Posts Tagged ‘Liberal Party’
Liberals could still govern if Harper wins minority: Ignatieff
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he would try to form a government if the Conservatives win the most seats in the election but fails to win the confidence of the House of Commons.
If the Governor General wants to call on other parties, or myself, for example, to try and form a government, then we try to form a government.
- Micheal Ignatieff
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)
EKOS pollster ignites furor over divisive ‘culture wars’ advice
April 22 and 23, 2010 - EKOS pollster Frank Graves has ignited controversy over his recent advice to the Liberal Party that they should “invoke a culture war” on Western Canadians.
I told them that they should invoke a culture war. Cosmopolitanism versus parochialism, secularism versus moralism, Obama versus Palin, tolerance versus racism and homophobia, democracy versus autocracy. If the cranky old men in Alberta don’t like it, too bad. Go south and vote for Palin.
- Frank Graves, President EKOS Research
The Conservative Party points to the fact Graves donated over $11,000 to the Liberal Party during a time when taxpayers paid EKOS Reasearch $61 million under the Liberal governments of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. The Conservatives also raised questions about the CBC’s impartiality because the network always presented Graves as a “neutral pollster” in his frequent appearances on air.
Graves later apologized and denied any bias, but he repeated his calls for a culture war, and also says he has emperical proof to support his comments about Western Canadians and Conservative supporters.
There is a higher incidence of people who are less tolerant to homosexuals and more wary of other races, within the Conservative Party. I can demonstrate that empirically.
- Frank Graves, President EKOS Research
The Conservative Party has launched a letter-writing campaign protesting the CBC’s continued use of EKOS and Graves as their “pollster of record”.
Related Links:
Ignatieff would cancel tax cuts to pay for new spending priorities
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff would cancel planned corporate tax cuts and take longer to eliminate the deficit in order to pay for new spending priorities identified at the Liberal thinkers’ conference in Montreal.
Ignatieff announced that a Liberal government would freeze the corporate tax rate at 18%, indefinitely deferring the Harper government’s plan to cut the tax to 15% by 2012.
We’re not the NDP here. We believe passionately in competitive corporate tax rates. We’re telling you though, we can’t afford them now. There’s just too much we have to do to get our fiscal house in order and make the investments that will make us a productive society.
- Michael Ignatieff
Ignatieff also pledged that a Liberal government would reduce the deficit to 1% of GDP within two years of taking office, somewhat slower than the Harper government’s plan which projects the deficit will fall below 1% of GDP in fiscal year 2012-13.
Ignatieff says these measures are needed to pay for the new spending priorities identified at the conference, which include national strategies for:
- Education and training, including a focus on illiteracy, language training for new Canadians, early learning and child care;
- Health care, including a focus on preventative health, home care for seniors, and increasing the compassionate care EI benefit from the current 16 weeks, and;
- Clean technology and renewable energy.
Related videos:
- Video: Ignatieff defends taxes and activist government (September 21, 2009)
Ignatieff re-opens abortion debate, jeopardizes leadership
January 28 to March 25, 2010 - Liberal Party leader Micheal Ignatieff has re-opened the abortion debate in Canada, following Stephen Harper’s pledge to make maternal and child health a priority for the G8.
Liberals must earn the trust of Canadians: Ignatieff
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says his party must earn the trust and confidence of Canadian voters, and stop thinking of the Liberal Party as “Canada’s natural governing party”.
Liberals play politics with H1N1
October 27 to November 3, 2009 - Liberal members of Parliament launched political attacks on the Conservative government over their handling of the H1N1 vaccine roll-out.
Party leaders jockey for position as election looms
September 2 and 3, 2009 – Federal party leaders position themselves after Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals began pushing for a fall election.
Prime Minister Harper says he will not make any “backroom deals” but is willing to listen to specific proposals coming from the other parties.
The Liberals have abandoned the blue-ribbon EI consultation panel they negotiated in June, and Ignatieff says he won’t negotiate with Harper any longer.
Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe says the Bloc is ready for an election, and they will vote in the interests of Quebec on an issue-by-issue basis.
NDP leader Jack Layton denies any existing deals with the Liberal Party or Bloc. Layton he says he will not make any “backroom deals”, and that Stephen Harper must “reach out” and take action on NDP issues or he will not support the Conservatives in the House of Commons.
Related Videos:
- Video: Liberals push for fall election (September 1, 2009)
“Mr. Harper, your time is up”
Michael Ignatieff says the Liberal Party no longer has confidence in the Conservative government, and they will work to trigger an election at their earliest opportunity.
Liberals say they will not negotiate, and there is nothing Harper can do to change their minds.
The game is up for this Conservative government … Mr. Harper, your time is up. We cannot support this government any further.
- Michael Ignatieff
Related videos:
- The Ignatieff Ultimatum (June 15, 2009)
- Tories and Grits cooperate on EI Reform (June 17, 2009)
