Liberal/NDP Budget passes

[Netherlands]

Poor Steven Harper. His Bloc Quebecois allies betray him, and he gets caught without all his MPs in Parliament (5 were missing) for the vote. As they lost the vote, I could see some Tory MPs tearing up pieces of paper and throwing them on the floor (very mature). The budget is now passed, and that just leaves the SSM issue to be debated for the next few days.

Here is the article from Canadian Press:

Paul Martin's Commons corps dusted off a rarely used procedural tactic just before midnight Thursday to bamboozle furious Conservatives and pass contentious Liberal-NDP budget amendments.

The Conservatives could only sputter and fume after their unofficial partners in the Bloc Québécois deserted them to join the Liberals and the NDP to cut off debate on the budget and move up a vote on same-sex marriage.

The realization of what had occurred only dawned on the Tories as they gazed around the shuttle buses that normally ferry MPs back to their offices and realized there wasn't a Liberal in sight.

Every available Liberal MP was cloistered in the Commons lobby waiting to spring into a vote to cut off debate. The Liberals, the Bloc and New Democrats made extraordinary use of a rule allowing for cutting off debate on the budget if they agreed the Conservatives were being obstructionist.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper poured scorn on the alliance.

"When push comes to shove the Liberals will make any deal with anybody," Mr. Harper said after he was forced to rush back for a midnight vote. "And it doesn't matter whether it's with the socialists or with the separatists or any bunch of crooks they can find."

Though the Bloc stood with the Tories in the midnight budget balloting, the Liberals still mustered five more votes than the Tory-Bloc alignment; several Conservative MPs were absent.

The Liberals were taking a monumental gamble. A loss on the vote would force the Prime Minister to dissolve Parliament and call a summer election.

But Liberal strategists were confident they had caught the Conservatives unawares and decided to risk their government for a decisive victory.

"I hope they can count," Liberal MP Shawn Murphy said of Liberal strategists as MPs milled around before the vote.

The Tories, who had boldly predicted they could topple the Liberal government on the budget vote, were suddenly complaining they had members missing.

A few Conservatives were missing from their seats in an earlier vote Thursday evening. More could been seen racing back up Parliament Hill when news broke of the impending budget showdown.

They reacted with unfiltered rage.

Conservative deputy leader Peter MacKay described his foes as a menage a trois between separatists, socialists and power-hungry Liberals.

Liberals claims of making the minority Parliament work was "all just one big, fat stinking lie" and then went further, comparing the Liberals to one of Hollywood's most heinous homicidal cannibals.

"We have to start thinking that Hannibal Lecter is running the government and they'll do anything they have to do to win."

Liberals could barely contain their glee in response.

"Its not surprising that Hannibal Lecter should spring to mind for Mr. MacKay given the growing number of Conservatives who believe the party should soon eat its own leader," said Scott Reid, the Prime Minister's spokesman.

[newbie]

...The Tories, who had boldly predicted they could topple the Liberal government on the budget vote, were suddenly complaining they had members missing. A few Conservatives were missing from their seats in an earlier vote Thursday evening...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really wonder if the missing Tories were deliberately misplaced. Harper knows he'd lose a summer election.

[Netherlands]

They actually brought out Mr. Grewal for this vote, although he was supposed to be on stress leave. Let's see if he goes back into hiding after this.

[willy]

I think the members were genuinely out of the house for good reasons.

Two have cancer for instance. They don't have the numbers any more so it is really in poor taste to ask sick members to show up just to get defeated.

Really, killing debate this early was not fixing our democratic deficit but adding to it.

Martin has never really cared if democracy was served.

[Leader Circle]

Just another sad day in Canadian politics.

They talk about Harper doing anything to get in power, yet Martin's tactics are a much more obvious display of clinging to power.

Democracy is out the window, it about power now & Martin has it. Only Ontario has the power to take it away. Lets hope they do in January.

[August1991]

For people who pay little attention to politics, they will merely note that the Liberals seem to get what they want and the Tories appear to be amateurs. They will see the Tories as Charlie Brown to the Liberals Lucy, or the Tories as Wile Coyote to the Liberals Road Runner.

I'm a little surprised that after all that has happened, Harper isn't a little more cutthroat when it comes to Parliamentary divisions.

Anyway, the game isn't over until the fat lady sings.

[Newfie Canadian]

Depends on the game August.

The only thing that surprised me about all this was the belly-aching by the CPC after the vote, accusing the Liberals of making a deal with separatists to get it done, while only a few short weeks ago they were pretty much trying to do the same thing.

