Ignatieff keeps Canadians guessing on summer election

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Ignatieff keeps Canadians guessing on summer election

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CTV News Video

Power Play: MPs on election possibilities

With the Bloc and the NDP expressing their staunch opposition to the Harper government, the decision for a summer election could depend on the Liberals.

CTV News Channel: Robert Fife on two crucial votes before parliament next week

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said he needs until Monday to determine whether they'll bring down the government over the fiscal report card.

Canada AM: Liberal infrastructure critic, Gerard Kennedy, with reaction to the Tory's economic update

The liberal infrastructure critic explains why his government is disappointed in the Conservative stimulus spending and weighs in on the summer election speculation.

Canada AM: Minister of Transport John Baird explains how the stimulus spending is helping ease the recession

The federal transport minister explains why his party argues Canada's economy is chugging towards recovery and will only be derailed by 'needless political instability.'

CTV National News: Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife on Harper's economic report card

The Conservatives gave themselves an A+ in their handling of the recession, saying that 80 per cent of the stimulus package is already flowing through the country. But the opposition parties may push for a summer election.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Fri. Jun. 12 2009 6:44 PM ET

Canadians will have to wait until Monday to hear whether Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff will prop up the Conservatives or try toppling the minority government over its handling of the economic downturn.

Ignatieff will be spending the weekend consulting with "a range of people whose opinions he respects, inside and outside the party," an insider told the Canadian Press on Friday. The Liberal leader will also be going over the Tories' latest economic progress report, deciding whether it's good enough to prevent sending Canadians to the polls, only eight months after the last election.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered his rosy update on the economy, saying 80 per cent of stimulus spending was being implemented and 3,000 new infrastructure projects have begun.

Ignatieff slammed the report as unrealistically positive, but pledged to take a close look at the document before making up his mind.

On Friday, Liberal infrastructure critic Gerard Kennedy said Harper's update gave a false sense of security to Canadians.

"The prime minister and (Transport Minister John Baird) are using language rather than action. 'Being implemented' they take to mean if they've thought about it, then Canadians should feel something is happening," Kennedy told CTV.

He said very few new infrastructure projects have actually begun since the budget was approved more than four months ago, and as a result $22.7 billion in stimulus spending hasn't resulted in many new jobs.

"We've had no successes so far and we really have to assess the capacity of the government to move forward, and that is our guidepost. It's not about an election per se, it's about the best way to deliver for Canadians," Kennedy said.

Immediately after hearing Harper's report, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe vowed to vote against the government next Friday when the economic update is put to a confidence vote.

The Liberals would also have to vote against the update in order for the government to fall.

Ignatieff said the New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois rejected the update without even looking at it, but it would be irresponsible for him to do so.

"I think it's time to take off the rose-coloured glasses and look closely at the numbers," Ignatieff said in Montreal on Thursday.

He said the Liberals are prepared to enter an election campaign, if necessary, but said the timing is in question.

"The question is what is in the national interest, what do Canadians want here?" Ignatieff asked.

"Let's remember where we are. ... We're in the middle of the most serious recession in a generation, right? What's the right way forward for our country? That's the question I'll be asking myself tonight."

Ignatieff is expected to announce his decision Friday or Monday.

In his update, Harper said Canada's economy is chugging towards recovery and will only be derailed by "needless political instability."

Harper was in Cambridge, Ont., delivering the second of his government's promised quarterly reports to the House of Commons.

He said Canada was the last of the major developed countries to be dragged into the global recession, has been the least hard-hit by it, and "we will make sure Canada emerges in the strongest position when it is over."

Comments are now closed for this story

davidovich
said

Ignatieffs threat of an election reminds me of MacBeth when he said,

Life is but a walking shadow,
A poor player that struts and frets his hour across the stage,
Then is heard no more.

It's a tale told by an idiot
Full of sound and fury -
Signifying nothing.

Roland Godin
said

Elected are the sum of our expressions. We want, want, want and they give, give, give. And we pay, pay, pay,...
Numéro-Brunswick

marge
said

Mr.Harper called an election last fall which was absolutely unnecessary. So another election isn't going to make things worse, or it might. Everything costs money,a good example of that is; the mission in Afghanistan is costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

zwinky - see you in september
said

I really don't support Harper's government and do not believe or trust that they have given us accurate figures.

Harper is an incredibly negative and bitter person whose only strategy has been to divide Canadians along any line that he can find and pander to some peoples' dark, greedy, self-focused side.

His attitude and approach has had a purely negative impact on how some Canadians conduct themselves and we are a lesser people for it.

I frankly would love to see the Conservatives either change leaders or be removed from government

That said, the simple fact is that Canadians are tired of all of our political figures and their self-serving rhetoric and just want to be left alone to enjoy our beer, barbeques and beach time for the summer months.

Jay
said

I just love how people think any other party will save the day.The fact is all partys say great things before there in power.Then when there in power they don't follow up.

Angus McIntosh
said

The people elect politicians to represent them in Ottawa.
They dont elect the politicians just so the politicians can represent their adgendas and do what is best for the politicians.
I dont get it how politicians who are not part of the ruling party think it is their duty (the politicians) to oppose the government. I think their duty should be to do what is best for us taxpayers. It seems that the opposition is just waiting for the opportunity to better themselves (such as making sure the got enough time in to qualify for the UNGODLY pensions they get.
Do what is right and work together to get the people back to work. Stop opposing because you think it is your duty to do so. If you think the government is so evil then have the guts to bring them down.
Get off the fence.

BMIA
said

I agree with what other astute posters have said - this isn't about the budget it's about the polls. And it's also about voter apathy.

Summer election would just be another record low turnout of voters.

The only thing I am hoping for is that enough voters turn out to vote in Toronto - Danforth to vote out Jack Layton. He got less than 45-percent of the votes in his riding in the last election.

Even Duceppe couldn't garner 50-percent of the votes in his riding (although he did garner a larger percentage of votes in his riding than Ignatieff did in his riding of Etobicoke - Lakeshore).

Maybe Laurier - Sainte Marie will spill enough votes to get rid of Duceppe.

Layton out! Duceppe out!

One can only hope!

Joe Torry
said

It makes me feel so great whenever or 'party' feels threatened, we get out there and show our support with our "Neo - Conservative" communications team.
I know you Liberals may think this is just propaganda but yet again you are mistaken.
To all Canadians we must fall behind our Leader and support him through these rough economic times and not pay any attention to the likes of those who have spent most of their lives living outside our great nation.
Only true Canadians know what is best for Canadians
God Bless Canada.
J.Torry

Jim in the Kawarthas
said

Mr.Harper must be happy . . .people are believing his early attack ads. (You just have to believe a party that has started attack ads before an election occurs. The same government who sends out partisan mailings via people's MPs)
If carbon taxes are evil (or so says the oil patch from whence Harper and the Reform party originated), then why is it working in Norway, who extract huge amounts of natural gas from the North Sea.There industries are learning to deal with their emissions.
Harper wins by dividing the opposition . . .

