Liberals say all options open for confidence vote

News Sections

News Programs

CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme

Canada AM

Power Play

Question Period

Features

Autos

Consumer

Browse:

Video

Galleries

MyNews

Liberals say all options open for confidence vote

Viewer

CTV News Video

CTV News: Graham Richardson on the probabilities

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff will decide Monday whether his party will shoot down the Tories recent economic update. If the Liberals choose to vote against the update and the NDP and Bloc join in, Canadians could be heading back to the polls this summer.

CTV News Channel: Chief Political Correspondent Craig Oliver on the speculations

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff may throw the issue of confidence back in the lap of the Tories by bring up the issue of EI. If this occurs, the PM would have to either bring forth new legislation or risk going into a campaign opposing an idea that would have given more money to the unemployed.

CTV's Question Period: MPs Pierre Poilievre, Ralph Goodale and Nathan Cullen discuss the pending Liberal decision

With NDP and Bloc leaders both committed to voting against the Conservative budget estimates, attention is swinging to Michael Ignatieff and his decision. The Liberals say they are weighing the government's performance versus the reluctance of Canadians to go to the polls.

CTV's Question Period: Strategists Tim Powers, Steve MacKinnon and Brad Lavigne on what the pressing election issues could be

With stimulus, employment, trade and the economy being top issues, what would dominate a potential election campaign? The Liberals and NDP say it will come down to confidence and trust in the government, and the Tories say it will come down to political responsibility.

CTV's Question Period: Infrastructure Minister John Baird explains how much money is actually getting into communities

Just a week ago several Canadian mayors complained infrastructure money wasn't reaching them quickly enough. Infrastructure Minister John Baird says even within a week, many things have changed and all the approved projects are displayed on the government's website.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

A A | Email This Email | Print | Comments (115) Tweet

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Sun. Jun. 14 2009 4:53 PM ET

The Liberal party insists it may still attempt to bring down the Conservative government in an upcoming confidence vote, despite the political risks of sending Canadians back to the polls for the second time in less than a year.

On Sunday, Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said his party has not ruled anything out for its caucus meeting on Monday, when Leader Michael Ignatieff will decide whether his party will vote against the government's recent economic update.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered the economic progress report on Thursday, saying 80 per cent of stimulus spending was being implemented and 3,000 new infrastructure projects have begun.

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

"The options are all open," Goodale said in an interview on CTV's Question Period. "This is a serious issue and nobody should rule out anything at this stage. This is an important week for Canada, we've got to get it right."

Goodale said Liberal MPs have been consulting their constituents to gauge their support on the issues.

"They'll be listening to their constituents very carefully over this weekend as they have been doing for the last many weeks," he said. "And they'll be bringing that advice back to Mr. Ignatieff tomorrow and next week. They'll be weighing all of this very carefully and very conscientiously."

Liberal strategist Steve MacKinnon told Question Period that the party is out of debt, election-ready and believes the sitting government's days "are numbered."

But he said the decision to go into an election will be made by Ignatieff alone.

"Clearly, the days of this government are numbered, whether it's this week or at some point in the future," MacKinnon said. "The fact of the matter is that Mr. Ignatieff has a big decision that must be taken in the interests of our economy and our health care system."

But it will take more than Liberal votes to topple the Conservatives. The NDP and the Bloc Quebecois would have to vote against the government, too, in order for it to fall.

Both the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP have already signalled that they will not support the government in the upcoming confidence vote, a position NDP National Director Brad Lavigne said is consistent with his party's prior objections with the budget.

"This is part of the budget that was tabled a few months ago and we said that the budget wasn't going to do the trick, and yet time and time again, we're proven right," Lavigne told Question Period.

While he conceded that many Canadians will not want to head back to the polls this summer, Lavigne said it was a matter of principle that the NDP would not be supporting the budget.

"I think that most Canadians would prefer there not to be an election...but political parties have to make their decisions based on what they believe in," he said. "We have a belief that this budget is bad. We voted against the budget after reading it back a few months ago and this is the same vote for the same budget. This is the end of the process."

Conservative strategist Tim Powers echoed Lavigne's belief that Canadians do not want to go to the polls again.

On Question Period, Powers questioned why an election would be justified when the government believes it is making progress on the recession that has plagued the worldwide economy since last fall.

"We're starting to see signs, albeit slow, that the economy is turning around. Why is there any need for an election now?" Powers asked.

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre suggested the Liberals would need to "reconstruct" the short-lived NDP-Liberal coalition that Ignatieff divorced his party from after Dion stepped down as party leader last fall.

Comments are now closed for this story

btown
said

The whole coalition thing is old news i hope they wont actually run on that, it sounds like the conservatives are desperate for power, more so then the liberals. please stick to the issues... unless you think you can't win on them.

For canadians it never a good time to go to the polls. We should be glad to live in a democracy and able to vote.

Gabe
said

I'd rather see the politicians working in the summer instead of taking their disgustingly-long summer break. So if this means that they campaign, then at least they're working.

Let's go to the polls. The Conservative supporters forget that Harper signalled our last election when NOBODY wanted one. Why are they crying foul now?

Interesting....wouldn't ya say?

Chris S
said

Umm what? Us "boneheads" should have given Harper a majority? "Their(opposition) only interested in power"? OK there sir, you contardicted yourself in one breath. I'm sure that'll win votes for Harper.

