Opposition demands Harper reverse climate, Afghanistan policies

[Leafless]

Opposition leaders delivered an ultimatum to Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday, demanding he reverse course on his climate change policies and Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan or risk a fall election.

So the pansy opposition parties are threatening to bring down the Conservative government because:

(a) Climate change: And how 33-million Canadians are going to save the world.

( Combat mission in Afghanistan: Got to pay the price of FREEDOM boys and girls, it don't come cheap.

Are these real opposition parties or dinosaurs left over from the Trudeau era.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...fe-7e9502cad373

[maldon_road]

Opposition leaders delivered an ultimatum to Prime Minister Stephen Harper yesterday, demanding he reverse course on his climate change policies and Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan or risk a fall election.

The electorate is restless. You can tell that from the polls with both the Libs and Cons going up and down depending on which poll you read. No party could tell what the outcome of an election would be should the Oppos pull down the government.

Since the Opposition is all pro-Kyoto they could defeat the government on that anytime. They have already had a vote on Afghanistan - that a commitment be made now to pull out the troops in 2009. The NDP voted with the Cons so that shows you how keen they are to have an election.

Right now I just see posturing. The atmosphere in the House was poisonous last Spring and I don't think it will be any better this Fall. But I don't see the government falling. I don't think any of the opposition parties can see any gains to made in forcing an election.

[M.Dancer]

I gotta tell you, Kyoto does nothing for me. Not that I don't believe global warming is serious or that humanity has contributed to it. I just think as an election issue it's a snoozer.

And I will tell you why.

Between the Conservatives who don't want Kyoto and the Liberals who say they do but do nothing to achieve it, why should I be concerned one way or another with either parties platform on the subject? The closest the Liberals have come to a Kyoto commitment is ensuring Dion's dog gets regular walk and the Conservative with the luke warm approach are no worse.

So wake me up when they get to issues and policies they are serious about, this one is leaves me cold.

[scribblet]

They are demanding that Harper reverses the climate - dang - can he reverse winter into summer ?

[Topaz]

So ALL you Harper supporters, how is fighting in Afghanistan, fighting for OUR freedom? When was the last time the Taliban attacked or threatened Canada. I would think the US and Russia are more of a threat to our freedoms than the Taiban. Perhaps, the US is keeping our military busy overseas while they press the point about the N.W. Passage, they know we don't have much of a military but do we have enough here to have some protection????

[Leafless]

So ALL you Harper supporters, how is fighting in Afghanistan, fighting for OUR freedom?

Bottom line IMO, is the self-preservation of our national interest coupled our 'four freedoms', freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear and freedom from want.

It appears your own national interest are anothers national interest or you would not be asking this question.

[capricorn]

I truly hope the environment and/or the Afghanistan issues cause an election. Given that this minority government has outlasted all other previous such governments the Canadian public is primed to expect a federal election shortly, possibly early winter. Mind you, the joke would be on all parties if another Conservative minority were to be elected. At least it would send the message to our politicians that Canadians are satisfied with the status quo.

IMO this message would be "don't make any drastic changes to the existing government programs, we like things as they are". And that also would include "be careful how you dispense of that humongous surprise surplus 'cause we're watching".

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/BreakingNews...24/4443784.html

To my liberal friends I would say that although the Liberal Party of Canada is nipping at the heels of the Conservative Party in the polls, on the whole, Canadians are not ready to return the Liberals to power. IMHO, of course.

[kimmy]

So ALL you Harper supporters, how is fighting in Afghanistan, fighting for OUR freedom? When was the last time the Taliban attacked or threatened Canada. I would think the US and Russia are more of a threat to our freedoms than the Taiban. Perhaps, the US is keeping our military busy overseas while they press the point about the N.W. Passage, they know we don't have much of a military but do we have enough here to have some protection????

Strengthening our claim to sovereignty over the northwest passage isn't about preserving our freedom (whose freedom is affected by the northwest passage? That region is unpopulated, or very nearly so. Strengthening our claim to sovereignty over the northwest passage has more to do with economics and the environment that it does with security.

