Actually it looks as if Ignatieff has decided to force an election if he is able to do so. He has ads out and is unveiling parts of a policy platform on the economy. Harper may be happy enough to face off though with Ignatieff being blamed. Of course this is a bit ridiculous anyway since all three opposition parties must vote against the government. If Ignatieff tries to pull back from confronting Harper he may find himself being faced with bills that he cannot swallow as Harper will take advantage of the Liberal decline in the polls to dare them to pull the plug. This is from the Chronicle Herald.
May says Harper may spark election
By STEPHEN MAHER Ottawa BureauFri. Sep 25 - 4:46 AM
OTTAWA — Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is predicting that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will find a way to engineer an election this fall, even as he attacks Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for trying to send Canadians to the polls.
"Wouldn’t it be just like Harper to decide that things are looking good for him right now and force Jack Layton into a compromise that even Jack can’t twist himself into," said Ms. May.
Conservatives were quick to dismiss her suggestion.
"This is totally inconsistent with anything I’ve heard and everything we’re working on," said one senior Conservative strategist.
"That’s absolutely ridiculous," said Conservative party spokesman Fred DeLorey. "We do not want an unnecessary and wasteful election. The economy is our No. 1 priority and we will continue to implement our economic action plan."
At the beginning of the month, Mr. Ignatieff said that his Liberals would no longer vote for the Tories on confidence measures, which could have led to an election. But the Tories announced a plan to put $1 billion more into employment insurance over three years and the NDP said they will support the Tories at least until that is passed.
Most observers concluded that the risk of an election had been averted until at least the spring, after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
But Ms. May said she has begun to suspect that Mr. Harper is likely to strike soon, while Mr. Ignatieff is still paying a price in the polls for threatening to spark an election.
"I think one is wise never to assume that Stephen Harper won’t do the most take-no-prisoners style of politics possible at any moment," she said.
An Ekos poll released Thursday showed the Tories at 37 points, the Liberals at 29 and the NDP at 14, continuing a trend of rising Conservative fortunes.
Ms. May points out that Mr. Harper wrong-footed then-Liberal Leader Stephane Dion a year ago by breaking his government’s own fixed-date election law and going to the polls when the Liberals looked weak. She said she thinks there is a 50-50 chance he will do it again.
"Why would he not say Ignatieff is plummeting in the polls since this whole thing started?" she said. "Our ads have ramped up. His ads aren’t doing much for the Liberals. We can go to the polls now and everyone will still blame Ignatieff. That’s the key thing. If we go to the polls now, voters will still think it was the Liberal guy who did it to us."
Parliament Hill insiders say the NDP is in financial trouble and is not ready for an election, which is why they’ve been forced to back the Tories now.
Brad Lavigne, a senior NDP strategist, wouldn’t comment. "I don’t speculate on hypotheticals," he said.
Ms. May said it would be hard for Mr. Layton to keep his caucus behind him, money problems or not, if Mr. Harper tries to push a poison pill down their throats.
"Jack has already got Joe Comartin, Peggy Nash and lots of people in that caucus not so happy," she said. "So what the heck is he going to do if Harper says OK, the next confidence measure includes — who knows what he’ll do? — something to do with women’s rights, some commitment about military engagement in Afghanistan."
Ms. May, long a harsh critic of Mr. Harper, said the he likes to control the agenda.
"He likes being in control," she said. "That’s why he brought in a ways and means motion on Sept. 18, to jump the gun on the Liberal motion. Stephen Harper’s signature character definition is he’s a control freak. In the vagaries of a minority government, he doesn’t want to have a government that depends on reaching out to other parties, achieving consensus, moving forward based on giving a bit here, giving a bit there. He sees the exercise of governing as a tactical endeavour in which winning the election is everything."
A spokesman for Mr. Harper declined to ponder Ms. May’s theory.
"Liz May who?" said Dimitri Soudas.
( smaher@herald.ca)
Showing posts with label Federal Fall Election.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal Fall Election.. Show all posts
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Poll: Ignatieff hurt by election mongering.
Ignatieff has certainly not done anything that would improve his popularity. No doubt forcing an election might lead to some unpopularity. It would have been better if he had waited until the Conservatives did something to force him to stand up to them. If he had passed Conservative legislation that the Liberals ordinarily would not agree to he might have lost popularity as well. Dion certainly did not help his popularity by making sure government worked--aka letting Conservative legislation pass. Since both leaders are not popular perhaps the NDP and Green Party and smaller parties may do better. Let us hope so. The sooner people see through the old line parties the better. Although it would seem that Ignatieff must be determined to have an election if he can it remains to be seen if he will keep on course. Perhaps he hopes that the Bloc or NDP will save him by voting with the Conservatives but so far that seems unlikely. The NDP would be open to voting with the Conservatives but not without gaining something in return but the Conservatives do not seem willing to offer anything. Similarly if Harper gave something to Quebec the Bloc might support him but again nothing is forthcoming it would seem.
Ignatieff hurt by election-mongering: poll
(CP) –
OTTAWA — A new poll suggests Canadians think Michael Ignatieff is wrong to try to force an election this fall and the Liberal leader's popularity has nosedived as a result.
The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey also suggests Liberal fortunes have dipped, with the Conservatives taking a slight lead nationally - 34 per cent to 31.
The NDP was at 15 per cent, the Greens at 10, and the Bloc Quebecois at eight.
According to the poll, respondents with a negative impression of Ignatieff jumped 15 points from March, to 41 per cent.