A Koster - BC
said

ChrisOttawa
said

Election now. It's no big deal to go and vote.

terri
said

We are always hearing about how the majority did not vote Harper in and now we are hearing it is only the Conservatives that don't want an election. So how come 79 % voted in the polls for no election. It sounds to me that there are an awful lot of NDP,LIBERAL,BLOC AND GREEN that don't want an election either. Liberals are so damn arrogant and rude. I am so sick of their derogatory comments and hope karma bites them in the butt.

Brian in Calgaryl
said

summer election call I think its the best time this year

Jobs for students money for the media, hotels, airlines, bus drivers no hockey games to miss no snow storms no freeze your butt off weather but think barbque's free burgers and the like from the con's but vote lib sounds great to me

Paul - Vancouver
said

Summer is a bad time for election.....winter and Xmas season is a bad time for an election. Seems like the only ones not wanting an election this time are the Tories (I still have a hard time referring to these retread Alliance-Reformers as Conservatives).

Linda: Yes, the Liberals were in power for a long time. In that time they were cleaning up the mess of Brian Mulroney. Remember him. He's the one that mentored Harper. Now that the courts are exposing him as the crook he is, do you find it any wonder why Harper et al are distancing themselves from him?

Thank ______ (insert name of nondescript invisible friend in the clouds) Harper and his band of muzzled sycophants didn't get a majority the last time.

Have a nice summer everyone.

Jason in Kelowna
said

I will encourage anyone sick of the political bickering in this country to punish the party that sends us back to the polls, in this case, it'll be the Liberals.

Ignatieff should go back to his adopted country and leave Canadian politics to the Canadians

Dave Knowler,Bayfield,Ont
said

I said this in 1995 and I still say it today.As long as we're working under a piece of garbage the North american Free Trade Agreement, it doesnt matter whose in government, all major Canadian decisions are made by corporations and the US congress.

It has taken 20 years to destroy everything that was good about Canada Its time to tear up that piece of garbage and start all over again. If everything in this country that's made in the US or China was made by Canadians,there isn't a person in this country that couldnt find a decent job. As someone said to me years ago "theres only one difference between the Liberals and Consevatives, one's in power and one isn't."

roy
said

Elections are supposed to be held every four years,I voted in the last election ,I guess you know what that means,my summer won't be spoiled by an election.....

Pissed Canuck
said

If the Liberals do win again, I hope that Alberta will separate and align with the USA and Quebec would form its own country. Canada (or what's left of it) would be better off this way compared to what is happening right now and the comments reflected in this forum and the political state currently in this country.

Liberals and Bringing Down the Deficit as Usual!!
said

Now HERE's another inconsistency in the Cons platform. Tough on Crime then on the other side of their mouth "no gun registry" Huh?

You know how you can Always tell a Tory?
They first of all mudsling then use well-rehearsed words like "boondoggle,freeze the east(now THAT one goes back 30 yrs..musta learned it from Grampa Social credit boy ), only visiting, Refooooorm. seperate, everyone but us are boneheads, in it for himself, only care about power, tory times are tough times".

How about the IN-Out SCAM the Cons pulled in 2006 using $1.7 Million ILLEGAL Elections Funds? Oh we forgot that one did we??

Cons say Liberals aren't for Canadians..
You do NOT EVER hear ONtario say it will seperate from Canada.. and believe me if any Province could survive alone it is ONtario which has the Population, hard work and Resources to stand Alone.

Now there's an idea..

~

Jeff
said

Political views aside for a moment, how many small buisness owners here would trust the MP's in Ottawa to run their buisness? My guess is none. So why are they running our country? There is not much difference between Liberal and Conservitive in my view. What we need is a house cleaning in Ottawa, and put in good people who have not spent the last 20 years or more in the fantacy world of politics. That goes for all the parties. I dont expect to see this in my lifetime.

Phil F (Calgary)
said

With the current 5 party system, will this country ever see a majority government again? We can't be having elections every time a party leader gets his knickers in a knot.

OldTeddyBear
said

I have heard so much of how great the Liberals are for having huge surpluses while having evey handout in the book available. Will their supporters wake up and realize that all you are saying is that the Liberals hugely overtax and have to blow money away to hide how excessive the taxation actually is. Never forget that deficit spending was introduced by Trudeau with Crechien as finance minister. I am not certain which party I will vote for but I can't accept the stand of the liberals and especially Ignatieff right now.

just another canadian
said

Hey Metro, you call the conservatives "obstructionalist". Well what do you call the NDP who turn down everything like the budget before even reading it. You must like the way liberals treat women. Like the way they threw Sheila Coops under the bus or how they moved Martha Hall back off the front benches. I guess if you don't support Iggy you get the back of the bus. While were in a recession all the liberals want to do is embarass Mulroney. You want to call the consevatives all kinds of names. Just keep supporting those brown bagging, sponsorship cheating, unelected leader, Canamerican, opportunist liberal spenders and get used to socialism.

Michael R. Dennis (Winnipeg)
said

I understand that people have very set political views and believe in them.

The bashing of the Harper government is frankly unwarranted.

The country was in an excellent economic situation before the meltdown, we've seen very light effects of this meltdown, especially in comparison to the US as our government took action beforehand. We were running modest surpluses before the recession and were investing the money wisely.

The comments on the unwillingness to cooperate from the conservatives is unrealistic, the Conservatives have gone ahead with the bailout requested by all 3 parties of the opposition, now they complain that we must go into deficit to do so.

Even more unreasonable is the fault applied to the conservative government for a WORLDWIDE economic recession.

The Harper governments have done a good job, a letter grade A-. It could be better but the misinformed comments of many people who speak against the government would give them an F.
For what?

