If Harper puts a poison pill in the throne speech it makes no sense for Dion to support the speech anyway. He will be a laughing stock and the Tories will take every opportunity to rub it in. Harper can no doubt force an election on some other issue by bringing in bills the Liberals and the opposition cannot support. I really don't see any alternative to an election soon. However one can never underestimate the Liberals. They should already be embarassed by Kyoto since they did nothing to meet the targets either. Nothing can embarass them it seems.
Tory throne speech to embarrass Liberals over Kyoto: report
Last Updated: Friday, October 12, 2007 | 12:01 AM ET
The Canadian Press
The Conservatives have drafted a throne speech aimed at forcing the Liberal party into a politically embarrassing abandonment of its Kyoto crusade.
Government sources told the Canadian Press that Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes the Liberals are so desperate to avoid an election that they will roll over and accept a throne speech that describes Kyoto climate-change targets as unattainable.
It is among several unpalatable options for Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion that the government is considering salting into its blueprint next Tuesday for the new session of Parliament.
The throne speech will have to be put to a confidence vote in the House of Commons that could trigger an election if Dion joins other opposition leaders to defeat it.
The same leader who is such an enthusiastic advocate of the climate-change treaty that he named his dog Kyoto, could face one of two extremely difficult choices.
Dion can allow the policy-setting throne speech to pass and expose himself to taunts about having abandoned his principles by propping up a government that ignores Kyoto.
Or he can vote down the speech and rush into an election at a time when his party is slumping in the polls, quarreling publicly, and struggling to raise money.
Dion has repeatedly demanded the prime minister include four key issues in next Tuesday's throne speech: commit to an end to Canada's combat role in Afghanistan by February 2009, create a greener federal policy, improve the fight against poverty and strengthen the country's industrial sector.
© The Canadian
Showing posts with label Throne speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Throne speech. Show all posts
Friday, October 12, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Opposition: Harper trying to stifle throne speech criticism
Politics reduced to message control. The Throne speech will hit the prime time news but the poor opposition will not have time to respond until the next day by which time the public will have forgotten all about the Throne speech except for remembering that Harper will do some nice things such as reduce crime and give some more money to the military for hardware.
Opposition says Harper trying to stifle throne speech criticism
Tim Naumetz and Juliet O'Neill , CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
Published: Wednesday, October 10, 2007
OTTAWA - The political rhetoric in Ottawa went up another decibel Tuesday as the opposition accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of manipulating the timing of the throne speech and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion rejoined that if there is an election in the next few months, it'll be by Harper's hand.
Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean will deliver the speech on Oct. 16 at 6:35 p.m. ET, several hours later than the traditional mid-afternoon time slot.
Dion may have the most to lose because the late start means his Commons reply to the outline of government intentions for the new session will be pushed into the night in eastern time zones. More importantly, his divided party may have difficulty hammering out a clear and prompt response in time for nightly television and newspaper publication cycle.
It's all about spin," said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale. "It's all about trying to enhance the government's message by focusing on prime time and then minimizing the opportunity for response."
NDP Deputy House Leader Joe Comartin said his party researchers found no precedent for a throne speech being delivered so late in the day.
The Bloc and NDP have promised to vote against the speech through amendments, which means the Liberals could force an election if enough Liberal MPs also support amendments.
Dion told a news conference Tuesday his party does not want a fall election. But if there is one, it will be because an intransigent Harper "will have set up his own defeat."
Dion readily admitted the Liberals have been damaged by three weeks of infighting. But he maintained the official opposition will be ready to campaign and the minority Conservatives would regret triggering a vote "Canadians do not want."
A new national poll showing a decline in Liberal support was no surprise, given internal difficulties, he said, referring to one of those difficulties - attacks by some Liberals on Liberal Party national director Jamie Carroll - as "a sad affair" that now is in the hands of lawyers.
