This is all Ignatieff needs. Of course as some Liberals suggest this may just be the Harper dept. of dirty tricks hard at work trying to create problems for Ignatieff. With the polls showing that the Liberals are going nowhere but down there could be more rumblings and knives quietly being unsheathed!
Liberal trio looking to defect, Tories say
Liberal trio looking to defect, Tories say
October 06, 2009
Susan Delacourt
OTTAWA–A Conservative government official said Monday there have been discussions with three Liberal MPs interested in crossing the floor to the Tory side over the past month.
Liberals immediately dismissed the talk as Conservative "mischief" and said it is the government that is on a raiding mission.
There has been speculation in the past few days that Ruby Dhalla, Liberal MP for Brampton-Springdale, has considered defecting to the Conservatives because her own party has refused to back her private member's bill to increase old-age benefits to immigrant seniors.
Conservatives would not name the trio – even suggesting Dhalla might not be "a good fit" in the caucus – but such talk will create more headaches for Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, already falling in the polls and trying to put out a party fire in Quebec caused by the resignation of Denis Coderre, his lieutenant in the province.
Judy Sgro (York West), the Liberals' critic for seniors and pensions and probably Dhalla's closest ally in caucus, issued a news release Monday saying she would be voting against her friend's legislation because it went against the views of the Liberal leader and caucus on government spending.
Dhalla wasn't talking on Monday about the defection speculation or the party's refusal to back her private member's bill.
In a brief email, the Brampton-Springdale MP said only that "the rumour mill is in overdrive again. ... These people need to find a topic of discussion that doesn't include the name Ruby Dhalla."
An adviser in Ignatieff's office said the talk of Dhalla's disgruntlement is being overblown by Conservatives who would like to see her cause trouble for her leader.
And indeed, Dimitri Soudas, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, sent out a mass-distributed email yesterday drawing attention to the Liberals' rebuff of Dhalla's bill. "They are voting against the (private member's bill) of MP Ruby Dhalla! Their own bill!" Soudas's email said.
Conservatives wouldn't disclose the names of the three Liberal MPs they say are considering defection, but said Dhalla was not likely to be among them. They suggested Dhalla was circulating the defection rumours to send a message to her own party about its rejection of her private member's bill.
Sgro said she didn't believe Dhalla would leave the party and "throw away her future."
The Conservatives hold 143 seats in the 308-seat Commons and would need an additional 12 MPs to form a majority. While three or four Liberal MPs would only put them a little closer to that goal, it would be another blow to Ignatieff, who last week lost his Quebec lieutenant, Denis Coderre, in a spat over nomination fights.
The Liberal leader joked on Sunday, while at the party's Quebec-wing convention, that his life these days is "a constant joy."
Jill Fairbrother, Ignatieff's communications chief, dismissed the talk of defections on Monday.
"No Liberal MP is going to work for the Stephen Harper we saw on that videotape, the one who wants to abolish the gun registry and says our courts are stacked with left-wing ideologues," said Fairbrother, a reference to a speech Harper made in September in Sault Ste. Marie at a closed-door reception with Conservative partisans.
Dhalla was one of the most staunch caucus supporters of Ignatieff's leadership, all the way back to the 2006 campaign. Bright, articulate and television-friendly, she's been seen as a rising caucus star, with aspirations of leadership herself. She ran into controversy earlier this year, however, when the Star uncovered allegations of mistreatment by two caregivers who worked for the Dhalla family.
Dhalla, who has vehemently denied that any caregivers working at her family home were mistreated, resigned her post as multiculturalism critic during the furor and waited for the dust to settle before introducing a private member's bill to increase immigrant seniors' pensions in June.
The bill proposes to reduce the 10-year residence requirement for seniors immigrating to Canada from China, India and parts of South America and Africa. Dhalla argued it was unfair for these seniors to face a 10-year rule, while others could claim benefits after three years.
But her party balked at the cost of the legislation.
"To become law, Bill C-428 will require a Royal Recommendation as it would prompt the expenditure of between $300 (million) and $700 million," Sgro said in her release. "Given the potential costs of Bill C-428, the systemic and financial implications of the measure must be evaluated in a larger context."
Showing posts with label Federal Liberal dissension. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal Liberal dissension. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Friday, February 15, 2008
Tories expect to be defeated over budget.
We don't even know what is in the budget yet. Perhaps Harper will put in a poison pill, something the Liberals would find difficult to stomach. However the Liberals have shown that they can swallow any pride or principle in the face of polls that do not favor them. Before Dion defeats the Conservatives he will have to defeat the likes of Ignatieff and Rae. Dion is busy dithering at present. In the end he will get his marching orders from Rae and Ignatief . I
expect there will be no election.
Some articles warn that the Liberals provoking an election now is dumb.
The Ottawa Citizen article on the issue is a good example. The article below is from CTV.
Tories expect to be defeated over budget
Updated Thu. Feb. 14 2008 10:18 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The Conservative government expects that it will be defeated over the budget in early March, which means Canadians could go to the polls by early April.