Dean
said

I'm surprised that the Liberals are still thinking of toppling the current Gov't. I guess they don't pay to much attention as to what is going on in the Provinces. Because if the recent Provincial election here in NS is any indication, the Liberals don't have a hope in hell.

gerry
said

Mr Ignatieff is in a tough position If he calls for an election he willl incur the wrath of many, many Canadians who simply don't believe it will solve anything. If he doesn't, he will look ineffective and submissive.

just another canadian
said

If the liberals want an election don't they need to answer a few questions.
-Are they going to raise the GST?
-Are they going to download on provinces like before?
-Are they going to find the 50 or so million still missing from sponsorship scandal?
-Are they going to bring in a carbon tax?
-Do they still want a national baby sitting service?

Election Please!
said

Call an election, and I will gladly vote Liberal. I think that I have had enough of the game playing, lack or progress, back-stabbing, lying, and lack of respect for Canadians ( such as rude commentary: i.e. the "sexy" comment made last week), and other really unacceptable actions taken by our current Government. I believe that some of the stunts that the Tories have pulled off has embarrassed Canada, and it is time to call an election and freshen up the stale air that is in Parliament and move forward, not sit there in the park position pretending to be moving forward. Please Mr. Ignatieff: Call an election.

kitt
said

The ndp, and bloc are voting to bring down the elected government without reading the report. the liberals are saying they might vote to bring down the government just voted in a short while ago. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COALITION IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL. the coalition was just waiting awhile hoping Canadians would not notice! They don't care about Canadians just POWER!

Marco
said

I'm so sick of this. Let Harper do his job. We elected him in, so give him the term. We had the liberals for a long time before the conservatives got in. Does everyone forget how screwed our country was when the Conservatives took over? Harper is doing a great job, not let him do it. All he needs now is a majority so he doesn't have to listen as much to the liberals bash every move he makes. The liberals make me sick and I hope they never get back in to power.

DD from Ottawa
said

BYE BYE IGGY.

Ex--Lib voter
said

Will ONE jounalist please take the time to count how many times the Liberals have threatened to defeat the government. Including DION.
It is getting to be a weekly posture by the least likely to succeed. It is old. They are trying to appear like they have power, Like they hold power, but what they lack in their little sharade is SPINE.....

Jaxon
said

The Liberals must be salivating at what they could do with the Stimulus money. more ADSCAMS, HR Billion Dollar BOONDOGLES and maybe an updated Gun Registry that will probably only cost about $5B or $10B with the Liberals putting it in.

Michelle in Vancouver
said

Well said Gareth Hitchings...

If Canadians are so weak that they can't take 15 minutes to go vote then they do not deserve a democracy...

Iggy, ignore the lame Cons on this comment section who are only spreading fear and lies, as it is all they have left...

Back to Intelligent Government
said

Aside from the sheep-minded Albertans who think they could survive without the rest of Canada..this country has seen quite enough of Reformer Harper.
Too many mistakes.. too many promises never met.. total brain-washing in ads and lies about "allocated" funds.
Just allocated..NOT sent or in use.
Cross the floor Harper and we get to see you continue your childish threats to expose others by tapes that never showed up.
Three years of turmoil and making enemies..in the Maritimes and now even in his own Justice system.
Go back to Alberta Harper and write another book about hockey but dont give the manuscript to your Min of Natural Resources.. she'll sell it to your US oil company lobbyists.

Adam in Ottawa
said

I think it's great how all the Reform... I mean Conservative supporters are screaming foul over the possibility of another election. Harper called the last one because the Liberals were down and out and he smelled blood in the water, and he still couldn't get a majority with Dion at the Liberal helm. Now the reds have a real leader who is well educated and well travelled (traits that the Conservatives don't believe in obviously) and Harper and his cronies now realise they are in real trouble! If Harper really wanted to make Parliament work, he would ditch the "my way or the highway" attitude and try to work with the other parties. Instead he digs in his heels, leaving the opposition no choice but consider yet another election. Add in his incompetent and insensitive MP's and the picture keeps getting worse!
If another election is called this summer, I'll bet Stevie will go running to hide behind the skirt of the GG again begging for yet another chance to hold onto his job for a little while longer. What a joke!

Charles BC
said

Bring down the govt. Not many of us Canadians can afford a summer holiday due to the fact that the Harper Government did nothing for the economy until it was forced to and still no money has been forthcoming.

If the Liberal Party does not bring this Harper Government down they will most certainly lose my vote in the future.

The Liberal Party needs to know that just as many Canadians want to see the Harper Government defeated as do those Conservatives who do not want an election.

Do it for those Canadians that the Harper Government sees as less Canadian because they were not born in Canada but are Canadian Citizens and those Canadians working abroad whom to the Harper Govt feels are less Canadian because of that. Do it for the many First Nations whom the Harper Govt did nothing for even after his inspirited apology for the residential schools. Do it for Quebec whom Harper feels is not apart of Canada. Do it for all Canadians who are unemployed due to the Harper Govt not doing anything to stimulate the economy in Canada due to the fact that it was forced to.

Bring them down for the fact that the Harper Cabinet is so incompetent.

Let's go to the Polls.

Dale - Edmonton
said

Lets get on with it, have the election and get another minority government in place. Then we'll be guaranteed what, 9 months of stability? I really don't care anymore which party wins. I just want stability.

Cambob
said

Stop playing games. Do it, or take a vacation.

Bill Mckinnon
said

Get over it you bunch of losers. You lost the election plain and simple. The people of Canada elected the party not the Liberal losers.

