Posts Tagged ‘Stéphane Dion’
Harper prorogues Parliament, makes appeal to federalists
Prime Minister Harper has asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until January 26 when the government will present an early budget.
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
Harper vows to stop coalition, Dion falters
Prime Minister Harper vowed to use all legal means at his disposal in order to stop the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition from taking power.
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
Harper dares Dion to face voters
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)
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.
Harper’s deficit flip-flop
October 7 to November 25, 2008 - During the federal election Stephen Harper promised to never run budgetary deficits, but has since backed away from his promise in the face of uncertain economic conditions.
We will not be running a deficit. We will be keeping spending within our means, it is that simple.
-Stephen Harper, October 7, 2008
Balancing the budget by raising taxes, by cutting essential government activity, or by refusing necessary intervention in the midst of a global economic crisis would be a cure worse than the disease.
- Stephen Harper, November 20, 2008
There are occasions when defitis are not necessarily bad, but essential.
- Stephen Harper, November 23, 2008
Parliament’s new spirit of cooperation?
November 18 to 24, 2008 – The 40th session of Parliament opens with all political parties promising a new spirit of cooperation. Despite this, opposition members set a confrontational tone in Question Period.
Stéphane Dion’s long goodbye
Stéphane Dion announced he will step down as Liberal Party leader, but says he will stay on as interim leader until his replacement is chosen at a leadership convention next Spring.
I was told I gave a good performance, but it was not enough.
- Stéphane Dion
Dion blames last week’s electoral defeat on ‘Conservative propaganda’ and the Liberal Party’s inability to match Tory spending on advertising due to a ‘financial crisis’ caused by historically low fundraising capacity.
Links:
- The Daily Kos has embedded this video and posted a pundit’s round-up of Dion’s resignation.
Is Stéphane Dion cheering for a recession?
September 10 to 26, 2008 - Prime Minister Harper says Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is trying to undermine confidence in the Canadian economy while “sitting on the sidelines virtually cheering for there to be a recession”.
Our economy has hit a brick wall … the tough times are already here.
- Stéphane Dion
Our government will not preside over disastrous financial policies … I would rather lose an election and i would rather lose a vote in Parliament than do something that I know would put the Canadian economy into deep jeopardy.
- Stephen Harper
Links:
Green Party excluded from leaders’ debates
The media consortium that produces the televised leaders’ debates says Green Party leader Elizabeth May will not be invited to the debates in October.
The media consortium implied one or more political parties threatened to boycott the debates if the Green Party were included.
The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc all oppose including the Green Party in the debates, saying Elizabeth May is a Liberal proxy because she has endorsed Stéphane Dion and other Liberal candidates in the election.
The Liberal Party has advocated in favour of including the Green Party since the two parties formed an alliance last year.
