Tories step up attacks on Dion

The big bucks are going to the Conservatives. This shows that the Conservative policies are pleasing those with the big bucks. That should say something to those of us without big bucks except of course those who subscribe to the dribble down theory.
Interesting that the Conservative ads do not claim that Dion is weak for propping up the Conservatives!

Saturday » November 3 » 2007

Tories step up attacks on Dion

John Ivison
National Post


Saturday, November 03, 2007


The Conservatives intend to keep up the pressure on Stephane Dion by launching a new series of attack ads that target him as a weak leader, advising voters that he is "Not Worth the Risk."

The new TV and radio ads will start running this weekend and highlight Mr. Dion's admission that he would consider raising the rate of the GST, the day after it was cut in the Conservatives' minibudget.

Once again the ads feature the tagline "Stephane Dion -- Not a Leader," but this time around they add the line "Not Worth the Risk." The Conservatives claim Mr. Dion has billions of dollars in spending priorities but can't make up his mind which to run with. In a release this week, the Conservatives noted Mr. Dion has said he would prefer to spend the $6-billion GST cut on three different priorities: A cut on income tax cuts; funding for cities; and a child-care package.

The ads show a bewildered-looking Mr. Dion asking: "Do you think it's easy to make priorities?" -- a question he put to Michael Ignatieff during last year's Liberal leadership race. The ads suggest the only solution for Mr. Dion is a "multi-billion-dollar tax grab" by hiking the GST.

The Conservatives first attacked Mr. Dion soon after he was elected leader and the ad campaign was credited with defining his public image in the minds of voters before he had a chance to define it himself. They were also credited with driving millions of dollars into Conservative coffers -- the party has raised $12-million in the year to the end of September.

Mr. Dion has said he will not stoop to using negative ads, although the Liberals have run a number in Quebec depicting Stephen Harper as negative and divisive. The Liberals have raised just $3.1-million in the year to the end of September.

The Tories will also continue to turn the screw on the Liberals in the House of Commons by reintroducing the Senate reform package that died on the order paper in the spring session.

The House is on a week's break for Remembrance Day but on its return the Conservatives will bring back the term-limits bill for senators that stalled in Liberal-dominated Senate during the last session. Senators voted to shelve the bill, which called for eight-year-term limits, arguing the courts should decide whether provincial consent is required before the chamber is fundamentally changed.

The government will bring back the bill but this time to the House of Commons, forcing Mr. Dion to take an unequivocal position.

In the past, Mr. Dion has said he agrees to term limits in principle and has recognized the need to "improve" the Senate. At the same time, he has been critical of the Conservative plan, particularly the lack of consultation with the provinces before the unveiling of the legislation.

The government will also reintroduce the bill on senatorial elections that died before second reading in the House of Commons during the last session.

jivison@nationalpost.com

© National Post 2007








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