Thirty-nine per cent had a favourable impression, down six points.
Stephen Harper isn't doing much better - impressions of the prime minister remained virtually unchanged with 44 per cent having a favourable opinion and 45 per cent having an unfavourable opinion.
The poll of just over 2,000 Canadians was conducted Aug. 27 to Sept. 6 and is considered accurate to within 2.2 percentage points 19 times in 20.
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Ignatieff hurt by election-mongering: poll
(CP) –
OTTAWA — A new poll suggests Canadians think Michael Ignatieff is wrong to try to force an election this fall and the Liberal leader's popularity has nosedived as a result.
The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey also suggests Liberal fortunes have dipped, with the Conservatives taking a slight lead nationally - 34 per cent to 31.
The NDP was at 15 per cent, the Greens at 10, and the Bloc Quebecois at eight.
According to the poll, respondents with a negative impression of Ignatieff jumped 15 points from March, to 41 per cent.
Thirty-nine per cent had a favourable impression, down six points.
Stephen Harper isn't doing much better - impressions of the prime minister remained virtually unchanged with 44 per cent having a favourable opinion and 45 per cent having an unfavourable opinion.
The poll of just over 2,000 Canadians was conducted Aug. 27 to Sept. 6 and is considered accurate to within 2.2 percentage points 19 times in 20.
Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Those Liberal ads!
Oh my goodness gracious the Liberal leader is promoting himself on TV. Where will all this Liberal wickedness end. Iggy even seems to be trying to make himself warm and human like Harper without the blue sweater. We even have echoes of the Green Shift with the attractive forest glade setting in the background of one ad. Perhaps a view of an oil Sands development would be more appropriate and attract a few Albertan votes!
Tories accuse Ignatieff of promoting self on TV
September 07, 2009 Susan DelacourtOttawa Bureau
OTTAWA–An election may be weeks, even months away, but the Liberals' campaign enters the warm-up phase on the airwaves today, with a $2 million series of TV ads intended to showcase leader Michael Ignatieff to Canadians.
Three of the ads were unveiled yesterday on Facebook and YouTube, and Conservatives immediately retaliated with accusations that Ignatieff is trying to make the next election all about him.
The one English-language ad revealed yesterday, titled "Worldview," is in part a reply to the Conservatives' own ad campaign of earlier this year, which attempted to discredit Ignatieff for his lengthy career abroad in Britain and the United States.
Clad in a blue shirt, speaking in a forest glade, Ignatieff casts himself as a man of the world, with sights set beyond the country's borders.
"Wherever I've worked, I've met Canadians who were the best the world has to offer," he says. "We need a new way of thinking; a government that thinks big, that has a global perspective, invests in Canadians, gets their ideas to market, reaching out to India and China to build the economy of tomorrow. I know Canadians can take on the world and win."
This escalation of campaign manoeuvring by the Liberals follows Ignatieff's declaration last week that the party would look for the first available opportunity to defeat Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government and would no longer help keep Conservatives in power.
That leaves Harper in need of the New Democrats or Bloc Québécois for support in the Commons this fall – a prospect that looked unlikely last week. If Harper can't find one political party to work with him in Parliament, the government could fall soon after the Commons returns to work next week.
Canadians would be heading back to the polls just one year after last fall's election, which Harper provoked because he said Parliament was unworkable.
In effect, the Liberals have launched a two-pronged strategy with last week's declaration. One is a communications effort, intended to fight Conservatives but also, equally importantly, to rouse spirits and pull the Liberals off the defensive, where they have been languishing for more than three years.
One of the Liberals' largest problems in last year's campaign, for instance, was the 800,000-plus Liberal voters who stayed away from the polls altogether.
The other part of the strategy is tactical, aimed at either defeating the government or getting the NDP or Bloc to bear the blame for keeping Conservatives in power when Parliament resumes next week.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney called the Liberal ad campaign merely an attempt to "rehabilitate" Ignatieff's reputation, but said Canadians wouldn't fall for the "ruse."
"Michael Ignatieff is trying to recast himself as a man of the people, a leader who can be entrusted with the Canadian economy. He is hoping Canadians will forget his record. He's hoping Canadians won't notice that he's putting Canada's economic recovery at risk by forcing an unnecessary election," Kenney said in a statement released yesterday. "He has put his own agenda ahead of Canada's best interests by trying to force a second election in one year, before Canada's economy fully recovers."
Conservatives were hauling out old quotes from Ignatieff's days at Harvard too, questioning his attachment to his country and commitment to the job he's seeking.
The Liberals' national director, Rocco Rossi, says the party is urging Canadians to compare campaigning styles – negative versus the "positive" tone this week's wave of Liberal ads is trying to strike.
"The biggest message is the contrast really. We want Canadians to know what Liberals already know – this is a different kind of politician; a world-class guy with a world-class mind, caring and compassionate, who wants to have a debate on the issues and the competing values and vision," Rossi said.
The Liberals' French-language ads are more pointed in their mention of Harper – his record on the deficit, recession and environment – and feature Ignatieff against a stark, black background. And while the English ads have the slogan "we can do better," the French ads say voters "deserve" better.
Rossi didn't want to go into detail about the distinction, only saying the concepts have been tested at length this summer and these were the styles deliberately chosen by Liberal officials. Rossi said only three ads were launched yesterday because Liberals are hoping a slower release will give them more media attention. More ads will be unveiled within days, he said.