Rick (Ontario)
said

This is another example of Iggy saying anything that will make him and his pathetic party sound good. He rips Harper on out of control spending, then in his next breath he says that the stimulus money isn't flowing fast enough. He changes his opinion on a day-to-day basis.
I gave Iggy every chance to make a believer in him, and he has failed miserably at it. I never thought I'd see the day where we'd have a politician with a bigger ego than Harper. But now we have Iggy. If ever there was a politician with a hidden agenda, it's Iggy.
Iggy, go back home, wherever that may be. Whatever is convenient for you.

Durham Resident
said

The apathy that Canadians seem to have is outright sickening. We pride ourselves in being such a democratic country, but when any talk of an election comes around, we call it a waste of time!! It's truly sad. People in other countries would be jailed or killed for even thinking of such an ideal.

Ted, Ignatieff was elected in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore in Toronto, so he is as much as an elected official as Harper.

And the Liberals do hold the balance of power because the BQ and NDP came out saying they will vote against it.

And where is that 80% of the stimulus? I live in the Toronto area and have not seem any spending (and the government has the gall to "tell us where to go"). With the Tories looking at losses in Toronto suburbs and Quebec among other places, the Tories should be worried.

And if the only things they can attack the Liberals on is Harper attacking Ignatieff's tenure at Harvard and in the UK, then they don't have much to go on. And poll after poll indicates that their strategy is not working.

Anne M
said

If Iggy forces an election on Canadians, when we do NOT want it, then we need to vote accordingly, and get rid of as many Liberals and NDP as possible. Vote with our heads and not what the media wants.

BC west of T-dot
said

What we want is for the politicians to work together to get the job done! Stop bantering back and forth and just GET IT DONE! An election this summer would be a complete waste of tax dollars! Instead of fighting with one another, work together and get this country going again.

STOP WAISTING TIME!!!

Faye
said

Enough with the games. Just govern. Have an election once every 4 yrs and give who ever is in a chance. This is becoming rediculous expensive and uneffective.
If the 3 can't work together get 3 that can.

GHW
said

Even though Ignatieff is much smarter than Dion I don’t like him any better neither do I like most of the current batch of leading Liberal MP’s. If Toronto and Montreal and the East Coast had let the Liberal Party die in one of the last two elections we now have a new fresher batch of competent Liberal MP’s to vote for.
I’m still supporting the conservatives who overall have proved to be very competent. Putting aside all partisan brain washing and soup opera politics (which I do not understand), the current conservative administration is our best choice for now. Let’s stay the course and work through this recession. We can have an election next year at the earliest.

Ben in BC
said

This has nothing to do with the economy or the Conservatives report. The only thing that Mr Igntieff and his Liberals are discussing is what the poles say and if it is the right time for an election. This is what we get with a minority government, the Liberal have no concern for the Country or Canadians right now. Their only concern is how can they make political advantage to gain power.

keith fox
said

Michael Ignatieff please do
not dissolve parliament and
call a Federal Election. We
need stability in Parliament
now as the Economy is going
to be very robust this winter
and for sure next spring.I
know by your actions that will determine if I vote for
you or Prime Minister Harper
in the next election. By not
having an election you will
speed up Canada's economic
recovery.This is the most
important thing you can do
now for Canadians who are
jobless. I hope that you will
work with Prime Minister
Harper till next spring as I
can see Canada's economy
booming then and once again
running Federal surpluses.
After the sponsorship scandal
and the isotope fiasco we
need our MP's to start acting
in a positive manner.Dissolve
Parliament next spring as the
country will be ready for a
election at that time.To all
MP's I hope you have a great
summer.

Mike B.
said

If Ignatieff was as power hungry as some of you say, he would have already been PM in a coalition government. If you want to look at who keeps power at all costs, take a look at the PM who broke his own election law and had 3 attempts at a majority government in 4 years after attempting his own coalition in 2004. If Harper couldn't beat Dion to form a majority and used his ecnonomics major knowledge to deny a recession, maybe a summer election to get rid of him would be a good thing. I'm sure many conservatives would be ok with finding a new leader. I know for sure that Mulroney and Joe Clark wouldn't mind.

Pip
said

Mr. Ignatieff is going to take a "long hard look" to see if he can force us, the taxpayers to spend $300 million of our hard earned dollars, just to let him see if he can force the existing government out of office. What an abuse of OUR money - NOT government money. That $300 million could well be spent on H1N1 vaccine for every Canadian.

And he complains that not enought money is being spent in the right places! Hypocrite!

Roger Cooper
said

Ignatieff and the Liberals should be careful, else they expose their own hypocrisy in exhorting the current government to stimulate the economy with deficit spending.

The bigger issue is competency, and here Harper's government has demonstrated repeatedly that they lack it.

If Ignatieff wants an election, he should be prepared to offer concrete alternatives.

Cut the fluff.

Don Jones
said

I don't understand why the NDP won't even do a study of the report Harper brought in. At least Iggy is trying to see the pros and cons in the report. He knows he is the only real party leader that could win back the government for his party and he will do the right thing for the country. I am greatly disappointed in the Jack Layton and his no need to read the report attitudes. This is not the first time it has happened. The people who voted for him expect better.

DaveEast
said

The Liberals are NOT "deciding whether to support economic update", as this article so pithily puts it. As usual they are holding their fingers up to the breeze to see which wat the wind is blowing. The sole factor that will determine whether we will spend yet more money on yet another election, is whether Iggy thinks he can win. Period. He does not give a rat's behind as to what the economic update contains. We all know this. For the past quarter of a century he could not give a whit about the well-being of Canadians, and there is no reason at all to believe that this has changed, or that it will in the future.

Iggy is concerned about the well-being of Iggy.

Russ, Halifax
said

Summer election sounds good to me.

beefy.. from canada
said

How soon we forget that Iggy was saying the Harper government was not spending enough or fast enough to deal with the recession.. now he does another 180. Our whole governemnt and opposition are nothing but back seat drivers fighting for the steering wheel.. where is any party with leadership and interest in the good of the country ? ... there is none.. the Bloc is for Quebec.. Iggy and the NDP are drooling for power at any cost or any method and the PC's have ended up pandering to Quebec and spending all their time fighting to stay in office rather than fighting for Canada (Thanks to the other 3 parties and their failure to realize they lost they election) I am from the west and yes, voted for Harper.. but I am pretty dissapointed .. he certainly is not what the easterners worried about (pro-western) ... he ended up pandering to Quebec and business interests just as fast as any Liberal does and seems to be gaining on the Liberals record for scandal and secrecy... although the PC scandals seem to be based in stupidity rather than greed like the Liberals. We need a new party that will stop giving Canada away to every immigrant who wants to come here and have Canada become their home country for them and make Canada a strong economic force without pandering to the 'ol boys club'. Bottom line is, we only have bottom feeders to choose from now.. there is barely a lesser evil. We need a leader looking to unify east west Quebec and the Maritimes.. not one who will pander to who/what ever will help him with his own power base.

Paul, Vancouver, BC
said

Gord, Robson NS: What recovery process? Harper and his band of clowns have deceived and lied to us from the get go, if they hadn't been summarily muzzled by Stevie. People are losing jobs by the THOUSANDS at a time just after Harper tried to reassure us how strong our economy is and how well we will weather this storm. Tell that to the THOUSANDS of families losing their livelihoods.

We (I) want to see an election. The sooner we can get rid of these fascists the better

BA in The 'Peg
said

Didn't Iggy say a couple of weeks back (or was it last week) - "Quebec's place is in government". I guess he'll be pandering even more now.

