Show Time for Canada

[maplesyrup]

Weak Canadian Liberals Face Ordeal in Parliament

Canada's ruling Liberals, stripped of their majority in a federal election three months ago, will face some painful challenges when Parliament returns next week after its summer break.

Prime Minister Paul Martin barely survived voter anger over a patronage scandal which erupted in February and few political observers give his government much chance of lasting more than two years before the next election.

What we can look forward to, or expect, starting next week:

A lot more material for This hour has 22 Minutes, and Air Farce.

Postering and bluffing by all parties.

The rumour mill will be rife with misinformation.

Some tense moments, exacerbated by CCM (Canada's Crappy Media), over whether or not the government is going to fall.

Once the wrinkles are ironed out, over which parties are basically going to work together, some decent legislation will get passed.

The universe will continue to unfold as it should!

[Newfie Canadian]

It will be interesting, that's for sure.

And how long the circus lasts depends on if Martin styles himself after Clark, or after Pearson.

[Slavik44]

It will be interesting, that's for sure.

And how long the circus lasts depends on if Martin styles himself after Clark, or after Pearson.

or wether or not the NDP, Conservatives, and Bloc decide that they can gain by having an election.

[Newfie Canadian]

I can't see the NDP or Conservatives wanting a quick election after their less than expected performances last time, with very little positive happening for them since. If they can get in the House and turn the Liberals upside down on a couple of things like the Sponsorship mess or missle defence they might try something. The Bloc wouldn't mind a quick election though.

[takeanumber]

Already the Cons are starting throw sand...

[caesar]

None of the parties; especially the opposition parties have the money to want an early election. They would need a sure fire happening that would make their election a safe bet.

[maplesyrup]

Well, here's a sop to the New Democrats to keep them at bay:

Martin says national child care a go

Much to the dismay of the right wing crowd, this minority government is shaping up to be a defacto Liberal-NDP one.

I don't think anyone is going to much care what Harper carries on about - he is definitely looking more and more like the odd man out.

[Newfie Canadian]

Much to the dismay of the right wing crowd, this minority government is shaping up to be a defacto Liberal-NDP one.

You have to admit, no shock there. The Liberals are closer to them than the Conservsatives. I hope the NDP don't let it go to their heads and start making demands that will bring another election.

The Conservative party have not yet learned that being left or right wing party is going to keep them from getting elected. The Liberals keep getting elected because they are more to the center than the Conservatives and the NDP.

The Conservatives, despite the efforts of Harper, came across as a right wing (dare I say Bushesque) party. The NDP, partly because of Layton, came across as a left wing nut job type of party.

[Big Blue Machine]

And we going to get same old same old stuff with the Liberals.

[maplesyrup]

No the minority government is going to be a lot more progressive, because it is going to be infused with NDP policies, like the National Child Care Program.

The New Democrats had to do something to break out of the doldrums, similar to the Conservatives. Layton has brought the NDP 1,000,000 more votes than his predecessor. Can Harper say the same?

But I agree being in the mushy middle wins elections.

[Big Blue Machine]

When has Mr.Martin became Mr. Spend Spend Spend? The government can't afford all these new programs, they will need to cut old ones.

[Newfie Canadian]

Ah but that's the thing isn't it?

Martin isn't above cutting programs, that's his schtick.

Cutting funding to things like the military is how Martin stopped running defecits.

[Big Blue Machine]

That's why our military sucks.

[maplesyrup]

When has Mr.Martin became Mr. Spend Spend Spend? The government can't afford all these new programs, they will need to cut old ones.

First you save, they you spend. Whatsa matter with dat?

Much better than the other way around.

[maplesyrup]

That's why our military sucks.

Another deep intellectual thought from the right side of the spectrum. Would you care to elaborate about a bit more specifically what you mean by that comment?

My understanding is that when it is crunch time, such as the two World Wars Canada was there, and was there in all its splendor.

Pray tell, WTF do we need military might for these days?

Perhaps you are afraid the Acadians might mount an insurrection in the Atlantic region, and take down the duly elected government in Nova Scotia? You don't have to worry about that, as Darryl Dexter and the Nova Scotia New Democrats will be looking after that little task themselves shortly.

[kimmy]

That's why our military sucks.

Another deep intellectual thought from the right side of the spectrum. Would you care to elaborate about a bit more specifically what you mean by that comment?

My understanding is that when it is crunch time, such as the two World Wars Canada was there, and was there in all its splendor.

Pray tell, WTF do we need military might for these days?

Well, if the UN decides it is "crunch time" in the Sudan, and asks Canada to be there "in all its splendor" to help stop the humanitarian disaster there, we will have to tell them "sorry, we can't", because our military is already overextended beyond its means.