Tories accuse Ignatieff of promoting self on TV
September 07, 2009 Susan DelacourtOttawa Bureau
OTTAWA–An election may be weeks, even months away, but the Liberals' campaign enters the warm-up phase on the airwaves today, with a $2 million series of TV ads intended to showcase leader Michael Ignatieff to Canadians.
Three of the ads were unveiled yesterday on Facebook and YouTube, and Conservatives immediately retaliated with accusations that Ignatieff is trying to make the next election all about him.
The one English-language ad revealed yesterday, titled "Worldview," is in part a reply to the Conservatives' own ad campaign of earlier this year, which attempted to discredit Ignatieff for his lengthy career abroad in Britain and the United States.
Clad in a blue shirt, speaking in a forest glade, Ignatieff casts himself as a man of the world, with sights set beyond the country's borders.
"Wherever I've worked, I've met Canadians who were the best the world has to offer," he says. "We need a new way of thinking; a government that thinks big, that has a global perspective, invests in Canadians, gets their ideas to market, reaching out to India and China to build the economy of tomorrow. I know Canadians can take on the world and win."
This escalation of campaign manoeuvring by the Liberals follows Ignatieff's declaration last week that the party would look for the first available opportunity to defeat Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government and would no longer help keep Conservatives in power.
That leaves Harper in need of the New Democrats or Bloc Québécois for support in the Commons this fall – a prospect that looked unlikely last week. If Harper can't find one political party to work with him in Parliament, the government could fall soon after the Commons returns to work next week.
Canadians would be heading back to the polls just one year after last fall's election, which Harper provoked because he said Parliament was unworkable.
In effect, the Liberals have launched a two-pronged strategy with last week's declaration. One is a communications effort, intended to fight Conservatives but also, equally importantly, to rouse spirits and pull the Liberals off the defensive, where they have been languishing for more than three years.
One of the Liberals' largest problems in last year's campaign, for instance, was the 800,000-plus Liberal voters who stayed away from the polls altogether.
The other part of the strategy is tactical, aimed at either defeating the government or getting the NDP or Bloc to bear the blame for keeping Conservatives in power when Parliament resumes next week.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney called the Liberal ad campaign merely an attempt to "rehabilitate" Ignatieff's reputation, but said Canadians wouldn't fall for the "ruse."
"Michael Ignatieff is trying to recast himself as a man of the people, a leader who can be entrusted with the Canadian economy. He is hoping Canadians will forget his record. He's hoping Canadians won't notice that he's putting Canada's economic recovery at risk by forcing an unnecessary election," Kenney said in a statement released yesterday. "He has put his own agenda ahead of Canada's best interests by trying to force a second election in one year, before Canada's economy fully recovers."
Conservatives were hauling out old quotes from Ignatieff's days at Harvard too, questioning his attachment to his country and commitment to the job he's seeking.
The Liberals' national director, Rocco Rossi, says the party is urging Canadians to compare campaigning styles – negative versus the "positive" tone this week's wave of Liberal ads is trying to strike.
"The biggest message is the contrast really. We want Canadians to know what Liberals already know – this is a different kind of politician; a world-class guy with a world-class mind, caring and compassionate, who wants to have a debate on the issues and the competing values and vision," Rossi said.
The Liberals' French-language ads are more pointed in their mention of Harper – his record on the deficit, recession and environment – and feature Ignatieff against a stark, black background. And while the English ads have the slogan "we can do better," the French ads say voters "deserve" better.
Rossi didn't want to go into detail about the distinction, only saying the concepts have been tested at length this summer and these were the styles deliberately chosen by Liberal officials. Rossi said only three ads were launched yesterday because Liberals are hoping a slower release will give them more media attention. More ads will be unveiled within days, he said.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Ignatieff: Harper government on "life support".
As Ignatieff notes it is the Liberals who have kept the Conservatives on life support. I guess the Liberals with their soft hearts could not bear to see the Conservative government die. Will they really be so hard-hearted as to let it die this fall? We will see. It is surprising that Ignatieff is so hawkish when the polls would seem to indicate that he has not much chance of winning a minority let alone a majority. Perhaps he realises that the Liberals look to be perpetual life supporters as far as the Conservative government is concerned. Or maybe he thinks that he can safely challenge the Conservatives because the NDP will take its turn at providing life support! But that seems risky and for the most part the Liberals have been risk averse for some time.
Ignatieff: Harper government on 'life support'
Updated Tue. Sep. 1 2009 8:27 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's main task today: turn the doves in his caucus into hawks, and set forth a plan to take down the Tory government in the fall.
"We've kept this government on life support for 10 months," Ignatieff said during a summer caucus retreat in Sudbury, Ont. on Monday, noting his party supported the Tories' recession budget last January despite major reservations.
"But in June I made it clear that in a whole number of areas, the government's performance was letting Canada down and it hasn't got better over the summer."
CTV parliamentary correspondent Roger Smith, reporting from Sudbury, said tempering the leader's hawkish tone in caucus are Liberals who are pleading for a more cautious approach.
They're saying, "'It's only been a year since the last election; the polls show us in a dead heat, at best; the economy is starting to turn around ...What exactly is our message going to be?'" Smith said Tuesday morning on Canada AM.
The hawks, meanwhile, are telling their leader they can no longer prop up the Tory government, saying: "'This is as good a time as any, and we don't know what the situation will be down the road'."
The Liberals also find themselves in a far better financial situation than at the start of the previous election.