Iggy - vote to bring the gov't down with the other 2 opposition/loser parties - I dare you. The outcome will be either:

1. A Conservative minority/majority gov't.

OR

2. If the Libs actually won power, the start of a true Western Separatist Party, and likely the beginning of the end of Canada (something the Bloc will love!)

No, I'm not some wing-nut "neo-con", I'm telling you this is what will happen. The West is really getting tired of the nonsense and games down in Ottawa.....

Jeffery Langille
said

Maybe instead of playing useless economic politics, our elected leaders should have been discussing the economic forum held in Montreal from Jun 8 -11. This economic forum is the real authority for economic direction in our capitalist nation!

Terry
said

Interesting claims regarding Canada's position vis a vis recession and recovery. A look at Australia seems to reveal that it, in fact, has managed to avoid recession. There doesn't seem to be any mention of this...

bellainottawa
said

Harper forced this upon himself. He forced the last 2 elections. The first one, when Paul Martin was PM, with the help of the NDP/BQ, then most recently, because he did not want to co-operate with the rest of Parliament. He wants to stay in power so badly that he will do/say whatever necessary. He must starting to believe his own lies. At the very least Mr.Ignatieff will actually take the time and read the update before making a decision. Cannot say the same for the NDP/BQ which have obviously rejected it before seeing it.

Matt
said

Yes iggy, take a good look at those polling numbers.
Also take note of the "Do you want an election this summer" polls.
80-90% (depending on the poll) Do not want an election.

So go ahead, call an election nobody wants. It will have about the same result, but then your party will have even less money.

ALH
said

To Adam in Ottawa,

The problem with waiting a year to call an election is that the Cons will get the credit for the Vancouver 2010 games. I can see why people do not want an election for summer, because they want to go on vacation,and be lazy. But I tell you by the fall , people will be angry, if nothing is being done.
Do you really want an election around xmas time?

How are you so sure next year that the Liberals will vote down the Budget?

Also, there is no say that the liberals will be able to hold onto the vote percentages in Quebec.

You never know what harper will do to try to pick up his vote across the country.

Do not underestimate the NDP or the Bloc or the Greens.

Or the misfit strategists in Harpers Office.

Vet in Windsor
said

To all the negative people talking about who should have the right to have a say:
Any party that has been elected by the people, has earned the right to represent them to their best ability, even while we may not agree with them.
It is the cornerstone of being Canadian, oncluding the earned right to air your comments in this and any forum available!
Anyone who says otherwise, or wants to deny this, disgraces the memory of all who have fought for our right (65th anniversary of D-Day) and to those who continue to bring these ideals to people around the world.
Put aside the snide comments and remarks, take a moments to think, and proudly wear some red today.

Mike from Ottawa
said

The NDP want to turn Canada into a welfare state, the Bloc want to breakup Canada, and the Liberals just want to line their pockets.

It's time for a strong Conservative majority.

cmt
said

Enough already!!!

Iggy had better think about what he stands to lose by forcing us into yet another Liberal lead election.

This country cannot afford to spend the dollars to have another election.

But again the Liberals do like to spend what they don't have don't they?

Go ahead call an election...make our day.

Jay, Ottawa
said

Dave Ont East said, "... The Boc Quebecois should be outlawed as a Federal party, to topple the Gvt as they don't represent Canada at all..only Quebec, so they are a false party."

Sigh. What is a false party?

And to outlaw them would mean having to repeal the right to assembly. Excellent idea there Dave. Who wants that right?

Mexico Ex-Pat
said

Lets put it simply for the simple minded out there...

If an election happens, there will be a change in government...but still no majority. No party is in a place to claim the "throne of power", no matter what the blogging pundits or the CONservafibbers think.

NDP and BLOQ will probably suffer major damage if an election is called, Libs may play leapfrog with the CON's, but where does that leave us? Exactly in the same place we are now...except with sabre rattling comming from the Right instead of the Left.

Alysha Ont
said

The fate of the Minority gov't does NOT rest in the hands of Iggy who is not even elected by his party to be the leader of the Opposition and is nothing but a self serving wanna be Prime Minister. He says if he doesn't become Prime Minister, he will leave Canada and move to the USA. You couldn't move fast enough for me Iggy! Just remeber that this huge debt is a direct result of Iggy wanting Harper to spend mega bucks on stimulus pkg or he would overthrow the gov't. He wasn't happy with just a little spending but wanted more more and now he is calling the gov't incompetent and other nasty's. This same man has called down Canada and the Canadian people many times in his speeches abroad and in his writings. So think before you decide who you want to represent Canada. Harper and the Conservatives are doing a good job with a Minority gov't. When Harper tried to govern his way, people called him a bully. Iggy is always flapping his flippers negatively and demanding to overthrow the gov't if he doesn't get his way. Who is the bigger bully??? Temper tantrums do not a Prime Minister make !!!!I am fed up with this childish behaviour in gov't. Let's move on and get the job done that you are elected to do for Canadians.

Gerry Vancouver
said

All this blather over voters not wanting another election. Where was the hand wringing 8 months ago when Harper violated his own election law in an attempt to garner a majority?

When was the last time any poll said voters wanted an election?

Pull the plug, Iggy, I've had enough of Tory tough times.

Rob
said

It's time to pull the plug on this "Tax and Spend" government. Deficits are so 1986. It's time to elect a more accountable and fiscally responsible government.

Bob,Calgary,Alberta
said

Realisticly, why would the nationality conflicted Iggy vote for an election now. The Liberals are gaining support in several areas and the economy is in very bad shape and getting worse. All the Libs have to do is wait because Canadians will eventually blame Harper for their lost incomes,jobs, investments etc. The majority of Canadians don't understand economics and wrongly think that changing governments is a panacea for what ails us. Canada is essentially a Liberal country and the Liberals will surely regain power if they are patient. Conservative ideas are scary for most Canadians who have been conditioned by years of Liberal hegemony to think that big government solves all of our problems. Within a couple of years the Libs will be in power again and we will go back to the typical Liberal way of governing with increasing taxes, boondoggle social policies,silly foreign policies, beggaring the military, appeasing the reluctant Canadians in Quebec,stealing Western resources,and just a general uncompetitive malaise that characterizes all Liberal governments. Canada is a beautiful country with wonderful people but, unfortunately, a history of electing Liberal regimes who care little about the country but a great deal about "POWER".

Scott McInnis
said

With the current structure of the commons the opposition parties can defeat the government at any time they want. BUT to be so foolish and egotistical to defeat the government in the current world economic climate. IT would show me that the liberals have more self interest then the best interests of the people of Canada. I am no fan of the conservative party or the PM, but how about you actually do your jobs, play politics and use the unique advantages a minority government offers to find a suitable solution. To call an elections, close the government coffers over the summer, when a large portion of the government stimulus packing is infrastructure would be political suicide because I have little doubt the conservative spin doctors wouldn't close the doors themselves and blame the oppositions parties. Its very hard to sell noble ideas to people looking for work and trying to support themselves and their families.

XX
said

I want Harper to go away as much as the next person, but Ignatieff isn't much better. I say, instead of spending millions swapping from one inept PM to another, we keep the status quo until a real leader emerges.