Steve
said

Gareth - it's not the election but the waste of money on it. We have elected 308 MP's and we expect them to do their jobs. Negotiating is part of it and if Ignatieff and Harper must sit down and work things out for our country. Throwing away money on another election when unemployment is climbing is ridiculous.
And the NDP doing something "on principle" - there's a joke.

allan
said

Hope Iggy has an election and wins, then perhaps we in the West can seperate from the Quebec/Ontario block.
It doesnt work!!

JMT
said

The Liberals don't tell us what they would do different - they demanded the government throw money out the door, and they did. If Iggy forces an election, no Liberal had better darken my doorstep asking for my vote. They ain't getting it.

Herb
said

Regardless of what posters here write, if an election is held, the Cons will lose. The vast majority of Canadians do not want them, and even if they are exhausted with elections, they will vote to remove Harper. People saying they've always voted Liberal, but won't if an election is called have never voted Liberal. Cons are the only ones worried.

Back to Competent Government
said

The election is coming.
Its just how much notice will Libs give the Cons to campaign-lie to Canadians. People who really care and watch the goings on of Parliament KNOW Harper is a gonner!
He and the CPC have been tossed out of NL and NS. Lib support is climbing steadily in ONtario and even Albertans have been asking why they have been ignored and Harper is from there!
It takes me 10 minutes to vote..and absentee votes for those out of town.
Either you want a GOOD government or if you refuse to vote.. you get what the voters decide! Ask the jobless and people waiting for these "stimulus funds" since 2007 how pi ssed off they are.
Down with Harper and his mob of incompetents who can't even keep Govt business in binders private!! No more sexy cancer!!

Brian
said

I hope the LPT go for it. They'll be playing right into the CPC's hands. The CPC ads depict Iggy and his band of merry men as opportunists, and their forcing an election now, just when the stimulus $ are finally getting out the door, will prove to Canadians that they'll do anything to get back to power.

Garry in NS
said

Between federal, provincial and municipal governments, we in Nova Scotia have had eight elections in ten years and I am getting tired of election campaigns and the bombastic speeches, etc. Let the Conservatives govern. As for the opposition parties, lead, follow or get out of the way.

Saskmike
said

Moe in Edmonton...Harper in a majority would have had our banks deregulated and in the same trouble as the States. Good thinking as most of the overpriced houses that were bought on 40 year mortages were in Alberta. It would have been much worse.

Chris S. in Kitchener
said

You'd marking an 'X' on a ballot was worse than getting teeth pulled!

Listen. Harper can't play nice with others. He can't compromise. A successful minority government must compromise in order to govern. Liberals know how to do this! Look at all the nice things we have today from minority governments working together: Health Care, Old Age Security, etc.

Parliament is dysfunctional (remember that word) and its dysfunction is Harper! Bring on the election.

CarolynD
said

Its not the voters who may have a long summer. The MP's will have to get out and campaign.

Gareth H ..you hit the nail bang on! I'd rather VOTE than go on with this Government that is making blunder after blunder! I think Goodale behind the scenes is good solid experience behind Ignatieff. In any case Harper has to be out of the PM chair!

DJR
said

Yes, I think it is time to have an election. The cons are real "cons," they have been telling us a surplus, then a small deficit then a big deficit now it's whatever happens. Ever since Harper has been there the country got worse. Time to let the Liberals bring back this country to the days when we had money. Let's go liberals and win Canada over.

David
said

Why do 99% of politicians give the rest a bad name? They won't call an election as so many of them are a year away from their golden pensions, just like in all parties....

Metro
said

A point to consider for all you Harper fans out there. The job of a minority government is to govern, all the time with the awareness that it must govern with the agreement and participation of the opposition parties. If Mr. Harper could see past his ideology and his ego and realize that, we wouldn't be looking at election number five since he became head of the Refor--sorry, I mean Allian--sorry, I mean "Conservative" party.

By all means, I'd happily let the Conservatives govern. But since the word "compromise" is unknown to them, and since they insist on acting like they were elected, rather than simply occupying the hot seat until we give someone (most likely someone ELSE) a majority, then we're stuck with the threat of revolving elections.

Myself, I'd as soon see an election. A Liberal majority would be good. A Liberal minority will highlight the hypocrisy of the Conservatives, as they abandon their "principles" and become the obstructionists they claim to detest.

A Conservative majority would at least show its true Reform Party colours, and the country would survive the disaster, probably.

But in any case, we'll be better off for all the additional cost.

Let's do this. And all you Conservative supporters can try and vote in a majority for Dear Leader Harper.

hatrock
said

Ignatieff and the Liberals don't stand for anything except power, but oh, now they'll stand up in the House of Commons on a confidence vote.

Lorne
said

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! An election by all means and that right soon. We must defeat the Neocons as soon as possible in order to minimize damage to our economy and to society as a whole. The Neocons can not be trusted to maintain the hard-fought rights of women, minorities and our native populations. Although I am a Liberal, I would be content with an NDP or Green government. ANYONE, ANYTHING, EXCEPT THE NEOCONS!

George in Calgary
said

For those that are calling for an election: Be advised your taxes will go up if the Liberals win and on top of that there should be a charge for those that are calling for yet another election. Yes that's right add up how many on this post are calling for an election and divide that number into $300 million the current cost of one of these exercises. I think we can and should hold onto our money at this time.

CWS Saskatoon
said

Go for it Iggy and then we can send you back to your cushy job at Harvard,

bella-in-ottawa
said

Wow! I"ve never seen a bunch of con-hacks rachet up their usual rhetoric. Guess what? The conservatives won a minority gov't and act is if they have a majority. Their values are not my values,their divisive politics is not how the gov't should be run. It is time to put them out misery. They have ministers who are incompetent in their own portfolios. Mr. Ignatieff, I support whatever decision you make. You have made my vote!