I'm a little surprised that after all that has happened, Harper isn't a little more cutthroat when it comes to Parliamentary divisions.

To me, this is a further indication that Harper needs to shake up his inner circle of advisors and his staff. In Harper's defence, it does appear that this time allocation motion is rarely used, but you would think that someone in Harper's staff would know about it.

On a side note, the motion to extend parliament's sitting passed, meaning the SSM vote will come up soon (next week I believe), and the way it looks now, it will be another disaster for the CPC.

[Canuck E Stan]

"The Liberals had forged a deal with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois to get the motion carried."-CBC

Amazing how the media,the Liberals and the NDP, made the Conservatives the bad guys but a month ago for the same thing,but it's ok for the Libs to do it. What happened to "for the sake of national unity"? Go figure.

[Argus]

"The Liberals had forged a deal with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois to get the motion carried."-CBC

Amazing how the media,the Liberals and the NDP, made the Conservatives the bad guys but a month ago for the same thing,but it's ok for the Libs to do it. What happened to "for the sake of national unity"? Go figure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, but when the Liberals do deals with the BQ to get their support on a vote that's just canny politics. When the Tories simply vote the same way as the BQ it's a threat to national unity and a demonstration of their desire to destroy the country. That's the "unbiased" media in Canada.

Further, the left wingers on this site who were taking the exact same position - that the Tories were league with seperatists - will have absolutely no problem with the Liberals and NDP getting together with the BQ.

[Canuck E Stan]

...And how many times in all the threads did the Liberal posters smack the Tories on their "joining" with the Bloc without consideration to "national unity." Yes, now joining with the Bloc will most likely be called a sacrifice for "national unity". But only if you are a Liberal. Ah,what a wonderful democratic deficient country we live in. Chretin's legacy was Paul Martin. Paul"Let's Make A Deal" Martin's legacy will be retaining power at any cost.

[Guest eureka]

It is a rarely used procedure but tthat does not mean it should not be used. This seems to be an ocassion where its use was necessary.

The Tories can hardly claim to be surprised or to not be aware of the possibility. Mike Harris in Ontario, used this and closure, more in his first period in office alone than the total uses in Canadian history. There was some negative press and some comment from people loke me who value democracy. Yet there was no public outcry or media storm.

Why for this when it was justifiable in the interests of democratic process.

[Canuck E Stan]

"Why for this when it was justifiable in the interests of democratic process."

Justify the sleazy late night hop into bed with the the Bloc deal by calling it "in the interest of democratic process"

I knew you Libs would find a good reason for doing it with the Bloc. How much did they charge?

[Riverwind]

Ah, but when the Liberals do deals with the BQ to get their support on a vote that's just canny politics. When the Tories simply vote the same way as the BQ it's a threat to national unity and a demonstration of their desire to destroy the country. That's the "unbiased" media in Canada.

Further, the left wingers on this site who were taking the exact same position - that the Tories were league with seperatists - will have absolutely no problem with the Liberals and NDP getting together with the BQ.

You are comparing apples to oranges. The PC tried to do a deal with the BQ that would have forced an election that would have likely given the BQ a near sweep of Quebec ridings. It would have also given the BQ an even bigger financial advantage in future elections because of the new party funding rules.

The deal the Liberals did was to simply to get a budget bill passed that had already passed in the commons on May 19th in return for a promise to pass the SSM bill this summer.

[Canuck E Stan]

You guys are good at this "deal making"but all in your own mind. Keep jusifying the sneaky deals, like all the deals the Libs make.

[daniel]

Harper should be blasting his MPs for being a bunch of lazy $@*# leaving early instead of staying at work late and working hard like the socialists did in the House.

[Technocrat]

lol a hard working socialist... Im left leaning and this even made me laugh

I think it was a sneaky move... but then again... politics is a sneaky and sometimes dirty game. Harpers and his inner circle keep on dropping the ball on so many opportunities to score political points and bring the public on side.

When push comes to shove the Liberals push but Harper and the CPC seem to trip over themselves and end up with mud on their face.

One thing that would make me have more confidence in Harper is showing that he can accept a political defeat without going on some childish rant about the liberals and their brutish ways. Accepting defeat with a little grace would help his image a great deal.

/2cents

[stubblejumper]

It's a minority government this how you have to govern to get things passed.

If you think this is bad try following US politics with its horse trading for votes.

The government has teamed up with all members on at least one piece of legistlation.

The Cons were outmanuevered at out played politically.