Mike
said

SHOW ME THE MONEY....Harper has proven time and time again that he can't be trusted, he has constantly lied to Canadians. The Cons need to be held accountable and provide concrete examples of what exactly has been done and how much has been spent, this is our money, don't just tell me 80% has been implemented, show me.

Ben from Gatineau
said

No matter what my political commitment is, I think an election is the last thing our country needs right now. The only thing Canada and Quebec desperatly need right now; and I am a franco from Quebec; is to finally and permanently stop that money leach and speed brake that is the Bloc Quebecois, please someone shut them down for good! Beleive it or not the question of referendum just came back on the table in Quebec. Unbeleivable!!

Ryan in Burlington
said

If Iggy wants to run an election it will ruin him and the party...so run an election Einstein! Do it, I dare you! Nobody calls an election during a recession! This is nothing but Liberal, power-grabbing garbage!

Really, we all have enough problems. The last thing we need to see everyday is a bunch of bozo's trying to get our vote. Our taxes just went to buying a couple car companies, let's not go waste some more on stupid elections.

How's this as a plan Iggy: Concern yourself with helping this government rather than making voters mad and wasting their money. How does that sound? If that doesn't work for you, move back State-side. I am sure you have your choice of jobs there.

Lane
said

When Michael Ignatieff says he will have to "look at the numbers", he must be referring to his polling numbers. Let's face it - if the Liberals were ten, or even five, points higher in the polls, Ignatieff would force an election without even blinking. But there is no way he wants an election right now. He's delaying his decision not because he's looking at the economic update, but because he needs to figure out how to communicate his decision to support the government without losing face.

L inTdot
said

Ted Chamberlain said:
Great; Here's a guy that was never elected to anything thinking that he wields all this power and could topple the government.
------------------------
Sorry to burst your bubble Ted but, Michael Ignatieff was actually elected in his riding...just keep spewing that false information though. And don’t tell me that the same couldn't be said about Harper from a few years ago – “thinking he wields all this power and could topple the government.” That’s what happens, you can blame any one party or person for it. That is the way politics works Ted, especially in a MINORITY government. Harper and his crew haven’t learned how to play nice in the sandbox so it is time to remove them from it.

Why is being smart a bad thing, why label Ignatieff arrogant just because he is smart and wants to lead our country. We always talk about why we don’t have smart folks in government, we had our chance with Dion and now Michael Ignatieff but for some reason people want to tear them down.

I know lot's of people who don't mind spending on an election right now in order to save all the billions that this government is spending like drunken sailors to buy votes. Don't even get me started on the "FIRE SALE" they are about to have with or crown corps. We all know how that works out with conservatives.

Stu from London
said

The longer the Conservatives are in power, the higher the Liberal numbers. I think the Liberals should hold off on the non-confidence vote and wait until early next year when they will most likely secure a majority.

Rick in NB
said

What's so bad about a summer election. We don't have to work any harder than usual. Its the people we pay that have to work for their keep. I like to see a politician working in the summer. It give them an idea if what real Canadians do every year.

Steve in PEI
said

The other two opposition parties are voting against the government specifically because they hope that the Liberals will suffer the most harm if we have a summer election.

Summer elections are not the Canadian way, and there isn't anything pressing enough to make an exception.

This government continuously poisons the Canadian body politic and is composed of the most autocratic dictator in living memory, his coterie of unelected hacks, and oh yeah, his elected ministers who aren't allowed to sneeze without permission from said unelected hacks. And when the elected ministers do make the news it's usually connected to some misstep they made.

This is not a particularly talented, humane or competent government and it deserves to go down. The Liberals will *need* to take them down soon, they can't put up with the never-ending attack ads and just do nothing. But it can wait until the fall.

ADM Saskatchewan
said

Think! The countr is in a recession and Ignatieff wants to spend money on an election. Very good idea(NOT) Its going to take time to turn the econmy about, its not something that will happen overnight. The Liberals, NDP and the BLOC seem to be expecting miracles, though Mr Ignatieff seems to be at least willing to study the report before taking any action. I say DON'T SPEND OUR MONEY ON AN ELECTION THAT IS NOT NEEDED OR WANTED BY MOST CANADIANS.

Norman Ouston from Armstrong BC
said

Jordan Hill read this.
Committed yes. The infrastructure monies are just that but first engineers must design and draw the project. Then bids must go to contractors before any money is actually given. Bids are awarded then it takes time to organize any project. Somtimes many, many weeks before shovels are in the ground.

Bart in Mattawa
said

It would be very smart by Mr. Ignatieff to call an election right now if he thinks he can win. He would thus be governing while Canada is climbing out of the recession (which it will for sure, regardless who is governing) and take all the credit for it. Now, that would be a perfect personal advantageous move for him. After all, that's all that counts in politics is it not?

Carol Thunderbay Iggy the honeymoon is over
said

The Ignatieff honeymoon since becoming leader is over. People do not trust him as they learn more about him he just does not seem sincere and does not seem to really care about Canada, he just offers more cheap politics and one line insulting zingers.

Steve the Pundit
said

Government runs at a snail's pace at the BEST of times; Ignatieff would do well to keep that in mind, and to consider:

- during an election, all non day-to-day activity in the government GRINDS TO A HALT. Because no bureaucrat wants to do anything that could come back and cost them their cushy jobs later if a new government gets in.
- in addition to the five-week campaign of any summer election called, add at least another 8-16 weeks for a transition, throne speech, economic update and/or mini budget, etc. Again, during that time, nothing of any consequence gets done, other than, potentially, a lot of the people familiar with the current plans would be replaced with people who don't, or who are waiting on new instructions on a "new plan"

This puts us at least into November, if not December. Then, whatever "new plans" are put in place will have to be put to a Commons vote; if we get ANOTHER minority (polls today would confirm this likelihood), these plans might not pass, and more time goes by.

Moral of the story: if Ignatieff really wants to help Canadians caught in the recession and see that infrastructure money gets into the economy quickly, he should keep his arrogant, power-seeking mouth shut, enjoy his first summer as opposition leader, and let the government do what they were elected to do.

Dan Kirkland, Montreal
said

Although Harper is like a blind dog and causes a lot of anger over his mishandling of Kyoto, arts funding and international policy, it does not seem that there is any easy solution to the economic mess at the moment, even with a new government in place. Maybe better to wait until he inevitably incites more frustration over other issues. Dion had the right ideas, only the wrong approach.

Alfred in TB
said

Will/can the cons post the list of infrastructure projects reportedly in progress? Let them prove it is so. No list, no vote!!!
Let's see: slightly more than 30 million people, slightly more than 3000 projects which implies every town, village or city over 10,000 people should have at least one project. Assuming this ratio (bigger population more projects) and an even distribution across the country it should be fairly easy for everyone to see if they are getting a fair deal.

Jess
said

This is entertaining. The Iggster et al say that money isn't being spent fast enough, but are outraged at the size of the deficit. They decry rising unemployment yet do not propose what they would do differently to remedy the situation. In fact, other than sugguesting that he would raise taxes, Iggy and his group have yet to propose any policies on this or any other matter. Meanwhile, the economy will recover, unemployment will begin to fall.