Wayne from Edmonton
said

If Iggy calls an election look out for a Liberal backlash..Canadians don't want a summer election!

bruce from cowtown
said

Quote: "Political parties have to make their decisions, based on what they believe in." This statement is exactly why the NDP will never become the government in Canada. Members of Parliament are answerable to their constituents. For the NDP, Liberals or Bloq to suggest that there is need for another election, means that they have not been listening to their constituents. The only conclusion one can draw from this is that the coalition still is alive and in some sort of life support. Must be nice to be legends in their own minds.

mianbe
said

I don't care which party causes the election, I will not vote for them. We've handed them this government they need to make this work. I'm tired of these elections that are costing as millions of dollars.

Alysha Ont
said

OK... The infrastructure is already out in my area, construction has started and now Iggy will call an election. Great ! What happens to the broken up roads now that machines have torn up? Are they to be left like that until election time.

If an election is called now, it clearly indicated that Iggy cannot wait to be crowned PMIggy becuase there is no valid reason for an election at this time. To all the Liberals that feel The Cons have not been honest or are not capable, just think back to a few years ago when the Liberals were in power. They were the biggest bunch of crooks and incompetent party ever to be elected. They stole from the EI, bought leaky useless subs (waste of money) Adscam, sonsorship scandal and the list goes on! Now they want to waste more of our tax dollars on another election and then of course blame Harper for another increase in the budget.
And Layton does not count if he cannot support what the gov't is doing for Canada. Let the Conservatives do what they were elected to do during their term and then rate them at the end of their term! Overhtrowing any gov't is a waste of taxpayers money and clearly serves only one person's interst.. Iggy's. He wants to bully his way to become PM, do the damage and then run to the USA laughing all the way there after our taxes will be raised so high, and only the few working will be expected to pay them.

Perry
said

I for one will definitely be throwing my previously undecided vote in with the Conservatives if another election is held. What the Liberals did to decimate the military when they were in power was a travesty and should never allowed happen again. Being a military kid this is an important issue for me.

Furthermore I will be hoping for a majority government. It just feels like the minority governments are having a temper tantrum because they want to be in power. All these petty elections are doing nothing good for the nation.

warren
said

Message to Ignatieff: Go back to the US and stay the hell out of our affairs. All you're doing is screwing up the country for your own misguided, blind ambition. Canada cannot be expected to survive if we have an election every time the opposition doesn't like something. As well, you might want to take note of CTVs user polls here online. The vast majority of the respondents(79%) say no election. Respect the wishes of the majority, as a democracy is supposed to function. We are not the US.

John K - Ottawa
said

Just look at what the Ontario Liberal Party does. Tax, Lie, Tax, Lie and more Taxes & Lies. Is that what Canadians want? Have you forgotten the corruption the past Liberal parties stood for?
Let the Conservaative party do their job as the people of Canada elected them twice!

geebee
said

The flapping of the political gums continues from the Liberal Party of Toronto and their minion foot soldiers. Commissar Ignatieff will incur voter wrath if the pilgrimage to the Muskokas up the 400 Highway is in any way, shape or form is interfered with.

CYL
said

Power Grab/Power Hungry !!!
I am not convinced that Iggy can make a difference. I have not heard him say anything that has given me any confidence in his leadership or that he can do a better job than Harper. The only thing that I constantly hear is 'bring down the government'.

jj
said

An election is `sexy`.

MollyF
said

I watched goodale and as Craig Oliver said, he sure didn't look like he was up for an election over EI!
Work 45 days and you get a year? who can afford that? It was the NDP's idea, and that is why they are never in power!

MARG MM
said

I'll be very surprised if Michael Ignatieff votes to bring down the Government. This is just more "Hot Air". He just wants everyone to believe that he has the power to do so,when indeed he does not.His only goal is to be PM, and when he thinks the time is right for HIM (not Canadians)he will vote against the Conservatives.

Personally I would like to see this settled once and for all, as the Liberals will continue to threaten the Gov't.until such time that an election is called.

I find it so hard to believe that there are actually people that think the Liberals could do a better job. Do you not remember how they get their surpluses?Offloading to Provinces,cutting the military to the bone, raiding the EI fund, not to mention all the scandals that cost us, the taxpayer, millions.

I am quite pleased that we taxpayers now have 19 more tax free days under the Conservatives.

I guess there are those of you that were implanted with a "Liberal chip" in your brains when you were born, and even if you had to give every cent you made to the Gov't,plus your first born child, you would still vote Liberal.

gori
said

it seems to me all the posters are significantly partisans, all postings except maybe a couple are rigid and show who they are anyways, but i digress, let's look at the facts, was not there was a surplus and a balanced budgets before MR.HARPER was elected, where did those surplus went?

Now with the liberals, i am hoping that they will not make the country spent billions for an unnecessary elections unless they can really justify having the process because if they do, they will surely lose the election and we will be back to square on.

Never mind the ndps and the blocs, it is common belief that they will never form a government but look at what happen to NOVE SCOTIA, we are all threading to unknown territory right now. hopefullly those politician can make their collective act together for the sake of this beautiful country. to MR IGNATIEFF , i hope you make the right decision and to MR. HARPER , forget your ego and start doing what is good for the country, drop that hunger for power and stop screwing up.