A Canadian Press-Decima Harris poll said Liberal support had dropped to 28 per cent from 32 per cent in June, while the Conservatives had risen to 35 per cent from 29 per cent. The Conservatives won a minority government in January 2006, with 36 per cent of the vote. The margin of error in the poll is plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Also on Tuesday, Dion shuffled his shadow cabinet.
The most significant change was the appointment of Bob Rae as foreign affairs critic. A seasoned politician and lawyer, Rae is one of Dion's former rivals for the leadership who is waiting for a Toronto byelection to run for a seat in Parliament.
Since Rae is not elected, the MP who will handle foreign affairs questions in the Commons is Dion confidant Bryon Wilfert, a Toronto-area MP who has headed a committee on the party's policy on Canada's role in Afghanistan.
Ottawa Citizen
Opposition says Harper trying to stifle throne speech criticism
Tim Naumetz and Juliet O'Neill , CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
Published: Wednesday, October 10, 2007
OTTAWA - The political rhetoric in Ottawa went up another decibel Tuesday as the opposition accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of manipulating the timing of the throne speech and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion rejoined that if there is an election in the next few months, it'll be by Harper's hand.
Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean will deliver the speech on Oct. 16 at 6:35 p.m. ET, several hours later than the traditional mid-afternoon time slot.
Dion may have the most to lose because the late start means his Commons reply to the outline of government intentions for the new session will be pushed into the night in eastern time zones. More importantly, his divided party may have difficulty hammering out a clear and prompt response in time for nightly television and newspaper publication cycle.
It's all about spin," said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale. "It's all about trying to enhance the government's message by focusing on prime time and then minimizing the opportunity for response."
NDP Deputy House Leader Joe Comartin said his party researchers found no precedent for a throne speech being delivered so late in the day.
The Bloc and NDP have promised to vote against the speech through amendments, which means the Liberals could force an election if enough Liberal MPs also support amendments.
Dion told a news conference Tuesday his party does not want a fall election. But if there is one, it will be because an intransigent Harper "will have set up his own defeat."
Dion readily admitted the Liberals have been damaged by three weeks of infighting. But he maintained the official opposition will be ready to campaign and the minority Conservatives would regret triggering a vote "Canadians do not want."
A new national poll showing a decline in Liberal support was no surprise, given internal difficulties, he said, referring to one of those difficulties - attacks by some Liberals on Liberal Party national director Jamie Carroll - as "a sad affair" that now is in the hands of lawyers.
A Canadian Press-Decima Harris poll said Liberal support had dropped to 28 per cent from 32 per cent in June, while the Conservatives had risen to 35 per cent from 29 per cent. The Conservatives won a minority government in January 2006, with 36 per cent of the vote. The margin of error in the poll is plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Also on Tuesday, Dion shuffled his shadow cabinet.
The most significant change was the appointment of Bob Rae as foreign affairs critic. A seasoned politician and lawyer, Rae is one of Dion's former rivals for the leadership who is waiting for a Toronto byelection to run for a seat in Parliament.
Since Rae is not elected, the MP who will handle foreign affairs questions in the Commons is Dion confidant Bryon Wilfert, a Toronto-area MP who has headed a committee on the party's policy on Canada's role in Afghanistan.
Ottawa Citizen
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Harper warns opposition on Throne Speech
I don't see how any of the opposition parties will be able to vote for the throne speech. Harper will surely not commit to ending the Canadian combat mission in Feb. 2009 and that should mean that all opposition parties will vote against the speech. However Layton sounds a bit hesitant as Dion too at times. Nevertheless all parties have laid down conditions that it seems most unlikely the Conservatives will meet.
I can't wait for the throne speech! I doubt the results of the Ontario election will have much influence on Harper. He must be quite happy about the mess the Liberals are creating by attacking Dion and his key aide.
Harper warns opposition over support for throne speech
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 3, 2007 | 7:12 PM ET
CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Wednesday that if the opposition supports his upcoming speech from the throne, they must also pass, at later dates, all items that come from it, or risk triggering a federal election.
