Posts Tagged ‘Liberal Party’
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)
Ignatieff clears Senate roadblock to enhanced EI benefits
March 3 to 12, 2009 - Micheal Ignatieff tells Liberal Senators to pass the Conservative budget without any further delay.
Liberal Senators were intending to examine the budget, break it up into several parts, and pass the stimulus measures by March 27.
Stephen Harper and Jim Flaherty urged Liberals to pass the budget immediately so unemployed Canadians can access expanded Employment Insurance benefits.
New Liberal leader Ignatieff prepared to lead coalition government
The Liberal Party executive have appointed Micheal Ignatieff as the interim leader of the Liberal Party until he is acclaimed at a formal leadership convention in May 2009.
Ignatieff took direct aim at Stephen Harper in his first press conference as Liberal leader, saying he is prepared to defeat the Conservatives and lead a coalition government.
I am prepared to vote non-confidence in this government. And I am prepared to enter into a coalition government with our partners.
- Micheal Ignatieff
Related videos:
- Video: Dion attacks Harper at debut press conference (December 14, 2006)
Social democrats unite to topple government
The leaders of the Liberal Party, NDP, and the Bloc Québécois signed a power sharing agreement and announced their plan to defeat the Conservative government in a confidence vote December 8.
The coalition says they must seize power from Stephen Harper in order to implement a larger economic stimulus package than the Conservative plan.
The political parties have written to Governor General Michaëlle Jean asking her to install Stéphane Dion as Prime Minister instead of calling an election.
Opposition parties move to seize power
The New Democrats, Bloc Québécois and Liberal Party are working to form a social democratic coalition that would topple the Conservatives and replace them as government.
Related videos:
- Video: Government faces defeat over cuts to political subsidies (November 27, 2008)
- Video: Harper’s deficit flip-flop (October 7 to November 25. 2008)