JR
said

Here we go again, Liberals saying they are bringing down the gov't because they are not happy again in less than 1 year since they were going to do it....the liberals are so two faced I would never vote for them....they asked for the gov't to spend and now that they have and we have a large deficit, they want to call down the gov't again for doing what they asked...
go to Hell Iggy

NO SUMMER ELECTION
said

This talk of an election is just total garbage.
Canada has the strongest economy in the G20 right now (maybe the world). We have navigated through the turbulent waters under the Conservatives.
If you Liberal/NDP types want to destabilize the economy just for the simple fact that you are power hungry..go ahead. If by chance the Liberals/NDP get in, guess what, they will be doing the same thing.
To the poster that said "m sick of hearing about how Canadians don't want to be burdened with voting this summer. If democracy is such a pain perhaps a dictatorship would be more convenient? " Just remember what was said in Plato's Republic "Democracy is the worst form or tyranny" If Canada keeps going to the polls every 3 - 6 months it is going to hurt us economically, socially and morally. This is an example of where democracy becomes tyrannical. We must continue the path that we are on or else we are doomed as a nation. We don't need another election when we just had one.

DCR-Toronto
said

There is NO WAY Ignatieff will pull the pin on this government. He is all talk. No plan. And Canadians, for the most mart, would be VERY upset about a summer election. Not to mention that there's be a lot of people travelling, camping, fishing. Ignatieff will be shown almost as weak as Dion.

Then the NDP and the Bloc will crucify him, by saying he supports Harper. I love it. Have a great summer folks. Iggy won't be. Just another academic trying to be somebody. Again...Iggy..please go home.

Diane M.
said

If the Liberals (and I sincerely doubt that is what Ignatieff really is) bring down the government,there isn't a glimmer of a chance I will vote Liberal.

Cathie north of the Big Smoke
said

Ignatieff is an opportunist. His policy agrees with Conservative policy in fighting this election, but it is all about power. The Conservatives need a chance to govern without the meddling of an obstructionist opposition. Bring it on. We need a Conservative majority.

jason wood
said

Yeah because the polls say that they are ahead? Whatever! Who would vote for these scandle clowns in again?

S
said

better to have an "economist" as pm?? He didn't even see this recession coming that everyone else was talking about. At every turn this Prime Minister has gotten it wrong on the economy. I think I would prefer that "preachy" professor in office rather than that "economist" who isn't really good at telling that the economy will do.

Kevin in Alberta
said

Can someone tell Iggy he is not Canada's Obama! We don't need any extra exspenses right now. Such as a needless election.

Ryan
said

Canadians do not need another election. Yhe parties need to work together instead.

i'm sorry but an election is just not justified at this time and especially not during the summer and during a recession and anyone stuiped enough to force one when canadians do not want one is going to be punished. canadians want to see the minority parliament work together and sick of political nonesense like this. give the economic action plan more time to work before we have to judge if its sucessful or not.

and why is ignatieff making this decision himself, when did us avergae canadians get to decide if we wanted an election or ever been consulted?

Ben, Edmonton
said

We should have a referendum that fires every single MP and replaces all of them in a new election. I'm tired of this bunch; they are wasting time and money at a crucial time because they can't get along. I don't care which party you root for, they're all guilty.

Metro
said

Alan in Vancouver:

You're clearly not up on your economics: Conservatives are supposed to love a low dollar, as it enables us to dig up, cut down, and otherwise sell out our country abroad. This, theoretically, creates the jobs and economic growth that you seem to believe are so threatened by a low dollar.

Metro
said

Pull the trigger, Mr. Ignatieff. I'll even vote for you to be rid of these incompetent, corrupt, ideologically blinkered, financially incompetent, heartless, racist poltroons.

Rick (Ontario)
said

This is awesome. After reading through most of the posts, it's good to see that most people here are against Iggy and his thirst for power.

A summer election isn't the best idea because who will cut their vacation short to vote? How many people here already have their holidays booked at work? If you pinheads were to think before you open your yap you might sound a bit more intelligent.
Iggy-A Canadian by convenience.

Wendy, Vancouver
said

I would be very surprised if the Liberals called an election. I think that this is all a ploy to keep Ignatieff's name in the forefront, and give an illusion that he is still in control, even though it says "Prime Minister" in front of Harper's name. To call an election would put us in jeapardy with other nations that do business with us.

We would clearly give out the message that we are a country in crisis, and the direction that Canada takes to aid in the global recession could change on a dime. The Liberals/Conservatives would do better to look like they are working within the confines of the elected government of the day (which we would expect of foreign governments).

We need the ideas of all elected officials to get us out of this recession; we don't need costly election after election that keeps producing the same results.

Question period should be used to put opposing ideas on the table instead of being a time to belittle individual members of parliament. Then a seed may be planted for change, and Canadians can see for themselves the level of intelligence of who represents their interests. Right now it just seems like alot of kindergarten bullying, with too much effort coming up with ideas to attack and too much effort coming up with ideas to defend. We need elected officials that work to represent the people who elected them, under the umbrella of the government that Canadians have chosen.

My vote is not cast in stone, but has historically been Liberal. If they call an election now, I would not vote for them based solely on that imprudent decision.

Woodstacker
said

The two Canadian communist parties - (NDP and Bloc) are still itching to get into power with the Libs as a coalition.
Iggy's Libs cannot win a majority alone.

Beware the coalition doesn't coalese in secret.
That's would be the only way an election would be called.

Dave in Cobourg
said

As a life long Liberal supporter I believe that they can do a better job of running this country that the Conservatives. They are fiscally more responsible, a fact that is supported by the many times they have turned deficits into surpluses.