"They raised more money than the Tories in the second quarter. They've got ads ready to go," Smith added. "Ignatieff seems to be leading them to pull down the government in late September."
On Monday, the Conservatives said talk of a fall election could risk derailing the nation's fledgling economic recovery.
On the cusp of Parliament's resumption, Transport Minister John Baird said economic stimulus spending could be threatened if Canadians are forced back to the polls by a non-confidence vote in the coming weeks.
Ignatieff called Baird's statement a "load of nonsense."
The big question mark is how Ignatieff intends to sell Canadians on yet another election, especially in light of new data showing signs of life in the economy for the first time in almost a year.
Smith said according to the hawks, the main issue that triggers a non-confidence vote may be failure by the government to provide the changes the Liberals want on unemployment insurance -- an issue that Harper and Ignatieff locked horns over when Parliament ended in June.
While the leaders held a series of meetings on the issue over the summer, Ignatieff said the Tories balked at his efforts to build bridges on EI reform.
"Those meetings have turned into a bit of a charade," Ignatieff said.
Another issue could be the Liberals' dissatisfaction with the Conservatives' update on stimulus spending.
"They need one solid message, said Smith, and "we're told we're going to get a little clearer on what that is today when Ignatieff addresses caucus."
"But the basic line is going to be: 'Look, the Conservatives are a bad government, Canadians deserve better and we can give better."
The government seems to be taking the opposition leader's threats seriously.
On Monday, Conservative campaign director and newly-appointed senator Doug Finley sent out a fundraising email, warning that the Liberals are expected to launch a massive advertising campaign after Labour Day.
According to the Canadian Press, Finley wrote: "I have no doubt that the Liberals will go to the wall with this campaign," and sought funds to help the Conservative party "fight back."
"They are desperate to regain power and they will do anything to win," said Finley.
The Liberal caucus retreat ends Wednesday. The fall sitting of Parliament resumes Sept. 14, and Smith said opposition's first chance for a non-confidence vote will be September 30 -- "which could mean an election the first or second week of November."
With files from The Canadian Press
Ignatieff: Harper government on 'life support'
Updated Tue. Sep. 1 2009 8:27 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's main task today: turn the doves in his caucus into hawks, and set forth a plan to take down the Tory government in the fall.
"We've kept this government on life support for 10 months," Ignatieff said during a summer caucus retreat in Sudbury, Ont. on Monday, noting his party supported the Tories' recession budget last January despite major reservations.
"But in June I made it clear that in a whole number of areas, the government's performance was letting Canada down and it hasn't got better over the summer."
CTV parliamentary correspondent Roger Smith, reporting from Sudbury, said tempering the leader's hawkish tone in caucus are Liberals who are pleading for a more cautious approach.
They're saying, "'It's only been a year since the last election; the polls show us in a dead heat, at best; the economy is starting to turn around ...What exactly is our message going to be?'" Smith said Tuesday morning on Canada AM.
The hawks, meanwhile, are telling their leader they can no longer prop up the Tory government, saying: "'This is as good a time as any, and we don't know what the situation will be down the road'."
The Liberals also find themselves in a far better financial situation than at the start of the previous election.
"They raised more money than the Tories in the second quarter. They've got ads ready to go," Smith added. "Ignatieff seems to be leading them to pull down the government in late September."
On Monday, the Conservatives said talk of a fall election could risk derailing the nation's fledgling economic recovery.
On the cusp of Parliament's resumption, Transport Minister John Baird said economic stimulus spending could be threatened if Canadians are forced back to the polls by a non-confidence vote in the coming weeks.
Ignatieff called Baird's statement a "load of nonsense."
The big question mark is how Ignatieff intends to sell Canadians on yet another election, especially in light of new data showing signs of life in the economy for the first time in almost a year.
Smith said according to the hawks, the main issue that triggers a non-confidence vote may be failure by the government to provide the changes the Liberals want on unemployment insurance -- an issue that Harper and Ignatieff locked horns over when Parliament ended in June.
While the leaders held a series of meetings on the issue over the summer, Ignatieff said the Tories balked at his efforts to build bridges on EI reform.
"Those meetings have turned into a bit of a charade," Ignatieff said.
Another issue could be the Liberals' dissatisfaction with the Conservatives' update on stimulus spending.
"They need one solid message, said Smith, and "we're told we're going to get a little clearer on what that is today when Ignatieff addresses caucus."
"But the basic line is going to be: 'Look, the Conservatives are a bad government, Canadians deserve better and we can give better."
The government seems to be taking the opposition leader's threats seriously.
On Monday, Conservative campaign director and newly-appointed senator Doug Finley sent out a fundraising email, warning that the Liberals are expected to launch a massive advertising campaign after Labour Day.
According to the Canadian Press, Finley wrote: "I have no doubt that the Liberals will go to the wall with this campaign," and sought funds to help the Conservative party "fight back."
"They are desperate to regain power and they will do anything to win," said Finley.
The Liberal caucus retreat ends Wednesday. The fall sitting of Parliament resumes Sept. 14, and Smith said opposition's first chance for a non-confidence vote will be September 30 -- "which could mean an election the first or second week of November."
With files from The Canadian Press
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Harper: Canadians don't want an election.
Harper hasn't met a single Canadian who says we should be having an election right now. But then right now is not the fall. Besides he hasn't met me and I think it would be fine if we were having an election right now.
