Posts Tagged ‘majority government’
Election night speeches: victory and defeat
Harper wins Conservative majority
Jack Layton: Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition
Elizabeth May wins the Green Party’s first seat in Parliament
Duceppe quits as Bloc Québécois collapses
Ignatieff leads Liberals to historic defeat
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)
Ignatieff vows no coalition with NDP, Bloc
September 10 and 11, 2009 – Liberal leader Micheal Ignatieff says the Liberal Party will never enter into a governing coalition with the NDP and Bloc because “it would not be in the national interest”.
Ignatieff has previously said he is prepared to lead a coalition government, but later broke with the other opposition parties to pass the Conservative budget in January.
I could be standing here as the Prime Minister of Canada. I turned it down; we turned it down in January. I don’t think I need to give further proof of my feeling that that’s not what Canadians want. I agree with Canadians.
- Michael Ignatieff
Links:
- Video: New Liberal leader Ignatieff prepared to lead coalition government (December 10th, 2008)
Harper calls for Conservative majority
Stephen Harper said Conservatives need to win a majority government in the next election because the alternative Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition “would do long-term, real damage” to Canada.
Harper made the remarks in a private address to Conservative party supporters on September 2nd in Sault Ste. Marie.
If they get together and force us to the polls, we have to teach them a lesson and get back there with a majority, and make sure their little coalition never happens.
- Stephen Harper
A video taken by a local student and Liberal Party member attending the event was turned over to the Liberal Party. One week later parts of the video was broadcast by the CBC, and the full video was released to other media outlets the following day.