Having said that, it might be prudent for Mr. Ignatieff to hold off on this non-confidsnce motion until Harper has a little more time to prove his ability or incompetance, and perhaps by then the rest of the country will realize how lame this present government are.

None of the $ promised have started flowing yet. Just a lot of promises.

By the way Alan in Vancouver. Google him and then tell us he has no experience, and since when is an education a liability in politics.

So Mr. Ignatieff. if you're listening... from one Liberal to another..... why not let Harper and his party really hang themselves....Then we might get a mojority and be able to really clean up this country.

Stu from London
said

I'm not sure how anybody here thinks the Conservatives will get (or deserve) a majority, but what I see happening is the Liberals agreeing that Canadians don't have an appetite to vote this summer, and all the Conservatives will accuse him of being "chicken"...the Opposition is merely trying to hold the government accountable, as clearly, Harper refuses to do it. I say the longer the Cons are in office, the higher the Liberals number will go. Keep Harper in until early next year and will get a Liberal majority, what this country needs.

Patriot
said

I wish the libs, ndp, and bloc would quit playing games for there own gain. Send iggy back to the US and let's save half a billion not having an election!

Len Curle
said

GOD BLESS THE CONSERVATIVES AND STEPHEN HARPER!! These liberal ingrates are losers they believe in screwing the Canadian public with higher taxes if the Liberals ever got elected again >>ALBERTA will separate and join the USA ... elect liberals Alberta Leaves !!

Martin
said

Those who say it's not time for an election would say the same thing in the fall. The Conservatives were elected on promises of honesty and accountability, and have provided neither.

From Income Trusts, through fixed election dates and 'buying opportunities', through to the great lost 'modest surplus', they haven't taken responsibility for their actions, and blame others continuously. Deliberately mistranslating 'soverignist' as 'separatist' in ads the rest of Canada, this pitting region against region, was an insult to the intelligence of Quebecers of all stripes, and won't be forgiven there.

By the way, was it the 'Fiberals' who misplaced NATO documents? Cynical photo-ops, attack ads, and opportunistic and counter-productive GST cuts won't cut it anymore. And, I won't even elaborate on recent statements from Conservative ministers. Clearly, the 80% 'committed' funds are not close to being out there. It's a good time to go to the polls.

BC Voice of Reason
said

Mr. Ignatieff should look closely at history. Kim Campbell, at the similar point in their careers (except Kim was an experienced MP and had won a leadership race) was significantly ahead of Chretien in the polls and the the parties were in a virtual tie in the polls. When the Conservative caucus got back together after the election they could have their meetings in the back seat of a cab.

Deborah
said

As if the country and the world is not in enough economic and political strife already. Do we need to spend millions more on another election. No one is perfect and no party in this country is absolute. I am beginning to think that the word opposition party means that they will oppose everything another party plans to do. Grow up you people, politics is not just a game, its our lives ans how they are lived. I have never seen such childish behaviour in my entire life as that which plagues our political system today.

John C
said

Someone in the Liberal Party should mention the 'Iggy' the term "Her Majesties Loyal Opposition". The Liberals should stand up for Canadian Interests and not personal partisan political values. If an election is called, that is the way our democracy works, great, but do keep in mind that if called aprox. 1.2 billion dollars would be spent to likely have the same or similar outcome as the last 3, a central leaning minority government.

Just some thoughts to ponder

Bob,Calgary,Alberta
said

"Most Canadians don't want an election but political parties must do what they believe in.." Do Canadians honestly think that the LIberals believe in anything except POWER and the demonstration of same? These characters don't care about Canadians for a second.

They care about taking the levers of power for their friends and associates. We would have another intellectual dilitente running the country. Another Trudeau to dig us further into a hole,another Chretien to govern and do absolutely nothing for years upon years, another Martin to dither and yak but never make a decision. When I read other bloggers praising the Liberals I wonder what planet they live on. We are a country of limitless opportunity, massive resources and close proximity to the world's largest market but we have always fallen short. Other countries with no resources outshine us every time. This is because Canadians have always bought into the Liberal mantra that they know best and they will take care of us. What a load of self-serving baloney from a bunch of Eastern based liars, cheats and political oppotunists.

DC in AB
said

My prediction, Michael Ignatieff will tell us that although he doesn't like what he sees in the economic update, he understands that Canadians don't want an election right now, and so he'll stave off bringing the Conservatives down for yet another while. Coward's way out Michael.... coward. All you're doing is p*ssing people off with your political posturing.

Stumpy
said

Who are they trying to fool....they will try to bring down the gov tomorrow...for what...Iggy's ego?

The Other Lowell in BC
said

The Conservatives have made alot of mistakes and at times have misled Canadians. They accuse Ignatieff of being opportunistic but time after time I see Harper doing what is good for Steve and not for canada.

Why would you run attack ads against the opposition leader to make him look smaller outside of an election window. Frankly Iggy offers education, experience, international connections, and less ideology and more pragmatism

Greg from BC
said

Will it really ruin your summer to take 10 minutes out of one day to go vote? Is it that much of a hassle?

If parliament is not working, there should be an election. That's how our system works. The reason the government is not working is not because the opposition parties "aren't letting Mr. Harper govern," it's that he isn't making compromises to create legislation that represents the voices of the majority of Canadians. The time of year should not make any difference.

Wayne in HRM
said

If the Liberals bring down the government and force a summer election, we still will end up with a minority government. This time it will be a Liberal minority because as the polls stand in Quebec and Ontario, considering nothing changes west of Ontario and the Federal Conservative don't belong in Atlantic Canada, only a deluded dreamer would think the Tories stand a chance of winning the most seats

bella-in-ottawa
said

Bring it Ralph!! You are more competent than Harper and his cronies. For me, a summer vote is better than letting the Cons take credit for what they were forced to do in the first place. I don't mind taking 20 minutes out of my summer to put Harper out of his misery. He's the most divisive prime minister i've seen in my time.!