Kim in Winnipeg
said

Is this guy serious?? I think we have far more important things to deal with in Canada right now then an election. How about a recession and not to mention the H1N1 spreading like wild fire in Manitoba ? Now is NOT the time to waste more money on an election? What kind of reality do these people live in ? I'm thinking Egoville ! Let the current government try and do their job.
Just talking about this Iggy is making Canadains mad, yes even the ones who formerly voted for your party .

Margaret
said

Call an election. I don't care what happens. All I know is that Harper at the very best scenario for him - will get another minority. He will never get a majority. Not ever.

The reason Harper called the last election was because he feared the Obama effect, he knew that Obama was more than likely going to win, and he wanted to get another election "in" before his Republican-style government was shown up by the Democrats. What happens in the US affects us.

This time - he's hanging onto power by his fingernails, and his caucus members keep stomping on his fingers. LOL!! Best scenario for him, another minority, but weaker. Worst case scenario for him and what I hope happens -- Liberal landslide victory.

Worst case scenario for Ignatieff -- he has to inherit the incredible crumbling mess that Harper is leaving behind for his successor. I wouldn't want it - no way. It's a much better job to be hacking away at the government on a daily basis. Easier. Less stress. The mess Harper leaves behind is going to make Mulroney look as harmless as Daffy Duck.

ger from quebec
said

It was just a little while ago that we heard that only 6% or 7% of the actual stimulus package has been implemented...now all of a sudden just before holidays we hear that 80% has been spent? Are we really expected to believe this? It seems like a ploy to avoid the inevitable...if the government falls,so be it! The Conservatives had their moment to bat. It doesn't matter if an election occurs now or in 4 months. There will be a slight difference but not enough to matter in the grand scheme of things.

crapshoot
said

The government's fate does NOT rest in Ignatieff's hands! The government can be defeated only if the NDP and the Bloc support the Liberals should they be foolish and selfish enough to try at this most inappropriate time.

markass
said

Make a decision and get on with it! By not being decisive he has hurt his party and chances of wining. When your a leader you have to make a decision on what is right, not on your own political asperations. Harper has led us into ruin - now get on with it!

bellainottawa
said

Bring it! I'd like to see Harper and the rest of his incompetent cronies out of office for good. When things are going bad, all they do is attack the other parties instead of taking responsibilities. I do not mind a summer election. It takes 2 minutes to vote. 2 minutes out of a long summer is not bad if it means bringing this PM down.

Adam & Steve Toronto
said

We want an election to get the Court Challanges program back. The only way special interest groups can afford to sue the government is if the government will pay for it. Time for an election. Toronto activists are ready to go to work now.
Iggy will be our new supreme leader.

Shar
said

Really,another election?I have voted for all the parties at some point in my life(not bloq)but come on elections are very expensive!!!!A recession and they want to call an election.We have to cut back on our spending at home but these pinheads want to spend millions on another election.Maybe ALL the members of parl. should take a pay cut and show canadians that they are willing to sacrifice for their country in a time of recession as well.Give me a break,"NO" to a summer election!!!

Concerned citizen.
said

The last thing we need is an election. Give the stimulus package time to work. We all know that it won't solve everything but at least we are seeing work done on roads and other infrastructure now and this early in the construction season. As for the leader of the Liberal party, not bad for a guy who has spent most of his adult life living out of country and not paying taxes and as for the other two opposition parties well need I say more.

Reg
said

We haven't started to come out of the slump. This bump is a false bump and many people who have their head in the sand are in for a nasty surprise.

Mr. Ignatieff, try to defeat the government so we can remove these inept, morally bankrupt ministers.

George in Calgary
said

Liberals force an election then let the Liberals foot the bill. It's time for the parties to come together and solve problems not just call an election every time they have their nose out of joint.
Canadians want stability and to progress towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Instability brought on by an election will not do it. We need our politicians working on the country's problems not racing around promoting their personal agendas; how arrogant is that?

Prediction: Party that forces a summer election will go down to defeat.

Metro
said

Pull the trigger Mr. Ignatieff. For some of us, having a well-run country outweighs the need to get a tan.

Raj
said

I bet he loves this! well I for one do not want an election.I don't think we as a country can afford one, does IGGY?

Roxy in Victoria thinks Iggy is unpredictable
said

Iggy saying he will transfer billions more to Quebec and I wonder if he fails to deliver if Quebec will separate or if he does deliver and Alberta and Sask separate. Harper has the right balance Newfoundland has to pay into equalization with its billions in oil. Iggy says he will do so much for Alberta. His promises do not add up billions more for Quebec to buy seats but promises everyone they will not paymore. His tax increases from Carbon taxs to GST make him totally unpredictable.

G. Gravelle, Ottawa
said

If a summer election takes place, Harper will be re-elected on a minority as in the last 2 elections. Quebec won't give him a majority and nobody wants the other choices in power. Ignatieff should save the tax payers money and leave things as they are.

Denis Gahan, Edmonton, Alberta
said

Ignatieff is only interested in becoming PM for his own personal gain. He is not interested in national unity, or the recovery of the economy, only his self interest and not the interest of Canada. This is evident in the fact that he has been trying to buy votes in Quebec, Ontario, and BC. Electing him and the liberals at this time would result in causing Canada's debt to soar. Ignatieff will sell Canada down the river to get elected and further his self interests. We do not need a summer election, nor do we need him trying to stop Canada's economic recovery.

SK Tired Taxpayer
said

What a joke Ignatieff is...I don't want an election...and I don't want more Liberal/NDP/BQ taxes and spending...

Craig
said

I'm a New Democrat and I think an election so soon would not help anyone. We just had one recently, they are costly and all we might get is a Liberal Minority or majority.

If the Liberals don't think the Tory budget does enough I think going to the GG and endorsing the Liberal/NDP coalition with Bloc support would be a lot better then another election. At least until the winter.

BTW I do think the Torys do need to be punished for them calling the early election last time because they knew what was going to happen and then deceiving to the Canadian voter saying Canada was in good shape.

No SUMMER ELECTION!!!!!

Maureen
said

In spite of what the media are going on about (they do need headlines after all!), the Liberals still need the NDP and the Bloc and neither of them are in any financial position to fight another election. For that matter, Iggy is dreaming if he thinks the Liberals have a war chest to fight an election. Besides has he stated that the Liberals have any policies in place (he was working on that, but I don't think he has completed his homework!) - I don't care if he releases them, but he should at least indicate he has some policies and initiatives developed and ready to go. This is Dion all over again - lots of talk, but no action. As well, there are too many MPs from all parties that are on the cusp of having their gold plated pension locked in in the next year - they are not going to risk that for an election that the public might vote them out for the pleasure of summer revenge. Besides, Harper is not the big meany that many claim he is - first all politicians are mean and arrogant and second - clearly no one here has spent much time in an academic environment - the most base, backstabbing, belittling environment in existence - and of course all in the name of academic freedom (which Iggy - doesn't exist in the real world!).

MAL
said

Bye Steve-o, it was uhhh boring while it lasted.

Election early August... Cons completely obliterated with 36 seats all west of Regina.