Ignatieff has been such a lack-lustre no policy leader that the polls will probably not improve much for the Liberals even though Harper seems to be returning to his old game of chicken. He is daring the Liberals to call an election or pass his own legislation on EI, which of course will be in the interests of all Canadians! Maybe the Liberals should bring Dion back, at least he had a policy on the environment and stuck to it and at least he was chosen leader in a genuine contest. Besides Dion has much more experience at caving in and supporting Conservative legislation. Ignatieff is just starting out.
Canadians don't want election, Harper says
Prime Minister plays down differences over EI and insists his focus will be on dealing with effects of recession this fall
Bill Curry
Whitehorse — From Saturday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009
The Prime Minister is playing down differences between his government and the opposition Liberals on Employment Insurance and has repeated his desire for a fall session focused on the economy rather than an election.
Some of Stephen Harper's MPs spoke openly this week of campaigning for a majority government. Liberals are also raising election talk, saying their joint summer meetings with the government to craft EI reforms are not going well. Liberals have accused officials of overestimating the cost of their proposals to make the insurance program accessible to more people.
“The issue of employment insurance is to find better ways to help the unemployed. That's what we're looking for,” said Mr. Harper Friday at an energy announcement with Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie. “Clearly, we are very happy that we are having discussions with the Liberal party, but in the end, the government of Canada must act in the greater interest of Canadians. Clearly, we have proposed our perspective. The opposition, maybe their perspective is a bit different, but we're still talking about these things. I'm confident that this government will make proposals this fall that will be in the interests of the Canadian economy.”
Asked about whether his party is campaigning for a majority, Mr. Harper insisted his focus is on governing this fall.
He said the recession continues to affect Canada even though this country is doing better than most.
“I think the emphasis of all parties in the House of Commons should be working to ensure that we're working on the economy in the fall and that that's our focus,” he said. “And I will say over and over again, I have not met a single Canadian, a single real person out there, whose telling me that they think we should be fighting an election right now.”
Ignatieff has been such a lack-lustre no policy leader that the polls will probably not improve much for the Liberals even though Harper seems to be returning to his old game of chicken. He is daring the Liberals to call an election or pass his own legislation on EI, which of course will be in the interests of all Canadians! Maybe the Liberals should bring Dion back, at least he had a policy on the environment and stuck to it and at least he was chosen leader in a genuine contest. Besides Dion has much more experience at caving in and supporting Conservative legislation. Ignatieff is just starting out.
Canadians don't want election, Harper says
Prime Minister plays down differences over EI and insists his focus will be on dealing with effects of recession this fall
Bill Curry
Whitehorse — From Saturday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009
The Prime Minister is playing down differences between his government and the opposition Liberals on Employment Insurance and has repeated his desire for a fall session focused on the economy rather than an election.
Some of Stephen Harper's MPs spoke openly this week of campaigning for a majority government. Liberals are also raising election talk, saying their joint summer meetings with the government to craft EI reforms are not going well. Liberals have accused officials of overestimating the cost of their proposals to make the insurance program accessible to more people.
“The issue of employment insurance is to find better ways to help the unemployed. That's what we're looking for,” said Mr. Harper Friday at an energy announcement with Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie. “Clearly, we are very happy that we are having discussions with the Liberal party, but in the end, the government of Canada must act in the greater interest of Canadians. Clearly, we have proposed our perspective. The opposition, maybe their perspective is a bit different, but we're still talking about these things. I'm confident that this government will make proposals this fall that will be in the interests of the Canadian economy.”
Asked about whether his party is campaigning for a majority, Mr. Harper insisted his focus is on governing this fall.
He said the recession continues to affect Canada even though this country is doing better than most.
“I think the emphasis of all parties in the House of Commons should be working to ensure that we're working on the economy in the fall and that that's our focus,” he said. “And I will say over and over again, I have not met a single Canadian, a single real person out there, whose telling me that they think we should be fighting an election right now.”
Friday, August 7, 2009
Federal polls shows slight Conservative lead
If results of this type continue neither the Conservatives nor the Liberals will want a fall election. Ignatieff will huff and puff but not blow the house down but rather continue with the unending drama of Dion 8 or 9 without the Green Shift! Liberals can continue to build their war chest and no doubt claim that they are making parliament work. Of course it will work in the interests of Harper policy! Of course Harper could misjudge the situation again and perhaps force Ignatieff to vote against the government or completely lose face.
Perhaps it will not be too long before some Liberals begin to wonder if Ignatieff will be able to lead them to an electoral victory of any sort!
Canada ruling Conservatives retake lead in new poll
Thu Aug 6, 2009 10:26am EDT
OTTAWA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Canada's governing Conservatives have regained a narrow lead in public opinion over the main opposition Liberals, but would struggle to win an election now, according to a weekly poll released on Thursday.
The Ekos survey for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp put the Conservatives at 34.9 percent support, up from 32.5 percent last week. The Liberals were at 31.9 percent, down from 34.1 percent.
...........................
The Liberals are threatening to present a motion of non-confidence in the government when Parliament returns in late September but would stand little chance of victory even as a minority government in the ensuing election, the survey indicates.
"For weeks now, the Liberals and Conservatives have had barely any room between them, and neither can claim any momentum," Ekos said in a statement.
No party looks capable of hitting the 37 percent level of support that would give it a good chance of capturing at least a minority government.
The Conservatives won a strengthened minority in last October's election but have lost popular support as the economic crisis hit and the Liberals accused them of not doing enough to help Canadians who were most affected.
......................................
