Their heart will go on

[William Ashley]

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2409269

Opposition MP's are planning to return to committee on the 25th of January.

I am not certan what will be discussed but I think this may be the closest to caucus of the Opposition to date.

[capricorn]

The photo of Ignatieff in the OP's link begs for a caption.

[kimmy]

Seems fitting that William named a thread about Ignatieff after the theme from Titanic.

-k

[g_bambino]

Seems fitting that William named a thread about Ignatieff after the theme from Titanic.

-k

You mean the story of the rich, well educated snob with nothing to do being chased by an adolescent boy named Jack?

[g_bambino]

Toronto Liberal MP Bryon Wilfert said MPs returning to Ottawa would be a "symbolic" gesture... because there would be no question period and all committees were disbanded when Parliament was prorogued.

Ignatieff will call Liberals back to work on Jan. 25

In other words, there will be no work done at all; this is merely a photo-op stunt. Lord, these people are sad. All of them.

[madmax]

The Parties have to get past a photo op and set forth an agenda during the months that the Conservatives are enjoying good times, good pay and photo ops in their ridings.

I don't think it will be lost upon anyone that while these CPC MPs stand in front of cheques and get their pictures taken or run around to various orgs glad handing, that any monkey can go an visit people for $155,000+++ .

That's an easy paycheck. All play no work.

The government seems to believe that Canadians won't miss parliment. So, why not disband it permanently or maybe move it to China where Harper likes to make Economic Announcements on the state of the Canadian Economy.

I am certain we can farm out their jobs for $600 a month and many people are capable of smiling in front of a Camera.

I sense a rough ride ahead and expect CPC MPs on the verge of being toppled to have a stream of MPs from Secure ridings come in to shore up support.

This is going to cost the CPC a handful of seats and move them another step away from Majority.

One of the few times I have heard many outspoken CPC supporters go silent as they are not in favour of this proroguing. I sense they will stay home in the next election.

The usual number of CPC lapdogs where the government can do no wrong can write in Letters to Editors, skew forums and online news, but it can't change what I am just starting to hear at the coffee shops.

To put into perspective.

Average Joe is not impressed.

Speaking of which.

Kimmy makes a good point about the thread title.

What on earth was the author of this title thinking?

The National Posts Headline is more accurate and reflects what I hear on the street.

Ignatieff will call Liberals back to work on Jan. 25

Which leads us back to the beginning?

Why?

[Topaz]

Because what Harper is doing is wrong and given enough time more Canadians are coming to realize that. The opposition parties are TRYING to keep the government working against a dictator government. They will have meetings about the torturing with witnesses and they will have meetings about the airport scanners and the cost. At the very least, the Harper government could and should have done is worked up until the Olympics then taken 2 weeks then of 6!!!!!! So what Harper doing? He's in the PMO, planning his ideas for the budget and how he can get more control of the government through the senate and make changes that is better for the Tory government and NOT what is good for the country,although he think what's good for the Tories is good for the country.

[myata]

I seriously think that if we let Harper get away with this obviously contemptuos kick toward the elected majority and ultimately the people, it could become a turning point in the political evolution of the country. As said by somebody wise long while back, freedom and democracy should not be taken for granted, but earned by each generation, or they'll slip right through our fingers.

Edited January 6, 2010 by myata

[ToadBrother]

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2409269

Opposition MP's are planning to return to committee on the 25th of January.

I am not certan what will be discussed but I think this may be the closest to caucus of the Opposition to date.

Good for them. And oh how I wish MPs would read the history. What the Liberals plan to do is not uncharted. The Long Parliament passed the Dissolution Act which permitted Parliament to sit whether the Sovereign liked it or not. Like I said, there was a time when MPs were not so timid.

[ToadBrother]

In other words, there will be no work done at all; this is merely a photo-op stunt. Lord, these people are sad. All of them.

Since Harper, as PM, essentially controls the House, it's difficult for the Opposition to do anything else. But at least they will be in Ottawa, and I give Iggy thumb's up.

[Moonbox]

I really don't like the opposition, but proroguing parliament in this case is pretty arrogant from where I stand. I've generally supported Harper since 2006 but I think in this he is showing just how much contempt he has for the average voter. I'm not paying for him and his friends to relax for the winter. I'm paying for him to run the country and we're still not out of the recession right now. I didn't mind proroguing last year but unless Harper can give me a good reason for him to do it again I'll not be voting for him next time around.

[g_bambino]

The opposition parties are TRYING to keep the government working against a dictator government.

Oh, the humanity!

[g_bambino]

I give Iggy thumb's up.

I'd give him the thumbs up if he did something of substance. Given that the Liberals have essentially admitted they'll be sitting around the Hill with not much to do, I'm not holding my breath waiting for great results. I understand what you say MPs should be doing; I just don't have much faith that they will do any of it, given the opposition parties' situations right now. But, hey, I could be surprised!

[August1991]

From link above:

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has asked his party's MPs and senators to return to work in Ottawa later this month to draw attention to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's shutdown of Parliament.

So what are the MPs going to be doing until 25 January? Be on vacation?

While the Liberals complain that the Prime Minister is taking an extended vacation, it is Michael Ignatieff who is out of the country vacationing in France.

The Prime Minister is "vacationing" in Ottawa spending days working in his office.

Link

It seems to me that Ignatieff has a university professor's idea of a working schedule.

[ToadBrother]

I'd give him the thumbs up if he did something of substance. Given that the Liberals have essentially admitted they'll be sitting around the Hill with not much to do, I'm not holding my breath waiting for great results. I understand what you say MPs should be doing; I just don't have much faith that they will do any of it, given the opposition parties' situations right now. But, hey, I could be surprised!

What they can accomplish is extremely limited. But if they're going to be doing little to nothing, then I'd much rather they be doing it on the Hill.

[myata]

And we can do something of our own, just so what the control freak wouldn't get the idea that he can continue to slash and rule like a crowned King or something, without anybody giving a darn about it. I'm going to propose rolling non partisan opposion information sessions in my riding (to Lib, NDP and Green parties - without being member of either), to explain folks on the street the true meaning of this prorogation, and why is it wrong for the government to avoid independent oversight and show contempt to the elected majority. He should not get away with it this time around, this is one strike over.