I think the Conservatives have absolutely no idea how tired Canadians are of getting pee'd on and having them tell us it's rain. WHAT STIMULUS MONEY?!?

geebee
said

If Iggy pulls the pin, here's hoping he draws the voter's wrath. The last thing people want to hear or see are politicians on their front step preaching ideological doctrine. It's enough to make the beer go flat and take the taste from the popcorn. Advice for the politics in Ottawa....go for a dip in the river behind the monkeyhouse on the Hill.

Adam in Ottawa
said

Just be calm Iggy and don't jump the gun yet! If you wait a yaer you will get in with at least a slim majority. The economy is not just going to turn around by the end of the summer or likely this time next year. In the meantime, now that the Reform... oops I mean Conservative's true colours have begun to show through their approval can only go down. Patience, patience...

erik snyder
said

I think it will be discovered today that Harper was so slow in figuring this out (if he had owned up to the recession in October instead of denying it until January)that the summer construction season will be over before the money gets out the door. This is Harper's fault. A summer election won't affect any projects because Harper's missed the mark, again. Harper's organizational skills: just visiting.

Gord Muirhead - Sault Ste. Marie
said

Why is Iggy making it sound like Canada is hurting so bad, the whole world is hurting and many countries are in a lot worse shape then we are.
Our economy is starting to recover, we are seeing spending where it's needed and the only thing the Liberals do is complain. How would an election help, for the life of me I have no idea. Must be my lack of a Harvard education.Dam Iggy is a fool.

simon in Montreal
said

If he pulls the Plug, Canadians will punish him at the polls.
If he supports the Tories, The Bloc and the NDP will make a clown out of him.

Essentially, this is the end of Iggy as a political leader.

Wade Ens
said

The Liberals bumble and stumble from one tax to the next. First they want stimulas then they scream there is a deficet. Every week they claim there is a new crisis.
The only crises is a bunch of left oover politicians in the Liberal party rebranding themselves as Liberals and want to get hold of the cookie jar, but Canada could never trust them to run the country the Liberal team is too weak.

Mike in ON
said

Not sure if it'll happen over the summer months or not, but I do think Iggy will try to force an election before Christmas. Why? Because several senate seats will be vacated by then, and the Liberals do NOT want to see the senate with a Conservative majority; that would mean that they wouldn't just be able to push through whatevery they wanted if the Liberals won a majority in an election.

I also don't think Canadians are as ready for Iggy to be PM as he wants them to believe. Aside from 'putting the government on probation,' and flapping his gums a lot, what has he actually accomplished?

Spence in Ontario
said

Poitics is at least staying interesting in Canada, that's the most of what I can say. I think Ignatieff is actually doing both things at the moment, he's playing the political game to try and score points while at the same time actually addressing issues about the path the government is taking and what policies should be implemented. The thing about politicians is that many actually go both ways, they do want to ensure their position in politics but at the same time they have to defend their political rhetoric. If another party steps on what they stand for too much they will react to it. Harper and the Cons have been particularly vocal in that regard towards many of the things the Liberals and NDP have brought up like employment insurance (which for the record is not the same as welfare). What it comes down to is have the Cons under Harper shown enough competence in governing or not and is what the confidence notion based on good enough to spark an election.

When looking at what Harper does objectively I don't trust him enough to want him as PM. I'd prefer him to go and the Liberals to form the government given that they have a better history of financial management and that I'm still upset about what Harper did in December. Harper did a complete 180 after December and then some. While he has changed policies a bit it seems he expects people to forget his extremely foolish idea of a financial update back then. The recent stuff with Raitt, Baird and Flaherty also add some fuel to the fire here.

Chris
said

I think it would be a huge mistake for Ignatieff to call an election without first outlining his own economic plan.

What if he calls an election and does nothing different? After all the budget that was passed had alot of influence from the Liberals, so I`m not too sure what he plans on doing different.

Take a poll of Canadians and ask them if they would support an election if Ignatieff has the same economic plan as Harper and I doubt the Liberals would have as big a lead.

Nancy: No Election Please
said

Liberals are bad for business. 4 elections in five years,another one would make us look like a bannana republic.
We are doing the best in the world lets just keep things steady in this number one position.

Take them down IGGY!
said

It’s a good day in Ottawa. The smell of an election is reviving passions.
More important, the CONS are about to be erased from the political map once more (hopefully for good this time).
This country has always been leaning to the left and our political ecosystem does represent that with all but one party leaning to the left. The only party not leaning to the left are the CONS. Now that the left is reuniting again under IGGY, we can smell the sweet scent of left wing policies in our near future.
Harper wanted to be the man but I think he will be the man taking down the conservative party for the final count!
GO IGGY! Take them incompetent cowboys to the cleaners, left wing style.

erik snyder
said

Let's see, Harper was the last to know there was a recession, then it won't come here, then it won't be bad, then it'll pass soon. Now it's 50 Billion, jobs are dropping off, Mark Carney (respected throughout the world) contradicts everything Harper said yesterday. Harper was a s much a recession denier as he was a climate change denier. He truly is an embarrassment to any rational thinker. Mr. Ignatieff will promote innovation, education (let's get the kids ready for jobs when jobs come back in about 5 years) Research and Development and alternative energy (we can't keep ruining this planet with dirty oil, sorry Alberta, the clock is ticking. I don't want an election but I want Harper and his ill prepared, ideologues less.

Judy Hoy
said

What Mr Ignatieff does today will show whether he has Canada's best interest at heart or his own. During a time of recession with the huge deficit that is already there in the coffers why would anyone want to make anyone spend more money than is necessary. I think that all parities truly concerned with Canada as a whole should stand together and work together to get through this troubled time before it gets any worse. If Mr Ignatieff does try to topple the government, to me it shows his true colors.

bren
said

The government has done more then enough to keep our economy going. Every economic group in the world has said that canada is leading the way out of this...what more can you ask for. The only thing that bugs me about our current government is that they cant market themselves at all, they do not get the info out enough. As far as po0licy though..I cannot figure out how iggy would spend more, and yet run no deficit as he claims. oh wait..its because he says he will increase the GST, and bring in a carbon tax

Joel Bain
said

I do not want a summer election. Mr. Ignatieff, the quickest way to make me vote for the Conservatives again would be to call an election. It is your choice whether you do this and make us pay another $200 million.

Thank you very much, sir.

American Iggy
said

Although calling an election will cost Canadians millions during extreme financial times, it is the best thing for them to make sure Iggy becomes Prime Minister before he gets too impatient and moves back to the USA, and Canada will lose him forever.

Mark H.
said

Two points:

The Liberals are no where near ready to enter an election campaign. They have no cash and no busses and planes booked. Stop bluffing, Mike.

Secondly: I don't think I'd be willing to have, as PM, a guy who makes up his mind on major decisions in one night. Stop Bluffing, Mike.

A Liberal
said

I'm a liberal - always have been, always will be. But please Mr. Ignatieff (not yet) wait for the fall.

Graham Mervyn
said

That wall your sitting on Mr. Ignatieff is pretty high. On one side there is election loser on the other it's back to the States.

sarah
said

"Minority government's fate rests in Ignatieff's hands"

HARDLY.

Iggy said he was going to take a day to 'think about' whether he was going to support the government's economic update. Translation:

OF COURSE I'm going to support the update...but I can't look weak like Dion so I'm going to have to give it some serious thought!

