COALITION GOVERNMENT?

@Setanta,

I look forward to Mame's post Laughing

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@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

I wondered if anyone would revisit this thread, under the circumstances. I'll admit i was rather surprised to see that Reyn was using to set up an "i told you so" situation. You're bad man, Reyn . . .

Hmm, I wouldn't say that I set anything up. I guess I'm a little surprised to see that some folks think that this coalition thing will take off....and even more so now that Iggy is at the Liberal helm. He has been reported in the press that he wasn't too keen on this at all.

Should I win, I promise I will be gracious. Should I lose, I'm good at whooping my forehead.

hamburger wrote:

my guess is that the biggest game of "playing chicken" will be going on in ottawa shortly ...

That's the way I see it too, Mr. H. A political game of who's going to blink first.

Intrepid wrote:

I look forward to Mame's post

Let's all tune in here tomorrow, eh? Could be interesting.

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I don't think Ignatieff wants to do the coalition thing, either. I think he wants to look statesman-like, consolidate his position in the party, and fight an election with Harper, and i'll bet he doesn't think this is the time to do it.

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wouldn't miss it

speaking of which, did you miss all that flooding awhile back, or rather did it miss you

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@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

I don't think Ignatieff wants to do the coalition thing, either. I think he wants to look statesman-like, consolidate his position in the party, and fight an election with Harper, and i'll bet he doesn't think this is the time to do it.

Yeperdo. Mr. Ig was on CTV late news last night hinting that the Liberals would pass the budget today.

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So Mame, you going to be around today? Wink

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Did any of you listen to the budget speech this afternoon? I particularly liked the part where he was talking about a summer job program for teenagers and the opposition benches broke into spontaneous laughter.

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@Setanta,

Nope. Just now read the highlights of the budget.

What time is the vote?

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@Reyn,

isn't it tomorrow?

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@ehBeth,

Yup. Found out on the supper news. Ignatieff was interviewed and said he would give his decision by 11am (EST presumably).

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@Reyn,

So, today's the day......

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@Reyn,

reyn wrote :

Quote:

So, today's the day......

yes , it's the day it's snowing again - 15 to 25 cm in the forecast and neither the government nor the opposition is willing to tackle this serious problem - neither one of them going to get my vote if the election were today .

while we won't hear iggie's decision until 11 a.m , we already made some important decisions :
a) to sleep in until 8 o'clock ,
b) to enjoy a hearty breakfast ,
c) not to go to the pool at noon .

other important decisions will be made as the day progresses , and i'll keep you informed - and you will NOT be able to vote me out of office !!!
hbg

1 Reply

@hamburger,

Okay then....

Until then, this is the lastest from CKNW's web site:

Quote:

OTTAWA - The Liberals want an amendment to the federal budget requiring periodic economic status reports to Parliament starting in March, says Leader Michael Ignatieff.

He said that's the price of Liberal support for the budget, which Finance Minister Jim Flaherty brought down on Tuesday. "We are putting this government on probation," he said Wednesday.

So, I'm thinking this will pass.

rest of article here

Mame, are you about? Wink

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News Flash ! ! !

Politician With Eye on Political Future Sells Out ! ! !

Ignatieff devises slippery means of supporting the minority Tory government ! ! !

Film at eleven . . .

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@Setanta,

set wrote :

Quote:

News Flash ! ! !

Politician With Eye on Political Future Sells Out ! ! !

Ignatieff devises slippery means of supporting the minority Tory government ! ! !

Film at eleven . . .

set's announced film feature has been cancelled due to lack of interest .
instead "gunfight at the o.k. corral" will be shown (actors will be firing blanks) .
as announced by the conservative/liberal coalition

p.s. two tired , currently unemployed sheriffs will be watching from the second balcony

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@Setanta,

I'm still trying to find out when the actual vote will take place. Why the heck is this so hard? None of the major news outlets have listed this, as far as I know.

When does parliament reconvene again?

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@Reyn,

reyn :

see here : http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/01/28/ignatieff-decision.html

Quote:

The amendment, which will be tabled in the House of Commons later Wednesday, will require regular reports to Parliament on the budget's implementation and costs, to be delivered in March, June and December of this year.

the way i understand it , the budget has "passed in principle" - but the opposition parties could still bring down the government at any time , if they muster enough votes .
i guess the government "survives at the pleasure of the opposition" .
i also understand that the p.m. has said that most items brought before the house "will not be voted on as a matter of confidence" - meaning that if the oppostion doesn't pass a bill the government could go on to the next item of business .
i doubt that either the conservatives or the liberals will want to be held responsible for forcing another election on the canadian people at this time - they'll be firing blanks at each other - it'll make noise but won't hurt anyone
(remember as a kid playing : "bang , bang , you are dead ! ") .
hbg

1 Reply

@hamburger,

hamburger wrote:

the way i understand it , the budget has "passed in principle" - but the opposition parties could still bring down the government at any time , if they muster enough votes .

Hmm, I'm finding that confusing, because I thought there still had to be a formal vote at this time, never mind in the future about how this current budget is performing.

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@Reyn,

A budget is an automatic confidence measure--but legislation to implement the budget is only a confidence measure if the PM decides to play hard ball. That's what he did last year, but he has figured out that the opposition is well enough organized that he can't play tough guy any longer. If any part of the government's program were sufficiently odious, or if the government fails to live up to its promises, the opposition benches can still move a confidence vote. Not only that, but it would not automatically entail a new election, if the opposition could go to the GG with a coalition plan.

But i suspect that Ignatieff wants to fight an election, but he just doesn't want to do it now.

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@Reyn,

reyn :

from the canadian press office :

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090128/national/20090128_fedbudget?printer=1

Quote:

Coalition dies as Ignatieff calls for progress reports on budget impact
51 minutes ago

By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Plans for an opposition coalition to replace Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government blew up in bitter recriminations on Wednesday as Michael Ignatieff offered a novel way to let the federal budget pass - for now.

The Liberal leader announced he'll move an amendment to the budget which will require the government to table three detailed progress reports to Parliament starting in March.

If the amendment passes, Liberals will not vote against the budget.

clear as mud , eh ? (it's the canadian way ! Wink

)
don't loose any sleep over it !
hbg

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COALITION GOVERNMENT?

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