Throne Speech

[jdobbin]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

The plan focused on cutting costs and didn't rule out a deficit -- a far cry from last year's throne speech, which was focused on using big surpluses for tax cuts.

Jean said it would be "misguided to commit to a balanced budget at any cost," a sign that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's budget may be headed for the red this year.

The speech repeatedly mentioned the importance of "prudence" and said the government would put department spending "under the microscope."

The NDP wants to head to an election over the Throne Speech.

An unbalanced budget might bring an election.

[Smallc]

I doubt there will be an election over the budget. These are hard times....especially for the Liberals.

Edited November 20, 2008 by Smallc

[jdobbin]

Doubtful.

Harper might be angling for an election before the Liberals get a new leader. Harper might call it himself and blame the Liberals.

[Riverwind]

The NDP wants to head to an election over the Throne Speech.

I am sure they would change their mind pretty fast if the Liberals decided to vote against the budget. The NDP is grandstanding and no one really cares about the excuses they come up with to oppose the budget.

An unbalanced budget might bring an election.

Canadians have a long history of supporting pragmatic leaders who do what is necessary rather than what they promised (the Liberals used to benefit from this attitude).

[jdobbin]

I am sure they would change their mind pretty fast if the Liberals decided to vote against the budget. The NDP is grandstanding and no one really cares about the excuses they come up with to oppose the budget.

The Liberals won't go to an election over a Throne Speech.

They will probably vote for the first budget but they might propose some amendments. We'll see if Harper plays hardball with that.

Canadians have a long history of supporting pragmatic leaders who do what is necessary rather than what they promised (the Liberals used to benefit from this attitude).

Canadians have a long tradition of voting out governments who govern while they suffer.

[Vancouver King]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

The NDP wants to head to an election over the Throne Speech.

Layton is remaining true to his constituency - working stiffs who don't want Harper balancing the budget on their backs through cuts to medicare, EI etc. How refreshing it would be to have a national govt whose highest priority was it's own citizens and not corporations or lobbyists.

[jdobbin]

Layton is remaining true to his constituency - working stiffs who don't want Harper balancing the budget on their backs through cuts to medicare, EI etc. How refreshing it would be to have a national govt whose highest priority was it's own citizens and not corporations or lobbyists.

Do you think that if the Liberals agreed with Layton on this and said they would vote down the Throne Speech that Layton would turn on the Liberals and say they were calling an unnecessary election?

[Vancouver King]

Do you think that if the Liberals agreed with Layton on this and said they would vote down the Throne Speech that Layton would turn on the Liberals and say they were calling an unnecessary election?

No question Layton's opposition to the speech is risk-free party policy promotion. Is that necessarily bad?

They seem to be lapping up people-centered politics stateside - financial relief for economic victims, 'trickle up' economics etc.

[jdobbin]

No question Layton's opposition to the speech is risk-free party policy promotion. Is that necessarily bad?

Maybe only for Layton credibility or as an indication that he is ready to find a way to get their policies in play with the government without voting no every time.

They seem to be lapping up people-centered politics stateside - financial relief for economic victims, 'trickle up' economics etc.

Layton has to be careful with his scripted campaigning. With the worst performance of the Liberals in decades, he still wasn't able to do better than Broadbent did. And people liked Broadbent.

[noahbody]

Harper might be angling for an election before the Liberals get a new leader. Harper might call it himself and blame the Liberals.

That broken record still doesn't play.

[blueblood]

Maybe only for Layton credibility or as an indication that he is ready to find a way to get their policies in play with the government without voting no every time.

Layton has to be careful with his scripted campaigning. With the worst performance of the Liberals in decades, he still wasn't able to do better than Broadbent did. And people liked Broadbent.

Don't forget to mention tory ads calling Layton a hypocrite for saying he wants to work with parliament and then voting no all the time. For someone crying its my way or the highway about Harper, Layton should look in the mirror.

Copps on MDL ripped apart Brad Lavigne (sp?) on this same issue.

Does the NDP want an election in tough economic times? Layton has to explain that to his constituents.

[jdobbin]

That broken record still doesn't play.

Sure it does. Gets a response every time.

The Tories probably don't want to go to the very end of a mandate with deficits in each budget from here till then. They were the ones that ridiculed Dion for saying that a deficit was possible. They were the ones that said under no circumstances would they run a deficit. They said it wouldn't happen. Absolutely not. Never.

The Liberals will never be weaker than they are now and somehow Tories think that Harper will be a gentleman, wait for the Liberals to get a new leader, get organized and wait for the perfect time to bring down the government in a confidence vote. Really? Harper will wait? C'mon.

[jdobbin]

Does the NDP want an election in tough economic times? Layton has to explain that to his constituents.

I guess it appeals to his base. I don't know that it will be rewarding in the long run.

[g_bambino]

Layton is remaining true to his constituency - working stiffs who don't want Harper balancing the budget on their backs through cuts to medicare, EI etc. How refreshing it would be to have a national govt whose highest priority was it's own citizens and not corporations or lobbyists.

Hey! I live in Layton's riding, and... Er... Okay, I've got nothing. I live in Layton's riding, and I'm embarassed to say so.

What's worse.... I work in Olivia Chow's.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Things are about to get real interesting.

Its high time that these folks were actually held accountable for their voting records and that is where we are now going. Vote yes and support the government or vote no and you defeat the government. There are only two choices available.