What a joke. If Iggy had the power to pull the plug on this government he would have done it by now.

condoguy
said

I don't necessarily think the Harper government has done its best to get the infrastructure money actually working.
However, what really irks me is how the NDP and Bloc immediately rejected the update without looking at it. What kind of leadership is that? While I would expect this behavior from the Separatists, it is shameful on the part of Layton representing a national party.

KB in Toronto
said

Can someone explain this whole "people don't want to go to the polls in the summer" deal..

do you really think i mind taking 20 mins out of my day for one day in the summer to go vote.. of course not

who are these lazy canadians who are whining about this.. ? Seriously, i'd sooner whine about government bailouts, or rude comments from a cabinet minister etc...

but going to vote is NOT an inconvenience for me.

Bring it on.. democracy!

A Canadian
said

Go ahead Ignatieff and pull the plug; you'll soon discover it's not you that runs this great country but, true Canadians.

white north
said

Would you trust Harper not in a million year? First of all this is the same Harper that six two months ago said there was no problem with the economy and that we were in solid grounds. Second he accused the opposition of being alarmist about the economy and said they were creating panic. Third he prorogue parliament to save his own skin while the economy gets worst and thousands join the unemployment line. Fourth. he appoints all the senators’ even when does not have the confidence of the house. Call an election breaking his own law and wasting millions of dollars while the economy tanks.

The time has come to replace those that have follow the Fail policies of BUSH and brought the USA and the Western world to their Knees.
We can no longer have this Prime minister with a do anything attitude and the same attitude than BUSH and company, the world is changing rapidly and we must follow or we will get worse than we are now.

Ron
said

We all know the Liberals govern by poll. If the polls are up in their favor we are off to an election. Also, according to the media, the recession has bottomed out and we are in a recovery of sorts. What a wonderful time for an election - the Liberals can then say they are responsible for the recovery.

Mark up North (way north)
said

What a joke. Harper continues to amaze me with his committment to spin instead of action. 80% committed means next to nothing. The people on the ground say that there is no money showing up for this construction season, and hardly any jobs created. In fact, latest reports are more job losses. Maybe Harper's been OD'ing on isotopes or something, because he's obviously delusional.

BW
said

If Iggy forces an election he faces the wrath of an unhappy electorate who don't want to go to the polls again.

The election would also stall much of the stimulus targeted to create much needed jobs.

On the other hand if he waits till the fall or winter the recession may be over or in recovery.

Dan
said

Great that's all we need right now is an election. to through this country further in debt.

Ray , Brockville
said

C'mon Iggy, call an election and make our day. We'll even pay for your one way fare back to Harvard.

Listen to Canadians,how else can we say it "WE DON'T WANT ANOTHER ELECTION"
read our lips

Dayton
said

This just shows how ignorant we are or how arrogant Iggy is. He says he has control and can prop up this govt. or not. Let's not forget 2 other parties NDP and Bloc would have to prop him up if he decided to vote for an election. He has no choice but to stick with the status quo until time permits and the Cons decide when the appropriate time for an election would be. Don't be fooled by this Iggy guy he's just blowin smoke!!!

Greg in the Hammer
said

Hey Steve In Fredericton: "sound policy" isn't the same as "complete denial, and then total ineptitude". These guys dropped the ball, big time. Now they want you to believe that something is happening by using words like "committed". Committed means nothing; it means some dude at a desk somewhere has maybe seen the application. The mayors are the best source of REAL info on this, and they say THE MONEY ISN"T THERE!!! You/harper/all the rest of you cons need to stop pretending that your spin can penetrate the truth!

As far as an election is concerned, I'd prefer that the timing be better. The reality is, though, eventually the country will come out of the slump (no thanks to Harper et al) and Harper will surely take credit and stoke his one brilliance. Time to get these bumbling idiots out

BBQTime
said

Ignatieff and his Liberals must stop their silly sabre-rattling and support the government. Any other move would not be in Canada's best interests. They asked for and voted for these funds to be spent and now they must let the plan go ahead. The Canadian public does not want another election in the midst of a recession. The CPC plan is going ahead at the fastest pace possible, given that the funds were only voted 72 days ago and the government MUST proceed with due diligence. That said, if Ignatieff and his adscam crew wants power so badly that they will try to get a coalition together to bring down the government, I will be out there with my signs, support and money to ensure that they do NOT win a minority.

Jay, Ottawa
said

Steve in Fredericton said, "...As we begin to emerge from a horrible economic period, Canadians need sound economic policy and financial stability. The current Conservative govt provides just that."

No they don't. Just because they tell you that they do does not make it so. An unexpected 50 billion dollar deficit is not sound policy.

Alan
said

"The most serious recession in a generation" based on what he has been told. Spare us the dramatics Mr I and let's get on with it. No election. Canadians don't need the constant theatrics right now, I am sorry but there is work to be done.

Jay, Ottawa
said

If we're really serious about jobs and our economy we need to get a new government in place that halts all stimulus spending and allows the market to correct itself. Don't be fooled - there is no recovery taking place. The politicians want you to think that things are improving but that's only self-preservation in action.

We're making it worse by propping up the losers. The Canadian economy would be much better if we'd let GM die and allow the market to correct itself. This however would be politically unpopular since most people wouldn't understand the long term view. Instead, we're going to be mired in this mess for a long time.

I would happily vote for any party that acknowledges that the current plan can't work and if we want to position ourselves for the future we need to halt this significant deficit spending.

Joe Sanity
said

I have to laugh. Last year at this time Harper was screaming the only way to have stability was to have an election. Now he's saying the only way to have stability is not to have an election....

I for one have seen enough of this self-serving bozo. The whole time he and his Reform/Conservatives have been in power they have never ONCE accepted responsibility for anything that's gone wrong on his watch. They blame the Liberals for everything except the surplus they left them.

In the middle of this economic crisis what to they waste they're time on? More attack ads and character assassination... truly a culture of slander. The good news for them is when they're back in opposition they'll be able to dedicate even more time to it.

I want my country back. Drop the writ. This experiment with Republican style extreme right wing politics has failed on both sides of the border. Send them packing. When they implode and stab each other maybe we'll get the old Progressive Conservative party back instead of this wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Brian
said

An election would just be a unnecessary distraction.

Can the Liberals really solve the economic problems any faster.

Brett in Montréal
said

Please pull the plug on this dysfunctional CON government that is not doing anything but increasing our debt. Harper and his cronies have shown their true colours over the past few weeks and it's time for some real and majority leadership -- Ignatieff and his Liberals have my vote -- and it's available this summer!

Nigel Buchanan Davenport
said

The Con's stimulus package has certainly helped Raitt and all the other's Con's that get hefty severance package. This government took a 6 week break in the midst of the largest economic crisis in history and did nothing but consult spin doctors. Your time is at hand Harper and you are going down not only in the polls, people no longer believe you are doing what's right for Canadians. Additionally not manufacturing isotopes and deregulating the manufacture will cost cancer patients more. Please Harper do the right thing and step down and let a leader leader.

