The four parties in the House of Commons are nearing a deal to fast track the government's new employment-insurance legislation and put it to its first vote as early as Friday.
Government House Leader Jay Hill invited his Liberal, NDP and Bloc Québécois counterparts to a closed door meeting just after noon to discuss the government bill, which was officially introduced in the House of Commons Wednesday afternoon.
The Liberals announced Thursday morning that they are offering to pass the bill quickly, in the hope of taking away the NDP's stated reason for keeping the Conservatives in office for the short term.
“We don't want to give Mr. Layton any alibis,” Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said.
Politics is a bloodsport, so people should be cautious with their reaction, given PAST history. Besides, this is shrewd politically, a bit of a master stroke if you will. Not only do we further expose the NDP, but the Liberals take away this EI issue, should we go to an election. It's a classic squeeze play, and the final end product will be an even more embarrassing statement, should the NDP vote confidence AGAIN on the next occasion. Rather than using this paltry EI nonsense as validation, people are left scrambling with new rationalizations. Meanwhile, the Liberals project strength and resolve, no sense whatsoever that we fear an election- an interesting posture, given the recent trends.
Make em squirm, and don't let up. "Do unto others as they have repeatedly done unto you".
25 comments:
Does this mean the Liberals have confidence in the Government again specifically on the EI Bill?
What about the Home Reno Credit?
CanadianSense: The LPCers have to vote for the EI bill. Heck they couldn't go into an election having voted against EI improvements. Home Reno is another, though they "promise" to do the right thing and pass it after an election.
As to what comes around goes around. Latest poll shows NDP going up and Libs down.
On a related note, anyone else here noticed the Reformatories seemed to be nicer over the past few days to the NDP for supporting Harper's EI changes, while trashing the Grits of course for not supporting it (initially). Not so much the MPs (although I noted a changed tone with some of them also) but with the Flogging Bories and the various ConBots posting their deranged commentaries on the various news sites. They realize the dynamic has shifted with us now harpooning the Dippers off the left flank, and thus lowering the vote-splitting effect that keeps Harper in power.
Ignatieff just made the right move again, and I agree 100% on your squeeze play analysis. This will all help lower the NDP's numbers even more, with the added bonus of any resulting CPC 'niceness' towards the Dippers being turned on Harper to show he's got his own coalition with socialists happening now.
"As to what comes around goes around. Latest poll shows NDP going up and Libs down."
Whatever gets you through the day I suppose.
The Liberals don't "have" to do anything, that's the point.
Oops, seems some of them are here too - supporting the NDP even. Oh how predictable, yawn.
Speaking of boring...
Nope CanadianSense; read the news articles We Liberals are just helping the NDP out by removing their reason a lot more quickly for supporting the Conservative government. They now will have no reason (or not this reason anyhow) to support the government - until they find the next excuse not to.
...and does anyone outside of the bubble care?
Does this mean the Liberals have confidence in the Government again specifically on the EI Bill?
The EI bill isn't a confidence bill.
The ways and means motion is, and we'll be voting against it. And our opposition motion at the end of the month will be to, and we'll be using it to vote non-confidence in the government.
We're offering to get this EI bill, the reason why the NDP said they must prop the government up, out of the way before that confidence motion so they're welcome to either vote for or against confidence in Harper, safe in the knowledge EI has passed.
Dear EI Recipient;
While the New Democratic Party of Canada is working hard to try and improve Employment insurance provisions for you from the Harper government, I would like you to take a moment and read what LIBERALS actually think about your plight.
In a Liberal blog called 'Far and Wide' you will read the following Liberal Party interpretation of your unfortunate circumstances:
"Not only do we further expose the NDP, but the Liberals take away this EI issue, should we go to an election. It's a classic squeeze play, and the final end product will be an even more embarrassing statement, should the NDP vote confidence AGAIN on the next occasion. Rather than using this paltry EI nonsense as validation, people are left scrambling with new rationalizations. Meanwhile, the Liberals project strength and resolve, no sense whatsoever that we fear an election- an interesting posture, given the recent trends."
In short, the Liberal Party of Canada does not give a hoot about the situation of Canadians who have lost their jobs and livelihood during this recession. All they care about, is trying to play political games for their own political benefit.
