Posts Tagged ‘Michael Ignatieff’
Opposition motion could trigger snap election
February 10 to March 18, 2010 – The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois are moving to assert the supremacy of Parliament over the government’s refusal to provide uncensored documents related to the treatment of Afghan detainees.
The opposition parties have introduced motions that would find the government in contempt of Parliament and could lead to a snap election.
Related Links:
- Parliamentary motion demanding uncensored documents (December 10, 1009)
- Justice Iacobucci’s terms of reference (March 13, 2010)
- Attorney General Rob Nicholson’s response (March 31, 2010)
Ignatieff slams Harper for ‘cheap shot’ in Haiti
February 16-17 2010 – Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff slams Prime Minister Harper for making a “cheap shot” against the Liberal Party in an address to Canadian Forces in Haiti.
Harper said the recent investment in the C-17 heavy-lift aircraft is an example of his government’s focus on increasing Canada ‘hard power’ capabilities, as opposed to the ‘soft power’ policies of past governments.
I single out the C-17 for a reason. There was a time when that kind of heavy lift aircraft didn’t fit Canada’s ‘soft power’ policies. But our government bought them for the ‘hard power’ requirements of today’s world. Now we’re using them for relief work. What is the moral of the story? To do soft power, you need hard power; you need a full range of capabilities.
- Stephen Harper
Every time Mr. Harper gets within a mile of Canadian military equipment, he takes a swipe at the Liberal Party … It’s inappropriate to use Haiti, to use a Canadian military base to make an attack on a political party … Every time he takes a cheap shot like that, it just sours the atmosphere.
- Micheal Ignatieff
Ignatieff says no Spring election despite prorogation bump
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says he will not force a Spring election despite favourable polls following the Prime Minister’s prorogation of Parliament.
Technological innovation required to meet Copenhagen targets: Harper
Prime Minister Harper says the world must recognise the economic impact of dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the short term, while driving technological innovations that will reduce emissions in the long term.
It has to be recognized that the current technological mix leads to a certain levels of emission, and that is what has to be changed. And that is going to take some time.
It has to be done, but it will not be done by simply trying to pretend economic imperatives don’t exist, because all that happens when that happens is people set targets, and then don’t meet them.
- Stephen Harper
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”.
Ignatieff opposes an elected Senate
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says he does not support Senate reform that includes an elected Senate.
I think an unelected Senate strikes many people as an anomaly in a modern age. But think about it a different way … A system where we are able to appoint really great people who might not be able to win an election. I mean there is a case to be made … a theoretical case, for an unelected Senate.
- Michael Ignatieff
Opposition returns to empty House, Harper defends prorogation
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says Liberals will return to Parliament on January 25 to hold public consultations until the Olympics begin February 12.
Ignatieff promised the public consultations would produce “serious public policy”, and he held to his previous commitment not to force a spring election.
General Natynczyk reveals Canadian Forces knew of Afghan detainee abuse
December 8 and 9, 2009 - Canada’s Chief of Defense Staff General Walt Natynczyk held a press conference to correct his previous statements that an Afghan detainee who was beaten by Afghan police in June of 2006 had never been in Canadian custody.
Natynczyk says he received a field report earlier in the day that indicates the detainee was indeed captured by Canadian Forces before being turned over to Afghan police.
The individual who was beaten by Afghan police was in fact in Canadian custody and then the ANP took control him …
- General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of Defense Staff
The field report also appears to show that Canadian Forces were aware that Afghan detainees were being abused by Afghan police.
We the photographed the individual, prior to handing him over to ensure that if the Afghan National Police did assault him, as had happened in the past, that we would have a visual record of his condition.
- Canadian Forces Section Commander
Related Videos:
- Video: Government under attack over Afghan detainee abuse allegations (March-May 2007)
- Video: Canadian diplomat levels war crimes allegations (November 20, 2009)
- Video: Canadian Generals refute war crimes allegations (November 25, 2009)
- Video: Former Afghan advisor denies trying to muzzle Colvin (November 26, 2009)
Ignatieff sides with China in diplomatic row
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff took an unusual stance in support of China’s diplomatic rebuke of Stephen Harper made during his first visit to Beijing.
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.