Dave Ont East
said

First off.. The Boc Quebecois should be outlawed as a Federal party, to topple the Gvt as they don't represent Canada at all..only Quebec, so they are a false party.It should be Law that a Cdn political party rule on behalf of all Canadians, all provinces.Gov Gen should abolish them and send them to Quebec. Layton will only put the Country in further recessions. Ignatief is "green" on how to run a GVt..The Liberals have already had there share of scandals...Iggy may be in for a big surprize come elections..back to USA.PC's are not the best but at least they are trying..

rabble
said

To say the fate of the government rests in the hands of the Liberals doesnt hold much clout. It will take all opposition parties to trigger an election, so beating the war drum without the ability to fight is very counter productive. Instead, why not focus on getting current bills before the house passed before the summer? I can apprectiate that there is some political uncertainty in our country, but enough already with the Canadian media's new poster-boy Michael Ignatieff's constant criticism of a government the Liberals ultimately end up supporting. Canadians are smart enough to know hypocracy when they see it. I hope he enjoys the summer in Stornoway.

Poe
said

Of course he won't challenge the Conservatives on this. Nobody wants an election in Canada at this time. He knows this and will support the Conservatives. Just a smoke and mirror show called Canadian Politics Folks.

Anne
said

Enough about toppling the government for goodness sakes. Can't they all just co-operate for a change in this time of serious recession and all the problems that entails. People are getting very tired of election after election.

Clyde
said

LoOk I gotta tell you I"m getting pretty tired of hearing about Iggy and how bad Harper is. Harper has got a rough ride to sort out and switching the Government at this point and installing a wannabe Canadian would not be good I think Iggy should be made to sit in the house for 10 years before he can even get a shot at the brass ring work with the gvernment not against.
True Blue

TG
said

Well, although Michael Ignatieff probably has a good chance of getting in with his Liberal party if he calls an election now, it would not be a suitable time for one. We are in the middle of a recession, it is summer, and we just had an election back in mid-October which will mean a poor turnout. I think that if Mr. Ignatieff waited until early next year he would get to be Prime Minister with a win of flying colours.

gregnb
said

You would think the NDP would be doing whatever it takes to get back on the good side of Candians, instead they say they won't support the government even though they didn't look at the update. Another reason why Jack will never be PM. The Bloc shouldn't even be allowed to have a say. I'm not a Liberal fan but at least what Iggy is saying makes some sense. Like he said we're in the worst recession of our generation, let's hope they can all work together to get us out of it.

terri
said

Good luck,it has nothing to do with the budget and everything to do with the polls.The poll that ctv run has 79 % against an summer election so I don't think the public will be too happy if one happens.We are doing so well compared to the rest of the world that I can't see why anyone would want to change anything right now. Oh yeah, it is all about getting back into power. I forgot.

G.Boudreau
said

People have to realize Mr. Ignatieff main objective is to gain power, and at all cost. I really don't think people are ready for another election, esp; in the summer months.He should wait until the end of summer than he can see the postion the Gov. is in, if things are not going well, than by all means bring the Gov. down.You have to give the Gov. a chance to govern.

Dan Wright
said

This is assuming the NDP and the Bloc will join the Liberals in defeating the Tories in the House. Never assume anything...

Dr. James Bradford
said

You would have to be politically blind or a Liberal to think Mr. Ignatieff is going to send us to a general election anytime soon.

Canadians are "electioned out" and the strong minority mandate given the Prime Minister while not a majority was a message that the opposition would do well to ponder.

The Liberal Adscam, Shawinigate, Bloc coalition, theft from taxpayers, these are not easily forgotten. By putting lipstick on a pig doesn't change the basic nature of the animal and the same holds true for the LPC who still need to regroup and reorganize and prove they can be an effective opposition not just threaten to take down the government at every turn. That isn't leadership.

Jordan Hill, Dundas, ON
said

"committed and is being implemented" How much has actually been spent?; that is, How much is actually getting down to the people and families who have been most hurt by the recession?

joyce gillies
said

Well the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois will, naturally, vote against Harper's budget - they are stil "smarting" over Harper's government getting back into power - even a minority government. With times appearing to be so bad - I think the idea of another vote for politcal gain is very unrealistic!

Jason
said

Just wonderful! Let's just remember that Iggy and the Lieberals talk a lot, but actually say very little when it comes to the way they would handle things differently than our current competent government. He hollered for the bailouts, then hollered just as loud for spending the money to do it!

Ted Chamberlain
said

Great; Here's a guy that was never elected to anything thinking that he wields all this power and could topple the government. Legally, yes he could do that; however it would be morally wrong to impose yet another election at the cost of millions on this country simply because he's just gagging to get his hands on the Prime Minister's job.Go away Ignatieff and stop deluding yourself.You've got plenty of time to lose an election at a later date over something more contentious.
Ted St. Catharines

M M B Ont
said

I do believe that Canada's economy is showing signs of recovery and the infrastructure money is flowing and construction is beginning in several places in my area. These are good signs. I think it would be irresponsible to say when the debt would be paid down because we all know things can change on a dime in this country. Right now we need to be patient and see this recession through to the end. An election at this time would be throwing away the taxpayer's money, adding to the debt load and would only produce another minority gov't which Canada does not need. We are tired of all the infighting! We need someone to work in the best interest of Canadians and we have that someone now. I am not a die hard to any Political Party, but I do believe that the Conservatives are doing a good job. Let's continue the course!

Jon in London ON
said

The two best pieces of advise I ever got in life.

1. When you make a decision, keep your gut out of it, and,

2. Don't try to catch a falling knife.

Please, please don't give Iggy this information. Harvard awaits.

JB in Calgary
said

Oh Iggy, you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. If he wants any type of political career he has to reject it.

Or is this going to be another typical Liberal "all talk no action." He'll come back with something like, "well we looked it over and there are a few things we aren't happy with, but we'll see in the next quarter how Mr. Harper and his Conservatives do" blah blah blah.

If Iggy supports the Tories through the recession that will tell Canada that the Tories did a great job.

Bye Iggy, have fun at Harvard. Hello a debt free Canada.

Rivet
said

"The strongest position"??
How is that posible when the finance Minister himself said we would never have the same level of industry agian and an $80 billion a year forest industry has been wiped off the map by Conservative intrangiance?
Harper must mean, stronger than a third world country.

T-Roy in TO
said

Pull the plug! These power hungry hogs don't deserve to govern any longer. Time to go back to the tried and true liberals. The Conservatives are nothing more than reformers trying to pull the wool over your eyes. We have seen the true conservative party in the last few months and it is FAR from what I though I was voting for.

Denny in SK
said

I'm a Liberal, but the last thing this country needs is an election now. It'll only delay much needed infrastructure spending and create an environment of uncertainty, not to mention waste another 300 million dollars when we can't afford to.

Steve in Fredericton
said

Who does Mr Ignatieff think he's kidding. As we begin to emerge from a horrible economic period, Canadians need sound economic policy and financial stability. The current Conservative govt provides just that.

Mr Ignatieff seems to ask alot of questions, but he has little to no answers. Alot of hot air and posturing; that's all the Liberal leader provides

Go ahead Mr Ignatieff. Take a "long hard look" at the numbers. Search for ways to spin them to your political advantage. Just remember, should you call an election, we're going to expect some hard and fast answers. High-brow theories and carefully worded press releases do not a Prime Minister make.

Gord. Robson, Nova Scotia
said

MANY people feel that a summer election would disrupt and possibly stop the recovery process.

We (I) do not want to see an election.