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Martin promises to push Liberal agenda through minority Parliament
Last Updated Mon, 04 Oct 2004 22:01:40 EDT
OTTAWA - Canada's first minority Parliament since 1979 opened Monday, a day before the Liberals set out their agenda in a policy-setting throne speech.
INDEPTH: Minority government
Opposition leaders Gilles Duceppe, Stephen Harper, and Jack Layton (CP file photo)
The Liberals won only 135 of the 308 seats in Parliament in the June 28 election, meaning they will have to rely on the Conservatives, New Democrats or Bloc Québécois to pass legislation.
Although the opposition parties have all indicated they don't want to go to the polls soon, the Conservatives have said they will make the provocative move of introducing amendments to the throne speech.
Tory Leader Stephen Harper, who complained that the Liberals didn't consult the opposition when they were drafting the throne speech, said the Conservatives will try to force a vote on the amendments his party introduces.
If the amendments are not accepted, Harper has warned his MPs may vote against the throne speech, which could trigger the collapse of the government if the NDP and Bloc Québécois follow suit.
Yet Harper said he is in no hurry for a quick election, instead accusing the Liberals of wanting to rush back to the polls.
"I think the government's strategy will be to have an election as soon as possible," Harper said. "Maybe not this fall, but I think the government wants an election."
On Friday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said a quick election is "very much dependent on the opposition parties.
"We've been very open with them, we've made it clear we want it to work. We're prepared to consult with them," Martin said. "We have our agenda. We were elected on our agenda and we intend to carry it through."
RELATED STORY: Milliken again Speaker of Parliament
Liberal House leader Tony Valeri, who has to try to keep peace between the four parties in order to keep his party in power without triggering an election, said there is a line the Liberals won't cross.
"If opposition parties were to come with proposals or initiatives that were completely in contrast to what the government is intending to do, then those are areas that we won't compromise on."
NDP Leader Jack Layton echoed Valeri's remarks, saying his party "will co-operate but we will not capitulate.
"What we've seen so far is minimal, absolute minimum communication between Mr. Martin and his ministers and the opposition parties whose support he's going to need to pass legislation," Layton said.
The last minority government, led by Progressive Conservative Joe Clark in 1979-80, lasted only nine months before it was brought down in a budget vote.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Last Updated Mon, 04 Oct 2004 22:01:40 EDT
OTTAWA - Canada's first minority Parliament since 1979 opened Monday, a day before the Liberals set out their agenda in a policy-setting throne speech.
INDEPTH: Minority government
Opposition leaders Gilles Duceppe, Stephen Harper, and Jack Layton (CP file photo)
The Liberals won only 135 of the 308 seats in Parliament in the June 28 election, meaning they will have to rely on the Conservatives, New Democrats or Bloc Québécois to pass legislation.
Although the opposition parties have all indicated they don't want to go to the polls soon, the Conservatives have said they will make the provocative move of introducing amendments to the throne speech.
Tory Leader Stephen Harper, who complained that the Liberals didn't consult the opposition when they were drafting the throne speech, said the Conservatives will try to force a vote on the amendments his party introduces.
If the amendments are not accepted, Harper has warned his MPs may vote against the throne speech, which could trigger the collapse of the government if the NDP and Bloc Québécois follow suit.
Yet Harper said he is in no hurry for a quick election, instead accusing the Liberals of wanting to rush back to the polls.
"I think the government's strategy will be to have an election as soon as possible," Harper said. "Maybe not this fall, but I think the government wants an election."
On Friday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said a quick election is "very much dependent on the opposition parties.
"We've been very open with them, we've made it clear we want it to work. We're prepared to consult with them," Martin said. "We have our agenda. We were elected on our agenda and we intend to carry it through."
RELATED STORY: Milliken again Speaker of Parliament
Liberal House leader Tony Valeri, who has to try to keep peace between the four parties in order to keep his party in power without triggering an election, said there is a line the Liberals won't cross.
"If opposition parties were to come with proposals or initiatives that were completely in contrast to what the government is intending to do, then those are areas that we won't compromise on."
NDP Leader Jack Layton echoed Valeri's remarks, saying his party "will co-operate but we will not capitulate.
"What we've seen so far is minimal, absolute minimum communication between Mr. Martin and his ministers and the opposition parties whose support he's going to need to pass legislation," Layton said.
The last minority government, led by Progressive Conservative Joe Clark in 1979-80, lasted only nine months before it was brought down in a budget vote.
Written by CBC News Online staff
Scuttlebutt is that the Tories want to push either the NDP or the BQ into supporting the Liberals. Preferably both, but the BQ are the real targets.
What I heard was that the Tories hope that the BQ want a crack at as much of the federal money per voter per annum as possible and so will hopefully side with the Liberals consistently whenever the Tories make waves on confidence issues.
If it works, it's brilliant. The next campaign is fought in Quebec by telling people there that the BQ is only a vote for yet more of the Liberals. While in the ROC the Liberals get tarred with sucking up to seperatists to stay in power. In both cases it is guilt by association.
Anyway, the thinking goes that the Tories can do nothing but gain by taking their role as Official Opposition seriously and pressing it. All of the Liberals, NDP, and BQ stand only to lose when it is made clear to Canadian voters that a Tory majority is the only way to actually change governments in Ottawa.
It's gonna be an interesting couple of years. I'm glad Harper stuck around.
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