The mission in Afghanistan is no longer about defending our freedom either, it is about honoring commitments. Having curb-stomped the vile and worthless regime that ran that place prior to its invasion, us and our allies have taken on a duty to help maintain law and order for the populace at large until they are able to fulfill that fundamental need on their own.

-k

[margrace]

So ALL you Harper supporters, how is fighting in Afghanistan, fighting for OUR freedom? When was the last time the Taliban attacked or threatened Canada. I would think the US and Russia are more of a threat to our freedoms than the Taiban. Perhaps, the US is keeping our military busy overseas while they press the point about the N.W. Passage, they know we don't have much of a military but do we have enough here to have some protection????

Exactly my thougts, Bush got the American public attention elsewhere and took away a lot of their freedoms at home, now he is here talking about everything except our claims to the Northwest passage. As I said on another forum, if we interchanged Bush and Harper with two Talaban leaders we would have the same result. The no more believe in Democracy than than the people they supposedly are fighting. Just try standing up for your democratic rights and find out.

[margrace]

Strengthening our claim to sovereignty over the northwest passage isn't about preserving our freedom (whose freedom is affected by the northwest passage? That region is unpopulated, or very nearly so. Strengthening our claim to sovereignty over the northwest passage has more to do with economics and the environment that it does with security.

The mission in Afghanistan is no longer about defending our freedom either, it is about honoring commitments. Having curb-stomped the vile and worthless regime that ran that place prior to its invasion, us and our allies have taken on a duty to help maintain law and order for the populace at large until they are able to fulfill that fundamental need on their own.

-k

If the US and Canada are losing our own freedoms how can we help others. Maintaining Law and order here has beocome a joke.

[Leafless]

If the US and Canada are losing our own freedoms how can we help others. Maintaining Law and order here has beocome a joke.

Would you consider the liberalization of Canada including the Charter, prime ingredients as to why maintaining law and order in Canada, is so problematic?

[Leafless]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper must end his "irresponsible ambiguity" about whether Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan will end as scheduled in 2009, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said Thursday.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...22b&k=45526

Looks like Dion is still playing the Afghanistan attack dog.

Does Dion not know once in while Canada is compelled to help the U.S. as an ally.

The U.S. has 80 treaty level defense agreements with Canada.

Why is Mr. Dion behaving in such an incompetent fashion in a time of 'war on terrorism'.

[jennie]

Would you consider the liberalization of Canada including the Charter, prime ingredients as to why maintaining law and order in Canada, is so problematic?

How so?

[bush_cheney2004]

So ALL you Harper supporters, how is fighting in Afghanistan, fighting for OUR freedom? When was the last time the Taliban attacked or threatened Canada. I would think the US and Russia are more of a threat to our freedoms than the Taiban. Perhaps, the US is keeping our military busy overseas while they press the point about the N.W. Passage, they know we don't have much of a military but do we have enough here to have some protection????

I agree.....Canada should attack Russia and the United States at once. Show 'em whose boss up north!

[old_bold&cold]

I actually wish that the opposition does bring down the government this fall. It would be the perfect time for the CP's to get a majority or close to it. If the opposition are so stupid to do this, polls will soon jump in CP's favour. Hell Dion can not even get a rise out of the peoplewhen he tries to scare them, let alone do so in an election. He is definitely not leader material and he would only lose support by being brought to the public light of an election.

NDP can not even hold what they have if they agree to an election, and the greens well..... they are green what can I say. The BQ risk some ground in Quebec maybe, but it will all be tight races there.

So let them drop the writ and lets have an election.

[Wilber]

As I said on another forum, if we interchanged Bush and Harper with two Talaban leaders we would have the same result.

Interesting take from a woman, considering that under the Taliban she would have no access to any forum and would quite possibly forfeit her life for speaking her mind in public.

[Leafless]

So let them drop the writ and lets have an election.

I agree, dissolve parliament, and call an election, sooner the better.