The Ekos automated telephone survey of 2,025 decided adult voters was conducted between July 29 and Aug. 4 and is considered accurate to within 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Peter Galloway)
© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.
Perhaps it will not be too long before some Liberals begin to wonder if Ignatieff will be able to lead them to an electoral victory of any sort!
Canada ruling Conservatives retake lead in new poll
Thu Aug 6, 2009 10:26am EDT
OTTAWA, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Canada's governing Conservatives have regained a narrow lead in public opinion over the main opposition Liberals, but would struggle to win an election now, according to a weekly poll released on Thursday.
The Ekos survey for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp put the Conservatives at 34.9 percent support, up from 32.5 percent last week. The Liberals were at 31.9 percent, down from 34.1 percent.
...........................
The Liberals are threatening to present a motion of non-confidence in the government when Parliament returns in late September but would stand little chance of victory even as a minority government in the ensuing election, the survey indicates.
"For weeks now, the Liberals and Conservatives have had barely any room between them, and neither can claim any momentum," Ekos said in a statement.
No party looks capable of hitting the 37 percent level of support that would give it a good chance of capturing at least a minority government.
The Conservatives won a strengthened minority in last October's election but have lost popular support as the economic crisis hit and the Liberals accused them of not doing enough to help Canadians who were most affected.
......................................
The Ekos automated telephone survey of 2,025 decided adult voters was conducted between July 29 and Aug. 4 and is considered accurate to within 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Peter Galloway)
© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Dion to meet Harper Monday
Maybe Dion is having a panic attack. Perhaps he wants to promise Harper a "sitting on of hands" that will keep the Conservative government in power, a continuation of Liberal past practice. It is hard to see why Dion would change his mind and find time for Harper. Most likely it will change nothing. When Harper decides to do something he usually does it rather than make a lot of noise and do nothing. I guess Dion wants to show that he is willing to co-operate with the Conservatives but that the Conservatives are still bound and determined to have an election. Whoopee! Thanks for the great information Dion that sure will give people confidence in the Liberals. This is from the Star.
Dion to meet Harper Monday TheStar.com - News - Dion to meet Harper Monday
MICHAEL STUPARYK/TORONTO STAR
Liberal leader Stephane Dion meets supporters in Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel Aug. 26, 2008.
August 31, 2008 Bruce Campion-SmithOttawa Bureau ChiefOTTAWA - In a surprise turn-around, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has agreed to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Dion, who earlier claimed he was too busy to meet with Harper for another week, will now sit down with Harper tomorrow at 4 p.m.
Harper had sought meetings with the three opposition leaders, ostensibly seeking consensus on issues that could be tackled by the minority Parliament in the fall session.
NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe emerged from their meetings last week, saying that Harper is keen to force a fall election.
But Dion was the hold-out, claiming he was too busy to meet with Harper until Sept. 9, the day after three federal by-elections.
After three weeks of trying to arranage a meeting with Dion, a frustrated Harper and his officials made clear that they might not wait until Dion's meeting before sparking an election.
It remains unclear whether tomorrow's meeting can avert an election.
Dion to meet Harper Monday TheStar.com - News - Dion to meet Harper Monday
MICHAEL STUPARYK/TORONTO STAR
Liberal leader Stephane Dion meets supporters in Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel Aug. 26, 2008.
August 31, 2008 Bruce Campion-SmithOttawa Bureau ChiefOTTAWA - In a surprise turn-around, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has agreed to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Dion, who earlier claimed he was too busy to meet with Harper for another week, will now sit down with Harper tomorrow at 4 p.m.
Harper had sought meetings with the three opposition leaders, ostensibly seeking consensus on issues that could be tackled by the minority Parliament in the fall session.
NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe emerged from their meetings last week, saying that Harper is keen to force a fall election.
But Dion was the hold-out, claiming he was too busy to meet with Harper until Sept. 9, the day after three federal by-elections.
After three weeks of trying to arranage a meeting with Dion, a frustrated Harper and his officials made clear that they might not wait until Dion's meeting before sparking an election.
It remains unclear whether tomorrow's meeting can avert an election.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Harper, Layton to hold talks amid election speculation.
The media continue the pretence that an election call is still speculation. The Conservatives are already running election ads to avoid the limits on expenditures during the campaign period. Why Layton bothers to meet with Harper is beyond me. As Duceppe said yesterday, Harper had already made up his mind to call an election. The meetings are just a thinly disguised fig leaf to make it look as if Harper had tried to work something out and avoid an election. He will not wait to meet with Dion since he wants to make the call before the scheduled by-elections.
Harper, Layton to hold talks amid election speculation
Last Updated: Saturday, August 30, 2008 8:57 AM ET
CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is meeting another opposition leader Saturday as the Conservative government continues to send signals that Canadians may be heading to the polls this fall.
The prime minister will meet with NDP Leader Jack Layton at Harper's official residence in Ottawa, a day after meeting there with Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
After talks with Harper on Friday, Duceppe said the Conservative minority could continue to work with various opposition parties to pass legislation, as it has over the last two years, but that Harper "absolutely" wants to call a snap election.
"Instead of making efforts to try finding solutions in the best interest of the population, he wants an election in the best interest of his party," Duceppe said.
Later in the day, senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office said it's probable Harper will seek to dissolve Parliament next week, sending the country to the ballot box on Oct. 14.
Harper, who earlier this month said Parliament is becoming increasingly dysfunction, said he wants to meet with all three opposition leaders to see whether they will support his government in the fall session.
