case-by-case basis as has been done in the last five years, or more stable arrangements — I will work with the mandate you give me.
- Jack Layton
A coalition government could have the support of the Bloc Québécois, according to Gilles Duceppe who remains open to the option.
If they propose something like that, we look if it is in the best interests of Quebec.
- Gilles Duceppe
Links:
- Statement by Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff (March 27, 2011)
Ignatieff refuses to rule out Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition
March 23 and 24, 2011 - Micheal Ignatieff dodges questions from journalists and refuses to rule out a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition should the election result in another Conservative minority parliament.
“There’s a blue door … and there’s a red door.”
“I can’t be clearer than that.”
Harper and Ignatieff denounce ‘the new antisemitism’
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff delivered similar messages denouncing ”the new antisemitism” in speeches at the second annual Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism.
Demonization, double-standards, delegitimisation: the three “D”‘s. It is a responsibility of us all to stand up to them … and as long as I am Prime Minister … Canada will take that stand, whatever the cost.
- Stephen Harper
Not every criticizm of the government of Israel is antisemetic. But there is a form of criticizm of the state of Israel which passes into active delegitimization of a recognized democratic state.
I refer of course, in my own country, to Israeli Apartheid Week. Israel is Israel; Apartaid in South Africa was a crime against humanity. To conflate the two is to deligimize a democratic state and Canadians must stand against it.
- Michael Ignatieff
Does Canada deserve a seat on the UN Security Council?
September 20 to 24, 2010 - Liberal leader Micheal Ignatieff and NDP leader Jack Layton comment on Canada’s bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, while Prime Minister Harper makes his pitch at the United Nations.
Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition a political threat to economic recovery: Flaherty
Conservative finance minister Jim Flaherty says a potential election and the spectre of an opposition coalition government pose a political risk to the economic recovery.
Under an Ignatief-NDP-Bloc Québécois government, nothing would be safe. No part of our economy would be spared. No taxpayer would avoid the hit.
- Jim Flaherty
Sun TV News and AVAAZ.org clash over petition to block “Fox News North”
An online political advocacy group has organized a controversial petition to block CRTC approval of the proposed Sun TV News channel, accusing Stephen Harper of political interference in the regulatory process.
Sun TV News executive Kory Teneycke and AVAAZ.org co-founder Ricken Patel debated the legitimacy of the petition, and the merits of the new channel.
Related Videos:
- “Fox News North” under fire from competitors CBC and CTV (June 15 and 16, 2010)
“Fox News North” under fire from competitors CBC and CTV
June 15 to 16, 2020 – Sun TV News executive Kory Teneycke announced plans for a third all-news cable news channel in Canada.
The new channel, a joint venture between the Sun and Quebecor media groups, has been dubbed “Fox News North” by its opponents and competitors, and some are advocating the CRTC deny its broadcast license.