"The choice is not an election or obstruction. The choice is an election or give the government a mandate to govern," Harper said in his first news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa since becoming prime minister.
Harper told reporters that the Oct. 16 speech from the throne will lay out the government's plans, touching on issues such as the environment, the economy and Canada's place in the world.
Harper said he doesn't want an election before 2009. But the prime minister added that he would consider any votes during the upcoming parliamentary session on items in the speech from the throne as confidence motions.
"If they get approval of the throne speech, we're going to expect those things to be passed," Harper said.
Harper's Conservatives need the votes of at least one opposition party to survive a confidence vote on the speech from the throne.
Continue Article
Both Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe have warned that Harper must make major changes to it or they will vote against it.
NDP Leader Jack Layton said Wednesday that he'll have to wait and see whether any of the concerns he's laid out on the environment and Afghanistan are addressed.
But he said that when Harper was in opposition, he wanted to limit confidence votes to the speech from the throne and to the budget.
He said now Harper wants everything to lead to a threat of an election.
"It looks to me like he's more interested in playing political and parliamentary games than in respecting the principles he laid out at the time when he was in opposition."
Harper said a key priority that will be addressed in the speech from the throne will be Afghanistan.
In June, Harper said he wanted to find a consensus among all parties about what Canada should do when the February 2009 mission deadline in Afghanistan expires.
On Wednesday, Harper said consensus was perhaps the wrong word but that he does need some agreement.
"We have to have the support of some members of the opposition — parliamentary support to get a majority vote in favour of deployment," Harper said.
I can't wait for the throne speech! I doubt the results of the Ontario election will have much influence on Harper. He must be quite happy about the mess the Liberals are creating by attacking Dion and his key aide.
Harper warns opposition over support for throne speech
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 3, 2007 | 7:12 PM ET
CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Wednesday that if the opposition supports his upcoming speech from the throne, they must also pass, at later dates, all items that come from it, or risk triggering a federal election.
"The choice is not an election or obstruction. The choice is an election or give the government a mandate to govern," Harper said in his first news conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa since becoming prime minister.
Harper told reporters that the Oct. 16 speech from the throne will lay out the government's plans, touching on issues such as the environment, the economy and Canada's place in the world.
Harper said he doesn't want an election before 2009. But the prime minister added that he would consider any votes during the upcoming parliamentary session on items in the speech from the throne as confidence motions.
"If they get approval of the throne speech, we're going to expect those things to be passed," Harper said.
Harper's Conservatives need the votes of at least one opposition party to survive a confidence vote on the speech from the throne.
Continue Article
Both Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe have warned that Harper must make major changes to it or they will vote against it.
NDP Leader Jack Layton said Wednesday that he'll have to wait and see whether any of the concerns he's laid out on the environment and Afghanistan are addressed.
But he said that when Harper was in opposition, he wanted to limit confidence votes to the speech from the throne and to the budget.
He said now Harper wants everything to lead to a threat of an election.
"It looks to me like he's more interested in playing political and parliamentary games than in respecting the principles he laid out at the time when he was in opposition."
Harper said a key priority that will be addressed in the speech from the throne will be Afghanistan.
In June, Harper said he wanted to find a consensus among all parties about what Canada should do when the February 2009 mission deadline in Afghanistan expires.
On Wednesday, Harper said consensus was perhaps the wrong word but that he does need some agreement.
"We have to have the support of some members of the opposition — parliamentary support to get a majority vote in favour of deployment," Harper said.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Bloc lists Demands for support of Throne Speech
It seems almost certain the Bloc will not be able to support the throne speech. The Conservatives will not support Kyoto nor will they undertake to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2009. The question now is whether the Liberals and NDP will also vote against the speech. The NDP might as well force an election now after doing well in
Quebec. It will be interesting to see how they do in Ontario.
Dion might be well off to fight an election campaign now before things get worse for him. He has always been underestimated and that may be the case now. The Bloc seems to be fading somewhat but at least Duceppe does not seem to fear an election.
