New Democrats

[Cartman]

Interesting stories MS. Incredible actually.

I think that the NDP can form a government if they accomplish the necessary hard work. I would have never thought they would form gov't in Ontario when they did. Of course, it will be a freezing cold day in hell before it happens in Alberta. Did I mention cold?

[Big Blue Machine]

You did indeed, I think Hell would freeze over Ontario before we elect the NDP again.

[maplesyrup]

NDP prepares for summer caucus meeting

Finally something of interest will begin to happen in Ottawa.

[maplesyrup]

NDP targets Grit gaffes

We can already see who the real opposition to the Liberals is going to be.

[maplesyrup]

Layton wants House approval of health plan

NDP Leader Jack Layton says any health deal reached between Ottawa and the provinces should be sent back to the House of Commons for discussion and possibly approval by the other parties.

Canada's premiers are to hold a meeting in Toronto beginning Wednesday to strategize on forming a united front leading up to their health talks with Prime Minister Paul Martin Sept. 13 to 15. One of the major items on the table is a national pharmacare program proposed by the provinces.

"Whatever deal is ultimately consummated has to come back to the House of Commons. We are a Parliamentary system of government here," Mr. Layton, whose NDP caucus is meeting in Ottawa this week, told reporters Tuesday.

When asked whether he feels the House of Commons has to agree to a new health deal before the premiers sign on to it, Mr. Layton replied: "Well, I would think that the Prime Minister, being that he's a minority Prime Minister, would want to come back to the House with whatever agreement that he has worked out, and have a discussion."

PM Martin needs to settle down and start working with the other parties in the House of Commons. A good place to start will be health care.

[maplesyrup]

Broadbent says Martin government must listen to opposition parties to survive

PM Martin has options. He can govern like Joe Clark or PET. The choice is his.

[Big Blue Machine]

He will probably be arrogant enough to act like he had a majority

[maplesyrup]

Layton wants House approval of health plan

Since the election, the NDP has said it wants to find co-operative ways for Mr. Martin's minority government to work. Earlier this week, caucus chairwoman Judy Wasylycia-Leis told globeandmail.com that it's important for the New Democrats to take on a "proactive role" in the upcoming minority government, by initiating a good number of legislative proposals and by pressing Mr. Martin to keep promises he made in his campaign.

At the party's meeting on Tuesday, New Democrats called on Mr. Martin to reveal how he plans to end medicare squabbles with the premiers along with coming through on other Liberal agenda items, including a deal to help cities and a national child care system.

“Rhetoric was at a high level for the election to get Canadians excited but the deliveries have been at a low level,” Mr. Layton said.

“On health care we haven't seen a plan,” the NDP Leader said. “on child care we haven't seen a plan and on cities we've seen backtracking.”

It appears that we are going to have a rancorous House of Commons when Parliament resumes.

[mirror]

NDP's Layton Wants Probe Into Toronto Port Authority

Federal NDP Leader and Toronto MP Jack Layton wants the Auditor General to find out why the feds have paid $35-million of our tax dollars for a bridge that was never built.

The money has gone to the Toronto Port Authority and Layton wants to know what we got for it.

There's been talk for years about replacing the island ferry with a bridge, so you could get off your plane and walk or cab it, into the city without having to wait for the boat to shuttle on and off the island.

The project was supposed to cost somewhere around $23-million dollars, so Layton want's to know why the feds cut a cheque for $35-million back in May.

Layton isn't aware of anyone sueing because the bridge project was scrapped, so that's not where the money went.

He's calling on Liberal MP Joe Volpe, the Minister Responsible for Toronto, to back his call for some answers.

That Jack Layton, protecting the taxpayer's interests, sure sounds like a fiscally responsible person to me.

[mirror]

Tell us where our $35-million went

Toronto's Jack Layton revived the federal New Democrats by jumping into bed with the hated Liberals, shocking old-fashioned Prairie socialists while delivering significant new spending for Canada's urban majority. And now that said Liberals are busy taking credit for popular programs they would never have financed without NDP pressure, Mr. Layton is turning his attention to local affairs.

Chances are, though, that Finance Minister Ralph Goodale will let Mr. Layton write the next Liberal budget all by himself before anyone else in government accedes to the NDP Leader's latest demand: a comprehensive investigation of the dubious practices of the federally controlled Toronto Port Authority. Mr. Layton is never going to bring the government down over what is still an obscure local issue and, needless to say, the government is not going to welcome the kind of scrutiny that could transform an obscure local issue into another major-league scandal. But the intention, as with so many futile socialist initiatives, is worthy.

And there is no question that Mr. Layton knows the file. He has been fighting the Liberal pork authority since its inception, long before he won election as a national leader in a Toronto waterfront riding. The letter he sent this Monday to Immigration Minister Joe Volpe, inviting Paul Martin's local boss to join him in calling for an investigation of the TPA by Auditor-General Sheila Fraser, makes all the right points.

This should get interesting, and good timing as well.

[SirSpanky]

Maple; are you coming on to someone with all the winks??