The government has apparently intensified its election readiness, believing it may fall during a non-confidence vote on March 4, the day of the Liberal amendment to the Tory budget. That could set an election date for as early as April 7.
Sources told CTV News that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has told party members he is ready to pull the election trigger over the budget bill, even though some Liberals are against the idea.
"All the senior people, including the people who run the campaign ... they don't want an election right now. They do not want an election because they do not believe the party is ready to go into an election," Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife told CTV Newsnet's Mike Duffy Live.
He said that the Conservatives have reacted by getting their election headquarters "up and running. They're getting their planes booked. The campaign workers have been told to get ready for an election campaign."
Fife noted, however, that the divisions over calling an election call run deep in the Liberal Party. He said senior Liberals such as Ralph Goodale, Michael Ignatieff, and Bob Rae don't want an election right now.
"One senior member of parliament said to me, either we're going to get (Dion) to change his mind or maybe we're going to have to push him off the ledge," Fife said.
On Thursday, Dion wouldn't say if he has made up his mind about forcing an election.
"I want to say to the Canadian people -- I always say the same in public and in private -- two things,'' Dion said.
"The first thing is that we will choose our time. The second thing is that we need to be ready at any time."
There are reports that Dion wants to hold a private meeting with his caucus once the budget is tabled later this month.
With files from The Canadian Press
expect there will be no election.
Some articles warn that the Liberals provoking an election now is dumb.
The Ottawa Citizen article on the issue is a good example. The article below is from CTV.
Tories expect to be defeated over budget
Updated Thu. Feb. 14 2008 10:18 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The Conservative government expects that it will be defeated over the budget in early March, which means Canadians could go to the polls by early April.
The government has apparently intensified its election readiness, believing it may fall during a non-confidence vote on March 4, the day of the Liberal amendment to the Tory budget. That could set an election date for as early as April 7.
Sources told CTV News that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has told party members he is ready to pull the election trigger over the budget bill, even though some Liberals are against the idea.
"All the senior people, including the people who run the campaign ... they don't want an election right now. They do not want an election because they do not believe the party is ready to go into an election," Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife told CTV Newsnet's Mike Duffy Live.
He said that the Conservatives have reacted by getting their election headquarters "up and running. They're getting their planes booked. The campaign workers have been told to get ready for an election campaign."
Fife noted, however, that the divisions over calling an election call run deep in the Liberal Party. He said senior Liberals such as Ralph Goodale, Michael Ignatieff, and Bob Rae don't want an election right now.
"One senior member of parliament said to me, either we're going to get (Dion) to change his mind or maybe we're going to have to push him off the ledge," Fife said.
On Thursday, Dion wouldn't say if he has made up his mind about forcing an election.
"I want to say to the Canadian people -- I always say the same in public and in private -- two things,'' Dion said.
"The first thing is that we will choose our time. The second thing is that we need to be ready at any time."
There are reports that Dion wants to hold a private meeting with his caucus once the budget is tabled later this month.
With files from The Canadian Press
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Liberals: "free-for-all" in Quebec
Dion does not seem to have the power to shut up his critics. He was also unable to protect Jamie Carroll. These Quebec Liberal king-makers are no doubt the same people who were in power at the time of the Sponsorship Scandal or are they a new crowd?
Anyway whoever they are they have are more concerned about their own power than the welfare of the Liberal party. I don't hear Ignatieff and Rae declaring their undying loyalty to Dion. Maybe the press reports just haven't mentioned this.
With Harper taunting the opposition to vote down the Throne Speech, the time is long past for bickering. I'm glad I'm not a Liberal, I would be so mad my remaining teeth would be gnashing! If the Conservatives manage to elect a Conservative government this fall it is the Liberals who can claim much of the credit.
Harper is not in majority territory in the polls. If Liberals back Dion and wage a good campaign the result would likely be another minority governmment perhaps even a Liberal minority.
THE LIBERALS: 'FREE-FOR-ALL' IN QUEBEC
Growing crisis forces Dion to cancel trip
JANE TABER
SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER; With a report from Daniel Leblanc
October 4, 2007
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has cancelled a trip to the Arctic so he can stay close to home and manage the crisis in his party, especially among the troops in Quebec.
Mr. Dion will shuffle his caucus later this week, handing out new critic roles and realigning his team in preparation for the new fall session, according to a senior Dion aide.
Last night, Mr. Dion was to travel to the North and spend three days in Yellowknife and make several stops in Nunavut. But an announcement late yesterday said he has scrapped the trip for now.
"He felt that the priority was to be here on the ground making sure that everybody was 100 per cent focused to those particular milestones and initiatives ...," said the Dion aide, noting that the Liberal Leader had also just named a new principal adviser.
Brigitte Legault, the national vice-president (French) for the Liberal Party, described what is happening in Quebec right now as a "bit of a free-for-all."