Bloc to outline demands for supporting throne speech
Last Updated: Saturday, September 22, 2007 | 9:41 AM ET
CBC News
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe is set to outline five conditions he says the federal government must accept if it wants his party's support for the Oct. 16 throne speech.
In a speech obtained by the Canadian Press and to be delivered to Bloc members Saturday in Rimouski, Que., Duceppe concedes that he has taken a hardline position that increases the possibility of a general election this fall.
Duceppe is said to be seeking a clear commitment that Canadian soldiers will leave Afghanistan when the mission ends in February 2009.
The NDP has long been demanding the withdrawal of Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan. On Friday, NDP Leader Jack Layton said his party will wait to hear the throne speech before deciding how to vote.
The Bloc's other conditions for supporting the throne speech kicking off a new session of Parliament call for:
The elimination of all federal spending powers in provincial jurisdictions.
The government to respect the Kyoto Protocol.
The continuation of supply management in the agriculture sector.
Promises to help Quebec's battered forestry industry.
The Bloc leader's comments are to be made two days after Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon, the Conservatives' Quebec lieutenant, told reporters that Duceppe is "not useful" in Ottawa.
Cannon also said Duceppe's party, founded to promote Quebec sovereignty, doesn't play a "vital role" and hasn't "delivered anything" for the province.
The pressure will be on the Liberals or the NDP to support the Conservatives if they don't want the government to lose the vote on the throne speech.
Since the Tories were elected in January 2006, the Bloc has helped the minority government survive three confidence votes, including two on federal budgets.
Last Monday, the Conservatives won one of three byelections in Quebec, capturing a Bloc stronghold. The Bloc also won a riding, but by a much smaller margin than expected, while the Conservatives were close behind.
Current standings in the 308-seat Commons are: Conservatives 126; Liberals 96; Bloc 49, NDP 30; three Independents and four vacancies.
Quebec. It will be interesting to see how they do in Ontario.
Dion might be well off to fight an election campaign now before things get worse for him. He has always been underestimated and that may be the case now. The Bloc seems to be fading somewhat but at least Duceppe does not seem to fear an election.
Bloc to outline demands for supporting throne speech
Last Updated: Saturday, September 22, 2007 | 9:41 AM ET
CBC News
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe is set to outline five conditions he says the federal government must accept if it wants his party's support for the Oct. 16 throne speech.
In a speech obtained by the Canadian Press and to be delivered to Bloc members Saturday in Rimouski, Que., Duceppe concedes that he has taken a hardline position that increases the possibility of a general election this fall.
Duceppe is said to be seeking a clear commitment that Canadian soldiers will leave Afghanistan when the mission ends in February 2009.
The NDP has long been demanding the withdrawal of Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan. On Friday, NDP Leader Jack Layton said his party will wait to hear the throne speech before deciding how to vote.
The Bloc's other conditions for supporting the throne speech kicking off a new session of Parliament call for:
The elimination of all federal spending powers in provincial jurisdictions.
The government to respect the Kyoto Protocol.
The continuation of supply management in the agriculture sector.
Promises to help Quebec's battered forestry industry.
The Bloc leader's comments are to be made two days after Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon, the Conservatives' Quebec lieutenant, told reporters that Duceppe is "not useful" in Ottawa.
Cannon also said Duceppe's party, founded to promote Quebec sovereignty, doesn't play a "vital role" and hasn't "delivered anything" for the province.
The pressure will be on the Liberals or the NDP to support the Conservatives if they don't want the government to lose the vote on the throne speech.
Since the Tories were elected in January 2006, the Bloc has helped the minority government survive three confidence votes, including two on federal budgets.
Last Monday, the Conservatives won one of three byelections in Quebec, capturing a Bloc stronghold. The Bloc also won a riding, but by a much smaller margin than expected, while the Conservatives were close behind.
Current standings in the 308-seat Commons are: Conservatives 126; Liberals 96; Bloc 49, NDP 30; three Independents and four vacancies.
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