The Liberals' Stephane Dion declined to hold talks at 24 Sussex Dr. around the same time as the two other opposition leaders, but said he'll be willing to meet Harper after the Sept. 8 byelections and before Parliament's scheduled resumption on Sept. 15
Harper, Layton to hold talks amid election speculation
Last Updated: Saturday, August 30, 2008 8:57 AM ET
CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is meeting another opposition leader Saturday as the Conservative government continues to send signals that Canadians may be heading to the polls this fall.
The prime minister will meet with NDP Leader Jack Layton at Harper's official residence in Ottawa, a day after meeting there with Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
After talks with Harper on Friday, Duceppe said the Conservative minority could continue to work with various opposition parties to pass legislation, as it has over the last two years, but that Harper "absolutely" wants to call a snap election.
"Instead of making efforts to try finding solutions in the best interest of the population, he wants an election in the best interest of his party," Duceppe said.
Later in the day, senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office said it's probable Harper will seek to dissolve Parliament next week, sending the country to the ballot box on Oct. 14.
Harper, who earlier this month said Parliament is becoming increasingly dysfunction, said he wants to meet with all three opposition leaders to see whether they will support his government in the fall session.
The Liberals' Stephane Dion declined to hold talks at 24 Sussex Dr. around the same time as the two other opposition leaders, but said he'll be willing to meet Harper after the Sept. 8 byelections and before Parliament's scheduled resumption on Sept. 15
Friday, August 29, 2008
How we head to the polls, fixed dates or not.
We have precedent for the attorney general turning down a call for a general election. Governor General Jean should note that Harper has passed a law for a fixed election date. The only reason he is calling an election is because he wants to. Maybe the opposition can form a government then if Harper resigned. Of course this is a pipe dream. The governor general will go along with Harper just as the Liberals went along with the Conservatives on Afghanistan!
I notice that the Conservatives are already running election ads before the election is called. This is a sure sign that speculation is out of place and now replaced by certainty. Just as certain as that the Conservatives are trying to get around election spending limits by advertising before the election is called.
How we head to the polls, fixed dates or not
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:36 PM CT CBC News
Calling a federal election in this country is generally straightforward, if a bit more complicated this time around by minority government and the politics of fixed election dates.
A former British colony, Canada follows the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.
That gives a sitting prime minister, who already has the confidence of the House of Commons, the de-facto right to call an election when he or she chooses to.
Granted, Canadian election law and the British North America Act of 1867 state that Parliament is dissolved by the Governor General but that is only supposed to happen when the prime minister so advises.
Convention dictates that such advice is binding, not simply a polite suggestion.
A prime minister goes to Rideau Hall, has a discreet chat with the Queen's representative, then emerges to tell the country that it's off to the polls in up to six weeks time.
In typically British fashion, the process is largely left to precedent and convention, not spelled out explicitly in law.
No wriggle room on dissolution
That makes it no less mandatory, says political scientist Curtis Johnson Cole of the University of Toronto. The Governor General doesn't have a lot of wriggle room when given advice by a sitting prime minister.
From the Canada Elections Act, Section 5
CONDUCT OF AN ELECTION
56.1 (1) Nothing in this section affects the powers of the Governor General, including the power to dissolve Parliament at the Governor General’s discretion.
Election dates
(2) Subject to subsection (1), each general election must be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election, with the first general election after this section comes into force being held on Monday, October 19, 2009.
S.C. 2007, c. 10, s. 1.
"Theoretically, yes, a Governor General has discretionary powers in this situation, but in practice [is] bound by law and convention to dissolve the House when asked to," Cole says.
This time around, there is a complication.
In May 2007, a bill to amend the Canada's Elections Act became law and suddenly this country joined the list of nations that have fixed dates to go to the polls.
In this case, the next federal vote was supposed to come in October 2009, with future votes on the third Monday of October at four-year intervals.
That was a central part of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's plans to reform Canadian democracy, as he explained in a speech touting the proposal in May, 2005.
"Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar simply for partisan political advantage," the prime minister said, but he added a proviso.
"Unless we're defeated or prevented from governing," he said, "we want to keep moving forward to make this minority Parliament work over the next three years."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seen with and Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean in Quebec City in July, won't be breaking his own law if he decides to call an early election, according to one expert. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)Thus Harper's oft-repeated refrain that Parliament isn't working and the opposition is preventing governance.
He's making that argument to Canadians, who will make up their minds as they see fit. But one Canadian who will be listening to the prime minister's reasoning in somewhat different circumstances is Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean.
Some are asking whether she might see her role as somewhat more interventionist than usual, given the fixed election dates law.
King-Byng affair
Commentators have delved into history to find an example of a Queen's representative turning down a Canadian prime minister's request to dissolve the House of Commons.
In 1926, William Lyon Mackenzie King's minority Liberal government was wracked with scandal. A powerful Conservative opposition had moved a motion of censure against King, who then went to Governor General Lord Byng to request a dissolution.
It didn't happen.
Byng refused, not once but twice, and King had no option but to resign. Byng swore in Conservative Leader Arthur Meighen as prime minister.
A combined Liberal and Progressive Party opposition denied the Tories a vote of confidence, forcing an election, which King eventually won with a majority.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, who was prime minister six times between 1921 and 1948, asked Gov. Gen. Lord Byng for a dissolution of Parliament in his second term in office but was refused. (CBC)The episode forced a redefinition of Britain's role in Canadian affairs that emphasized the prerogative of prime ministers to call elections.
