Liberals blink on Tory election threat

[scribblet]

Gee, this is getting very interesting. Harper seems to be a pretty good strategist.

The NDP have a nerve calling for a minister's resignation because she isn't falling into lockstep with their platform. Good for Harper on this one.

www.torontostar.com

Liberals blink on Tory election threat

Jun. 21, 2006. 03:04 PM

CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The Tories won the latest game of political brinksmanship Wednesday as the Liberals refused to support an NDP motion calling for the resignation of Environment Minister Rona Ambrose.

If the motion had passed, it would have gone to a vote in the House of Commons next fall and possibly triggered an election.

Liberals on the Commons environment committee said they'd abstain from voting on the motion calling for the resignation of Environment Minister Rona Ambrose.

The NDP motion castigated Ambrose for failing to defend the Kyoto Protocol, and for failing to defend the environment generally.

The motion seemed to have a good chance of passing, since the Conservatives are in a minority on the committee.

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper raised the stakes Tuesday, saying he would consider the motion a matter of confidence, meaning that its passage would have toppled the government.

[geoffrey]

Ethics, scandals, ect.. these are reasons for resignation. We all knew that Ambrose was likely to get Environment, we elected her. The CPC made their platform crystal clear. What the heck does the NDP expect?

[scribblet]

Ethics, scandals, ect.. these are reasons for resignation. We all knew that Ambrose was likely to get Environment, we elected her. The CPC made their platform crystal clear. What the heck does the NDP expect?

Thats what I was wondering also, but surely they wouldn't want an election right now. Obviously Layton thinks he can call the shots as to who Harper puts in cabinet, but it won't work. I have to admit I admire Harper's call on this one.

[gc1765]

I have to agree with geoffrey on this one. Even if she's not doing a great job, that is no reason for her to resign, and I think that is why the liberals voted against the motion. As for the conservatives, they are playing political games. Either they want their government to fall so they can try for a majority (which would be completely inconsistent with their previous proposal to set fixed election dates), or they think they can use it as a threat since they know the liberals don't want an election. And the NDP just complains about everything, as you can see here.

[Guest Warwick Green]

I have to agree with geoffrey on this one. Even if she's not doing a great job, that is no reason for her to resign, and I think that is why the liberals voted against the motion. As for the conservatives, they are playing political games. Either they want their government to fall so they can try for a majority (which would be completely inconsistent with their previous proposal to set fixed election dates), or they think they can use it as a threat since they know the liberals don't want an election. And the NDP just complains about everything, as you can see here.

The Libs abstained. Their "official" comment - "We know she is incompetent. We just want to see how much more incompetent she can get"

[gc1765]

The Libs abstained.

You're right, my mistake.

[August1991]

I can't believe this.

Liberals and Conservatives joined forces Wednesday to block an NDP motion that threatened to trigger a fall election.

The motion, at the Commons environment committee, called for the resignation of Environment Minister Rona Ambrose.

If it had passed at committee, it would have gone to a vote in the House of Commons in the fall. And because the Conservatives declared it a confidence motion, it threatened to bring down the government.

Link

Rona Ambrose is a woman from Alberta, in a Tory government. She's young. Environment minister.

And the NDP are attacking her specifically and personally? To provoke an election?

The optics are very, very bad. Even the Liberals understand that. Gawd, are the Dippers politically clueless. I swear the Left should thank King and not Douglas for their success.