But who wants somethings like poltics in poltics.

[Canuck E Stan]

Try saying "Senate" and see if maybe we could then more democratic in our one horse political system

[Leader Circle]

Here is another way to look at last nights vote. Maybe, just maybe, this was a plan by the Conservatives. After all, the last few months has had the Conservatives pulling out almost every stop to get the minority gov't to fall. They know lots of tricks and parlimentary procedures.

1. They renew the threat to topple the gov't on the NDP budget very publicly.

2. They screw around in the house of commons using every delay tactic they can find to slow the NDP budget vote, knowing full well the Libs are trying to get it to a vote.

3. They make a deal with the Libs to allow the budget to go through to stall C-38.

Libs take so much flack for attempting to stall the bill, then go back on their deal and upset the Cons(or so it would seem).

4.The possible budget deal pisses of the BQ, they in turn make a deal with the Libs to extent the sitting of the HOC, just to get C-38 through.

5.Snap vote is called, many Cons are on their way home, some are just unavailable(2 with cancer treatment). They would have needed all MP's if ever to outnumber the Lib/NDP coalition and bring them down on a budget vote. Kilgour & O'brien are wildcards, who knows how they will vote?

And to top it all off....

6. The run to the media, pissed as hell screaming trickery and sneakness, concede defeat on both the budget & ssm and vow to fix all of this if they are voted in. (Nice little campaign strategy)

They are so low in the polls right now & cannot afford an election, because the NDP may just make the official opposition if a vote was called today!!

Lastly, all they need to do is wait until Nov when Gomery starts to point fingers and jump on board, renewing Canadians hatred for wasted money. The Cons then just spam the tv & radio with big promises of change & reform and they should make a nice climb in the polls for a January election!!!

Could be?

[newbie]

You guys are good at this "deal making"but all in your own mind. Keep jusifying the sneaky deals, like all the deals the Libs make.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Remember Brian Mulroney? The stacked senate to pass GST, free trade, and the "roll the dice" night for the Meech Lake Accord. No party is immune from "deal making." This is politics after all folks.

[PocketRocket]

Regardless of what the so-called "biased" media, or this so-called "biased" website may say, for Harper to come out say.....

"When push comes to shove the Liberals will make any deal with anybody," Mr. Harper said after he was forced to rush back for a midnight vote. "And it doesn't matter whether it's with the socialists or with the separatists or any bunch of crooks they can find."

...is a joke, and the height of hypocrisy, considering his own deal-making with the BQ in attempting to overturn the government.

Harper is simply too damned eager, and too blind to see that now is not his time.

If he doesn't have the patience to wait another 6 or 8 month for an election, time he badly needs to sway public opinion in his favor, then how "impatient" would he be as PM, and what rash moves would he make in that position, were he to attain it???

He acts like a spoiled kid.

If just once, he were to admit defeat and accept it gracefully, I would hold him in a bit higher regard. He could easily have said "Well, Martin caught us with our pants down. That will not happen again", which pretty accurately describes the situation. But no, he has to take a shot at Martin, and one which is hypocritical, which simply demeans his own credibility further.

Every time I hear him bitch and moan about something, I like him less.

Which is really too bad, because I think it's time for a change of government, but I will not vote Conservative as long as Harper is leader.

[The Terrible Sweal]

Democracy is out the window, ...

You tories sure hace a funny idea of democracy. A majority of elected parliamentarians express their views through the known rules of parliamentary process, and somehow tha is an affront to democracy!?!?

Heads up, Harperco! YOU are the minority.

[daniel]

lol a hard working socialist...  Im left leaning and this even made me laugh ...

That was tongue-in-cheek. But you can't ignore the fact the Layton's socialists (as well as the Liberals and Bloc) were prepared for an all-nighter as well as extend Parliament into the summer.

The fiscally responsible hard working types? They were waiting for their busses to go home.

[Argus]

"When push comes to shove the Liberals will make any deal with anybody," Mr. Harper said after he was forced to rush back for a midnight vote. "And it doesn't matter whether it's with the socialists or with the separatists or any bunch of crooks they can find."

...is a joke, and the height of hypocrisy, considering his own deal-making with the BQ in attempting to overturn the government.

Soooo, if I vote "no" on a question of whether or not I want all Jews burned in ovens, and the BQ also votes "no", then we're, like, colluding somehow and doing a deal, right?

Don't you think it's possible that since both parties, for their own reasons, wanted to kick out the government they simply voted that way without some kind of 'deal"?