Mr. Dion has been under fire from within his own party since the Liberals lost a key Montreal seat last month and over comments attributed to his national director, Jamie Carroll, about hiring more Quebeckers.
The Liberal Leader has not made public appearances this week. Rather, he has been in discussions with his officials and planning moves to address the problems, including disunity and infighting.
Leaks to the media about internal party affairs which have rattled Mr. Dion's leadership appear to be coming mostly from Quebec.
Meanwhile, yesterday was the first day on the job for Mr. Dion's new principal adviser, Johanne Sénécal, a Liberal operative with a decade of experience in Quebec City and another decade in Ottawa.
"... we've got somebody who is ... incredibly qualified to deal with the management and refocusing of our efforts in Quebec," the Dion aide said.
Ms. Sénécal replaces former Chrétien cabinet minister Marcel Massé, who had to step down because of health issues. She was Mr. Dion's chief of staff for three years when he was a minister in the Chrétien cabinet, and comes into the office as the top official. Although Andrew Bevan continues as chief of staff, she is to call the shots.
Ms. Sénécal was recruited by Mr. Dion. And in a press release yesterday, Mr. Dion said that she will "lead" his team in the Opposition Leader's office.
Mr. Dion is expected to replace Mr. Carroll in the next few days.
This week, Mr. Carroll issued a strongly worded memo to senior party officials threatening to sue over the leak to the media of the controversial statements, which he denies making. He also said in the memo that he would stay in his position if he was given a unanimous endorsement from the party executive.
However, the executive is leaving Mr. Carroll's future to the leader. It met on Tuesday night, but did not discuss Mr. Carroll's memo or the comments, according to Robert Fragasso, president of the Quebec wing of the federal Liberal Party.
Anyway whoever they are they have are more concerned about their own power than the welfare of the Liberal party. I don't hear Ignatieff and Rae declaring their undying loyalty to Dion. Maybe the press reports just haven't mentioned this.
With Harper taunting the opposition to vote down the Throne Speech, the time is long past for bickering. I'm glad I'm not a Liberal, I would be so mad my remaining teeth would be gnashing! If the Conservatives manage to elect a Conservative government this fall it is the Liberals who can claim much of the credit.
Harper is not in majority territory in the polls. If Liberals back Dion and wage a good campaign the result would likely be another minority governmment perhaps even a Liberal minority.
THE LIBERALS: 'FREE-FOR-ALL' IN QUEBEC
Growing crisis forces Dion to cancel trip
JANE TABER
SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER; With a report from Daniel Leblanc
October 4, 2007
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has cancelled a trip to the Arctic so he can stay close to home and manage the crisis in his party, especially among the troops in Quebec.
Mr. Dion will shuffle his caucus later this week, handing out new critic roles and realigning his team in preparation for the new fall session, according to a senior Dion aide.
Last night, Mr. Dion was to travel to the North and spend three days in Yellowknife and make several stops in Nunavut. But an announcement late yesterday said he has scrapped the trip for now.
"He felt that the priority was to be here on the ground making sure that everybody was 100 per cent focused to those particular milestones and initiatives ...," said the Dion aide, noting that the Liberal Leader had also just named a new principal adviser.
Brigitte Legault, the national vice-president (French) for the Liberal Party, described what is happening in Quebec right now as a "bit of a free-for-all."
Mr. Dion has been under fire from within his own party since the Liberals lost a key Montreal seat last month and over comments attributed to his national director, Jamie Carroll, about hiring more Quebeckers.
The Liberal Leader has not made public appearances this week. Rather, he has been in discussions with his officials and planning moves to address the problems, including disunity and infighting.
Leaks to the media about internal party affairs which have rattled Mr. Dion's leadership appear to be coming mostly from Quebec.
Meanwhile, yesterday was the first day on the job for Mr. Dion's new principal adviser, Johanne Sénécal, a Liberal operative with a decade of experience in Quebec City and another decade in Ottawa.
"... we've got somebody who is ... incredibly qualified to deal with the management and refocusing of our efforts in Quebec," the Dion aide said.
Ms. Sénécal replaces former Chrétien cabinet minister Marcel Massé, who had to step down because of health issues. She was Mr. Dion's chief of staff for three years when he was a minister in the Chrétien cabinet, and comes into the office as the top official. Although Andrew Bevan continues as chief of staff, she is to call the shots.
Ms. Sénécal was recruited by Mr. Dion. And in a press release yesterday, Mr. Dion said that she will "lead" his team in the Opposition Leader's office.
Mr. Dion is expected to replace Mr. Carroll in the next few days.
This week, Mr. Carroll issued a strongly worded memo to senior party officials threatening to sue over the leak to the media of the controversial statements, which he denies making. He also said in the memo that he would stay in his position if he was given a unanimous endorsement from the party executive.
However, the executive is leaving Mr. Carroll's future to the leader. It met on Tuesday night, but did not discuss Mr. Carroll's memo or the comments, according to Robert Fragasso, president of the Quebec wing of the federal Liberal Party.
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