-kimmy

[maplesyrup]

Layton pumped for parliamentary balancing act

VANCOUVER -- These are heady days for the New Democratic Party and Leader Jack Layton could feel it as he stood at the back of the room yesterday, waiting to address the party's federal council.

Dressed in a stylish grey suit, crisp white shirt, conservative blue tie and sensible black boots, Mr. Layton bounced on his toes in anticipation. He was introduced to cheers and a standing ovation -- and half an hour later would leave to the same show of enthusiasm.

The party is clearly keyed up for the 38th session of Parliament, which begins today in Ottawa with the election of a new Speaker of the House, followed by a Throne Speech, tomorrow.

As he takes his seat in the House, leading a small but influential party of just 19 MPs, Mr. Layton will face a minority Liberal government -- and a tough balancing act.

His challenge: to wrest as many concessions as he can from the government without compromising the NDP's principles.

"We will co-operate. But we will not capitulate," Mr. Layton said to loud applause.

When it was suggested later by a reporter that the NDP had to walk a fine line in this Parliament, Mr. Layton nodded in agreement and broke into a broad grin, to show he is relishing the moment.

Now we will see who has the cahones, who has the political skills to survive.

[maplesyrup]

Speaker re-elected unanimously. One less vote for the Liberals in the reconstructed House of Commons, our 38th Parliament.

Chuck Cadman's vote may become a significant factor before the government falls, and his vote could possibly precipitate its fall.

Trudeau did not approach his minority with the view that he had a mandate to govern, but Martin is sending mixed signals, according to Ed Broadbent, who hopes Martin follows the Trudeau appraoch rather than the Joe Clark approach, otherwise the government will not survive.

[Slavik44]

Speaker re-elected unanimously. One less vote for the Liberals in the reconstructed House of Commons, our 38th Parliament.

Chuck Cadman's vote may become a significant factor before the government falls, and his vote could possibly precipitate its fall.

Trudeau did not approach his minority with the view that he had a mandate to govern, but Martin is sending mixed signals, according to Ed Broadbent, who hopes Martin follows the Trudeau appraoch rather than the Joe Clark approach, otherwise the government will not survive.

It will survive longer then clark's because their is nothing to gain in an early election for the Conservatives and the NDP, they will simply keep the liberals propped up untill the libs screw up, normally that is about 10 seconds but I think they may allow some room for error.

[maplesyrup]

Slavik44........you are correct.

Although the Conservatives have threatened to bring down the government over the throne speech, everyone knows that is nonsense, that they are just posturing for their fans, and that there is no way they will do that as the Canadian voters would not be kind to them. Harper is probably just feeling a bit left out of things, with all the kissy-kissy stuff going on between the Liberals and the New Democrats.

[maplesyrup]

So the Harper Conservatives and Le Bloc are going to be working together in the new Parliament. This is a very dangerous game for the Conservatives to be flirting with the Quebec separatists and they will pay the price.

Lib: 135 seats

Cons: 99 seats

Bloc: 54 seats

New Dem: 19 seats

Ind: 1 seat

Total: 308 seats

Deduct the speaker's vote for the Liberals.

Therefore:

Libs 134 + NDP 19 = 153 votes

Vs

Cons 99 + Bloc 54 = 153 votes

Ind = 1 vote

Very, very interesting. Cadman is going to have a huge role here.

Too bad for the Conservatives that they blew Cadman off and revoked his membership. Another serious tactical error by Harper.

[maplesyrup]

I rarely agree with anything coming out the mouth of Stephen Harper, but having said that, I agree with his comments today about Paul Martin acting totally inappropriately by not consulting with the opposition parties about the throne speech.

This is arrogant Liberals politics, Martin will pay a huge price for governing like he has a majority, a big, big mistake, and I am really looking forward to the next election.

[maplesyrup]

Public Works breaks Access to Information law on Earnscliffe

Has anyone here heard about this, although with Liberal politics, nothing would surprise moi.

[August1991]

This is arrogant Liberals politics, Martin will pay a huge price for governing like he has a majority, a big, big mistake, and I am really looking forward to the next election.

The Liberals think it is business as usual. Their near-death experience lasted for a few days in June 2004 until David Herle's attack ads scared the Ontario sheep back to the fold.

The Liberals believe that the opposition has nothing to gain by going into an election. The BQ cannot get any more seats. The Tories did as well as they likely ever do in Ontario unless something radical changes. The NDP is no threat to a Liberal Party that signals left but never turns.

So, the Liberals believe that BQ and Tory opposition is all bluff - and the Liberals are probably right.

Incidentally, I have a vague suspicion that another election will simply produce the same result we've got now.

[caesar]

I think the liberals would pick up more support thanks to the money provided for Health Care. What is Harper offering us. Nothing that interests me.