Harper doesn't want an election people say, I disagree. I think he loves elections, because he always wins them. I do not think he will change his attitudes until he loses one. Then things will be different for him. I think he has one last kick at the cat, and I think he knows it.

It possible that the NDP have finally figured out how relevant they are in federal politics. The Liberals fear the next election at this point, they can't afford it and don't have a leader. The Bloc is just finally figuring out the reality of regional politics, they won't be catered to much longer. The government must decide how to govern, for the people or for themselves. They can either act like a minority government or plan for the next election.

[Oleg Bach]

Good governance is like good Kingship - whether you be a political, social or miltiary leader..there is one rule that governs success... it may sound corny - but a king will only be followed if he truely loves his subjects...I mean he has to care - Those subjects that feel and understand that their leader loves them will follow with un-limited loyaly based in that love...Who loves the people of Canada more (or humanity in general)?

Is it Layton? Is it Harper? etc....That is the problem with politicals - they become enthrawled with themselves and their own percieved self importance. This self facination and egotism does not make for good leadership - If you take Winston Churchill - The British during WW2 would and did follow him into hell itself...why? They knew this great man and secondary King - loved them...we in the alternative are held ransom by those that only love themselves. As far as the throne speech is concerned - our GG - loves herself a bit to much - but she sure knows how to fake royal orgasm. AND because she fains consideration and care of the populace - people admire and follow her....I can't take those of great ambition and personal pride seriously.

[Smallc]

Canada is unlikely to avoid the effects of an expected global recession and faces the possibility of a deficit for the next three budgets, says a report by Canada's independent parliamentary budget officer.

Modest Deficits Expected

[g_bambino]

The government must decide how to govern, for the people or for themselves. They can either act like a minority government or plan for the next election.

But surely there's no way we'd have another election already; the signs are barely off people's lawns. Even before the last election there was perceptible muttering in the media about the Governor General refusing Harper's advice and calling on a Loyal Opposition leader to form a government, especially given the recent amendment to the Elections Act. I'd imagine that if Harper went back to Rideau Hall to suggest another election so soon, the pressure on Jean to dismiss this idea would be even greater than last time.

That said, perhaps Jack Layton has the idea in his head that if he can orchestrate a defeat of the government over the Throne Speech, what with the last election so recently over, and the Liberals without a leader, he'd be the best candidate to be called on by the viceroy to form some kind of coalition government. Who knows? His blabbering during the election did seem to imply he thinks himself to be some prime prime ministerial material.

[Oleg Bach]

I'm all for Jack - maybe he will increase welfare payments and let the captialist rise to the cap! At present with our taxing system only those that are inept but established prosper. Once Jack has spread the wealth around ( bottom line investment capital) - we can dispose of him...and send him to central america where he could partake in an old fashioned communist revloution and amuse himself.

[Mr.Canada]

No question Layton's opposition to the speech is risk-free party policy promotion. Is that necessarily bad?

They seem to be lapping up people-centered politics stateside - financial relief for economic victims, 'trickle up' economics etc.

Layton opposes everything the Pm proposes, it's just more partisanship.

[Mr.Canada]

Sure it does. Gets a response every time.

The Tories probably don't want to go to the very end of a mandate with deficits in each budget from here till then. They were the ones that ridiculed Dion for saying that a deficit was possible. They were the ones that said under no circumstances would they run a deficit. They said it wouldn't happen. Absolutely not. Never.

The Liberals will never be weaker than they are now and somehow Tories think that Harper will be a gentleman, wait for the Liberals to get a new leader, get organized and wait for the perfect time to bring down the government in a confidence vote. Really? Harper will wait? C'mon.

Just like Chretien waited for the newly minted CPC? Knock it off.

I think Harper wants revenge for Joe Clark(s) embarrassment. Except this time the CPC will win a massive majority.

Edited November 20, 2008 by Mr.Canada

[jdobbin]

Just like Chretien waited for the newly minted CPC? Knock it off.

I think Harper wants revenge for Joe Clark(s) embarrassment. Except this time the CPC will win a massive majority.

Your Tory friends seem to disagree that Harper will do anything to call an election in the next six months.

[Mr.Canada]

Your Tory friends seem to disagree that Harper will do anything to call an election in the next six months.

He doesn't need to. With a lame duck leader sitting as the opposition he can govern as if he has a majority. LOL, it's really quite sweet.

Will Dion vote down the government? Not a chance.

The PM can do as he likes for the next few months with no serious opposition. I'm sure this will drive the NDP and Bloc crazy.

I can't wait for the new topics about Harper(s) bully tactics which will of course be lies.

Next election the Bloc and NDP will attack the Liberals and the CPC will just sit back and watch the show.

Edited November 20, 2008 by Mr.Canada

[Oleg Bach]

He doesn't need to. With a lame duck leader sitting as the opposition he can govern as if he has a majority. LOL, it's really quite sweet.

Will Dion vote down the government? Not a chance.

The PM can do as he likes for the next few months with no serious opposition. I'm sure this will drive the NDP and Bloc crazy.

I can't wait for the new topics about Harper(s) bully tactics which will of course be lies.

If you can't stand up to a bully - then you deserve what you get. If Harper was a bully Dions nose would be bleediing - instead it bleeds on it's own because it's so delicate.

[Mr.Canada]

If you can't stand up to a bully - then you deserve what you get. If Harper was a bully Dions nose would be bleediing - instead it bleeds on it's own because it's so delicate.

I like how you ignore the rest of the post which was predictable. You know it's true...lol.

Thanks for agreeing with me Oleg!