Brian In Sarnia
said

Moe. Calling the majority of Canadians boneheads only indicates to me that you are likely a Conservative staffer. When the majority of Canadians don't feel Mr. Harper deserves a majority government, than no, we should just let him govern. Welcome to democracy.

The people I feel bad about are the volunteers for all parties. For me an election in the summer is no different. It doesn't stop me from going to work any other time of year, so why would it stop me from going to work in the summer? Voting takes me 10 minutes. Big deal. Stop complaining.

Martin Partridge
said

Do I detect panic?

zaine
said

this is getting highly out of hand already if the liberals are dumb enough to call a election this summer say high to a majority consevative government. lets get real here what are the liberals going to do that conservatives have not already done what are the liberals going to do push us further into the hole come on canada there were a few more tax dollars in your pocket this year under a liberal government i will guarantee you this we will be taxed to death we won't be taking tax money out two of our pockets we we will taking more tax money out of all four pockets under liberal rule.

Mike in AB
said

Quit the playground fighting and let the government in power do its job. Another election will only delay further stimulus to take effect in the country and get the country back on its feet. Its fair to say these things don't happen over night, let the Conservatives do their job already.

emv in ontario
said

Whomever runs this country some days I could care less... vote the devil you know or the devil you don't.... My area has now seen some of the funding stimulus and there will be jobs from it... which is great for now! (we are rural here) But the one thing is... if you spend money it should be things that are needed now... not an election... its a huge waste of money....MY TAX DOLLARS!!!!

mark H.
said

"Liberals say all options open for confidence vote"

Including blustering and more blustering, followed by caving.

...The party of Stephane Dion is alive and well.
Enjoy your election-free summer, everyone.

Liz in Toronto
said

Bring on the election, let the Liberals win and watch this country continue its downward spiral to lawlessness, high taxes, no health care etc.

Alan in Vancouver
said

An election now would be disastrous for Canada; our dollar would fall to below .80c plus recovery and new jobs would just not be there.

This Iggy is a dangerous dude; over-educated and crafty but with no experience actually running even a small business,

Annoyed Westerner
said

Bring it on.

Easterners can go freeze in the dark if the Libs shut the West down again...

And not one Liberal MP west of Ontario will be elected.

Let the Tories do their job. Better to have an economist as PM than a preachy ex-Harvard professor wanna-be who hasn't lived here for 34 years.

GUTSHOT!! in Thunder Bay
said

Political suicide for Liberals. Isnt there a mental illness called "liberalism"?

Thankfully its not contagious.

See ya Iggy! Enjoy the trip back home!

brian summers, brampton,ont.
said

I wish that all the political parties would just get down too the business of running the country, and quit squabbaling like a bunch of school children (actually most school children don't act this bad ) It's like " I want to lead...no, I want to...I won't play nice if I can't lead "...etc. etc. ENOUGH ALREADY !

Chicken Little Ignatieff
said

What a laugh!! The Liberals know they are going to vote against the budget but will make sure they have enough members absent so the combined strength of the opposition will not defeat the government. They are already up to their old ways acting tough and thinking they can win because they pay for a biased poll to show they look good.

The left is divided and Layton will not go quietly into the sunset He likes his well paying job and will take more seats the next election. The Liberals know what caused the recession and so do Canadians. It is like the swine flu a Pandemic

retdhairy
said

Go ahead bring down the government, at best we will get a minority Liberal government. I would be very interested in seeing how the Liberals are going to do any better in our current economic situation and maybe just maybe we will get to see the true Ignatieff - tax and spend, tax and spend, tax and spend!!!!!

Moe-Edmonton
said

I'm sick of this crap! Let Mr. Harper govern, if the rest of you boneheads would have given him a majority we could finally go about our business without worrying about the Fiberals derailing the good work that is helping pull us out of this recession. The Fiberals don't care about you and me....they only care about power.

Linda
said

THe Liberals have been in power for a long time before the conservatives won. Look at the country and what they did to it!! Are we that stupid as Canadians to want the Liberals back in? They should not even be thinking about this because if Canadians wanted Liberals to be in they would be there.

jim from wpg.
said

Go ahead ralphy, you and your sidekicks bring down the government during these difficult times, and we the voters will give your party something you won't forget. READ OUR LIPS ! we are in no mood for a vote

Trevor
said

Get rid of the Cons. I'd rather have an election in the summer than suffer until the end or their term

Gareth Hitchings
said

I'm sick of hearing about how Canadians don't want to be burdened with voting this summer. If democracy is such a pain perhaps a dictatorship would be more convenient?

Canadians elected 308 MP's last October and we expect them to vote for the things they believe in, on principal, as the NDP guy mentioned here. If that means we go back and vote again then so be it, far better to have parliamentarians who vote on principal than a bunch who vote on nothing but political expediency all the time.

To read this article and others this week, you'd think that Canadians would rather have an unrepresentative parliament than be inconvenienced during our nap-time at the cottage. Our Grandfathers fought and died in their thousands so we could have freedom and democracy and now we can't even be bothered to get off the couch for it? This is reprehensible Canada!

Tono
said

Ignatieff had better not spoil our summer by calling an election for his own ambitions.

Bob in rural MB
said

Go for an election. If the Conservatives don't want to do their job, the Liberals will.