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)

“There’s a blue door … and there’s a red door.”

“I can’t be clearer than that.”

The verdict of public opinion was pretty clear, which is that losers don’t get to form coalitions. Winners are the ones who form governments.

- Stephen Harper

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)

The deal marks the first occasion Michael Ignatieff has agreed to work with the government on the development of public policy, having previously refused Harper’s consultation offers.  Ignatieff makes no guarantee the EI panel will produce results.

We have agreed to strike a working group which will seek to present … specific legislative proposals to bring the self-employed into the Employment Insurance system.

… We don’t have an agreement … and I give you no guarantees that we can get there.

- Michael Ignatieff

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)
  

The move delays the government’s likely defeat until it faces a confidence vote on their new Throne Speech.

Harper invited input on the budget from the NDP and Liberals, saying only Canada’s three federalist parties can be trusted to act in Canada’s interests.

The Bloc has every legitimate right to be here, but their game is not about working on the economy to serve the greater interests of the country.

The do have a fundamentally different agenda, and that’s not the agenda of the other three of us … I think that’s a more fundamental difference than whether you are a little more for the market, or a little more interventionist.

- Stephen Harper

The coalition leaders Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Stéphane Dion said they will not support the government, saying its Harper who cannot be trusted.

McKay Political Cartoons: Cracks in coalition starting to show

Canada’s government cannot enter into a power sharing coalition with a separatist party.  At a time of global economic instability, Canada’s government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together.  At a time like this, a coalition with separatists cannot help Canada.

And the Oppostiion does not have the democratic right to impose a coalition they promised voters would never happen.  The Opposition is attempting to impose this deal without your say, without your consent, and without your vote.

- Stephen Harper

There was controversy when the video response from coalition leader Stéphane Dion arrived late and out of focus.

We share the frustration Canadians have about the political crisis that has been allowed to take prominence over the more important economic challenges we face.  Elsewhere in the world, leaders are working to cope with the recession, to bring forward the kinds of investments that will help their people and their economies.  Politicians are working together elsewhere in the world, rivals are working together.  Why not in Canada?

Mr. Harper’s solution is to extend that crisis by avoiding a simple vote, by suspending Parliament and continuing the confussion. We offer a better way. We say settle it now, and lets get to work on the people’s business.

- Stéphane Dion

Tagged: confidence vote, economy, election speculation, Governor General, Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition, minority government, national unity, Stéphane Dion, Stephen Harper ]]> http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/12/03/harper-dion-national-address/feed/ 209 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/12/02/harper-dares-dion-to-face-voters/ http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/12/02/harper-dares-dion-to-face-voters/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:33:50 +0000 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/?p=1109 ]]> Stephen Harper fights for the survival of his government in a heated session of Question Period.

Related Videos:

• Video: Social democrats unite to topple government (December 1, 2008)
• Video: Opposition parties move to seize power (November 28, 2008)
• Video: Government faces defeat over cuts to political subsidies (November 27, 2008)

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.

We look at Mr. Harper and we say instinctively, ‘Grandma, what big teeth you have!’, and there’s no way we’re going to let that wolf stay at Sussex Drive.

Dion said he could find no common ground with Harper, and he refused to support Harper’s minority government.  Dion says there is no need for an election, and he criticized Harper for breaking his own fixed-date election law.

Both the Liberal Party and Bloc Québécois have threatened to reject the government’s Speech from the Throne on October 16, unless it meets their demands. The government will fall and there will be a general election unless it can win the support of at least one opposition party.

The government is unlikely to agree to all of Stéphane Dion’s demands, or all of the Bloc Québécois’ conditions. NDP Leader Jack Layton said he will wait and see whether any of his concerns are addressed.

Harper answered questions on a wide range of issues including climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, the differences between the US and Canada, and why America is ‘hated’ but Canada is not.

Harper said there is a high possibility of another minority government after the next federal election, but that Canada’s foreign policy would not change even if they achieved a majority.

I believe that when it comes to foreign affairs and global security, this is one area where you do what is right in the long-term interests of the country, your allies and the world … Under a minority government, this government’s foreign policy will not be any different than it would be under a majority government.

- Stephen Harper