The opposition's turn?
So where does it leave the current occupant of Rideau Hall, assuming she'll have some prime ministerial advice to consider in the near future?
Might Jean, for example, tell Harper to sit tight while she consults with Stéphane Dion to see whether the Liberal leader is interested in trying to form a government? Or Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe or Jack Layton, leader of the NDP?
No way, according to constitutional scholar Ned Franks of Queen's University, who says consultation between the Governor General and other political leaders can only happen very early in the life of a minority Parliament as a way of examining all options for political stability.
"We're way past that in Ottawa now, way past it," he says.
Franks also believes Harper isn't breaking his own law by calling an early election.
"What he's doing is breaking a commitment he made to the House of Commons. This isn't the first time this government, or any other government for that matter, has done something like that," Franks says.
History and precedent look set to prevail, sending us to the polls whenever Harper chooses.With files from the Canadian Press
I notice that the Conservatives are already running election ads before the election is called. This is a sure sign that speculation is out of place and now replaced by certainty. Just as certain as that the Conservatives are trying to get around election spending limits by advertising before the election is called.
How we head to the polls, fixed dates or not
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:36 PM CT CBC News
Calling a federal election in this country is generally straightforward, if a bit more complicated this time around by minority government and the politics of fixed election dates.
A former British colony, Canada follows the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.
That gives a sitting prime minister, who already has the confidence of the House of Commons, the de-facto right to call an election when he or she chooses to.
Granted, Canadian election law and the British North America Act of 1867 state that Parliament is dissolved by the Governor General but that is only supposed to happen when the prime minister so advises.
Convention dictates that such advice is binding, not simply a polite suggestion.
A prime minister goes to Rideau Hall, has a discreet chat with the Queen's representative, then emerges to tell the country that it's off to the polls in up to six weeks time.
In typically British fashion, the process is largely left to precedent and convention, not spelled out explicitly in law.
No wriggle room on dissolution
That makes it no less mandatory, says political scientist Curtis Johnson Cole of the University of Toronto. The Governor General doesn't have a lot of wriggle room when given advice by a sitting prime minister.
From the Canada Elections Act, Section 5
CONDUCT OF AN ELECTION
56.1 (1) Nothing in this section affects the powers of the Governor General, including the power to dissolve Parliament at the Governor General’s discretion.
Election dates
(2) Subject to subsection (1), each general election must be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election, with the first general election after this section comes into force being held on Monday, October 19, 2009.
S.C. 2007, c. 10, s. 1.
"Theoretically, yes, a Governor General has discretionary powers in this situation, but in practice [is] bound by law and convention to dissolve the House when asked to," Cole says.
This time around, there is a complication.
In May 2007, a bill to amend the Canada's Elections Act became law and suddenly this country joined the list of nations that have fixed dates to go to the polls.
In this case, the next federal vote was supposed to come in October 2009, with future votes on the third Monday of October at four-year intervals.
That was a central part of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's plans to reform Canadian democracy, as he explained in a speech touting the proposal in May, 2005.
"Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar simply for partisan political advantage," the prime minister said, but he added a proviso.
"Unless we're defeated or prevented from governing," he said, "we want to keep moving forward to make this minority Parliament work over the next three years."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seen with and Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean in Quebec City in July, won't be breaking his own law if he decides to call an early election, according to one expert. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)Thus Harper's oft-repeated refrain that Parliament isn't working and the opposition is preventing governance.
He's making that argument to Canadians, who will make up their minds as they see fit. But one Canadian who will be listening to the prime minister's reasoning in somewhat different circumstances is Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean.
Some are asking whether she might see her role as somewhat more interventionist than usual, given the fixed election dates law.
King-Byng affair
Commentators have delved into history to find an example of a Queen's representative turning down a Canadian prime minister's request to dissolve the House of Commons.
In 1926, William Lyon Mackenzie King's minority Liberal government was wracked with scandal. A powerful Conservative opposition had moved a motion of censure against King, who then went to Governor General Lord Byng to request a dissolution.
It didn't happen.
Byng refused, not once but twice, and King had no option but to resign. Byng swore in Conservative Leader Arthur Meighen as prime minister.
A combined Liberal and Progressive Party opposition denied the Tories a vote of confidence, forcing an election, which King eventually won with a majority.
William Lyon Mackenzie King, who was prime minister six times between 1921 and 1948, asked Gov. Gen. Lord Byng for a dissolution of Parliament in his second term in office but was refused. (CBC)The episode forced a redefinition of Britain's role in Canadian affairs that emphasized the prerogative of prime ministers to call elections.
The opposition's turn?
So where does it leave the current occupant of Rideau Hall, assuming she'll have some prime ministerial advice to consider in the near future?
Might Jean, for example, tell Harper to sit tight while she consults with Stéphane Dion to see whether the Liberal leader is interested in trying to form a government? Or Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe or Jack Layton, leader of the NDP?
No way, according to constitutional scholar Ned Franks of Queen's University, who says consultation between the Governor General and other political leaders can only happen very early in the life of a minority Parliament as a way of examining all options for political stability.
"We're way past that in Ottawa now, way past it," he says.
Franks also believes Harper isn't breaking his own law by calling an early election.
"What he's doing is breaking a commitment he made to the House of Commons. This isn't the first time this government, or any other government for that matter, has done something like that," Franks says.
History and precedent look set to prevail, sending us to the polls whenever Harper chooses.With files from the Canadian Press
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