Tag: 2008 coalition crisis
More cracks in the coalition?
GuelphMercury.com
OTTAWA — Frank Valeriote does not favour a coalition government and instead hopes Prime Minister Stephen Harper can work toward rescuing the Canadian economy.
“I believe in working toward a solution, not working toward a coalition,” Guelph’s Liberal MP said Wednesday.
Valeriote added he does not believe a Liberal-NDP coalition, with support from the Bloc Quebecois, will unseat the Tories.
“I have given no thought to that,” Valeriote said when asked whether he saw himself in a cabinet role under such an arrangement. “I am not, frankly, anticipating moving into government.”
Liveblogging the PM’s address
6:59pm: PM’s address on Global delivered via Youtube!
7:00pm: Canadians selected the Conservatives on October 14th to bring Canada through the economic crisis
7:00pm: First points past intro are details of the Conservative economic measures.
7:01pm: January 27th will be a budget. Additional measures there.
7:01pm: “We are consulting with the opposition [on the economy]”
7:02pm: “Instead of a new budget, they propose a coalition that includes a party that wants to break up the country.”
7:03pm: “This is a pivotal moment in our history”
7:04pm: “will use all legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy”
7:06pm: Media coverage: Bob Fife of CTV speculates that if the GG turns down the PM’s request to prorogue, the PM may resign creating urgency for the GG to appoint a new PM.
7:07pm: Craig Oliver upset there was no contrition in the PM’s speech.
7:15pm: Fife suggests Conservatives are actively trying to poach Liberal MPs or have them miss the confidence vote on Monday.
7:16pm: Peter Donolo slamming the PM on CTV. CTV presents Donolo as a pollster instead of Jean Chretien’s former Director of Communications.
7:17pm: Fife complains that Dion’s hasn’t presented a tape to CTV yet. Lloyd complains that network time is expensive. They presumed that they’d be back to prime time television by now. Fife reveals that Layton wanted equal time as part of the coalition.
7:25pm: CBC says that Dion’s tape delay shows poor communications by the Liberals. Maybe Dion didn’t understand his own speech.
7:26pm: Liberal tape has a poor start.
7:27pm: Jeffrey Simpson’s global warming book on Dion’s bookshelf.
7:28pm: Dion mentions the Bloc and the Green party will support the Liberals (on issues of confidence – what?)
7:28pm: Dion: Consensus is a great Canadian value
7:29pm: “Rivals are working together elsewhere in the world. Why not here?”
7:29pm: Dion messaging against possible prorogation.
7:30pm: Dion outlining a potential economic platform.
7:31pm: Dion moves past allotted network time.
7:32pm: Dion describes his letter to the GG. Outlined his suggestion to her not to prorogue. “If [Harper] is to suspend parliament, he must face a vote of confidence.”
7:32pm: Dion says he’ll work day and night on the economic crisis.
Here’s Prime Minister Harper’s speech