Yours sincerely
LD
LD
Do you actually believe that tripe, or is this "face" rhetoric? Stop embarrassing yourself.
BTW, this EI "reform" was first floated by the government after the Libs walked out, it was never a concession to curry NDP favor. It was always a way to wedge the Libs and take EI off the table. Get your chronology straight. So in essence, this reform was extracted as a reaction to the Libs, just like the extended benefits in the budget was.
Oh leftdog, so sad you wish to level this down to the opposition parties fighting over Harper's EI scraps. Harper is only giving you what he himself promised to do back in the early spring, and its nothing close to what the NDP was demanding up until Ignatieff's Sudbury declaration. You can quit your pitiful 'holier than thou' act - you fearless Leader has already proved the NDP plays politics just like everyone else.
leftdog:
While I am pleased that the EI changes proposed will pass I also believe that supporting people who are under-employed is a bigger issue. The CPC had an opportunity with the working committee on EI reform to demonstrate how this could function, in fact they promised that they would work with both the NDP and the LPC to do this. They chose to walk away from that agreement. The changes which are being proposed now should have been enacted BEFORE the summer recess. In fact, the CPC allowed people who were not working to flounder ALL summer without promising anything...nor even committing to care about it.
We need a government who takes these issues seriously and the CPC do not. In fact, they take a very American approach to these issues, only the strong will survive.
We need to get people back to work, restore their dignity and in doing so, generate economic growth. The CPC seems more interested in guarding icebergs than generating sustainable employment.
Does anyone seriously believe that Harper would be giving on anything if Iggy hadn't rebooted the whole situation with his brilliant escape from Harperville?
the CPC loves me yes they do, just like the constitution tells them too
Just curious if there is ANYONE in Canada, beside NDP apologists that actually buy any of the spin to date? I mean, seriously, I honestly can't remember the last time I've read such unanimity, and yet all the dippers are just pumping out this embarassing crap that makes them look ridiculous. Just say no.
I hear Goodale talking about the Home Reno and he says a Ways and Means motion is usually used when putting taxes up..they do not need one, for this, he said.
He's right, it's all a political ruse.
Meanwhile the BQ are the ones who are apparently stalling the EI bill. Maybe those theories are correct that the BQ doesn't want an election just yet. There are municipal elections in Quebec in early November and Louise Harel formerly a PQ bigwig is running for mayor of Montreal. Duceppe may want to avoid the distraction of a federal election and have his troops concentrate on the municipal stuff.
To paraphrase a song from THE PRODUCERS:
"Spring time for elections in Canada,
No time for Dippers nor Blocks!"
OH, & just so you know; I have been asked to, & have canvased in EVERY Ontario Provincial By-Election in, well, I've forgotten how many years. I didn't get a call for the By-Election in St Pauls. So I called a pal @ Queens Park to ask should I be miffed or should I sleep well about this By-election... seems that "Sleep Well advice" was correct.
If the Media got that one wrong, makes me wonder if the polls showing the Reform-a-tories ahead of the Grits may also be somewhat, shall we say OVERSTATED?
Just curious if there is ANYONE in Canada, beside NDP apologists that actually buy any of the spin to date? I mean, seriously, I honestly can't remember the last time I've read such unanimity, and yet all the dippers are just pumping out this embarassing crap that makes them look ridiculous.
We really won't know for a while, but based on the very sketchy poll evidence, people are either believing it or choosing to believe it. It looks to me like Canadians really, really, don't want an election this fall (which I think is a bad attitude, civics-wise ) and they are rewarding ( or a least not punishing) parties that are advocating no election. So whether they believe NDP spin or not, it doesn't seem to matter.
Oh Greg. It wasn't a poll question. People don't want an election, that may well help. That has nothing to do with the true intent. Do you buy the NDP 180 degree Greg or is it politcally motivated? You're so silly.
"It wasn't a poll question"
No, not specifically, that's why I said it is sketchy at best. I believe that it is mostly politics, but if they do manage to get good policy passed(that is a big if and I remain to be convinced) then I won't be too bothered.
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