Canpol: Election Imminent?

[KrazyHorse]

I'd say that she's probably pretty secure.

[notyoueither]

I'm hoping not, but hope springs eternal, if often forlorn, when you sit where I do.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Hmm, it seems as though one of the independent MPs is lleaning towards toppling the government, the one that is the Ex-Liberal. Martin might not be out of the woods yet it seems.

Conservatives have announced that they are going to support the Budget now. Except that they might vote against the NDP amendment. Eh.

What do you guys think the chance are if there is an election that Stronach could be defeated by a Conservative in her riding?

Insignificant. Last time, she won by a very narrow margin in a traditionally Liberal riding as a Conservative star candidate. There are no Conservatives around who could out-star Belinda, and the new budget has lots of plums for her riding. She'll be easily re-elected.

[notyoueither]

Busted!?

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1116459430183_5/?hub=TopStories

Liberals offered job to sway vote: Tory alleges
CTV.ca News Staff

Less than 24 hours before the hotly-contested federal budget test, a Conservative MP says he's been offered plum patronage posts in exchange for sitting out the vote.

At a hastily-convened scrum on Parliament Hill Wednesday evening, British Columbia MP Gurmant Grewal said he's been made such offers before, but this time is different.

"Last time when I was made an offer, I didn't have any evidence," he said, insisting that this time he has an audio recording of the offer from Liberal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh and the prime minister's chief of staff, Tim Murphy.

"I was approached early this week by Ujjal Dosanjh and asked to abstain or vote with the government on the budget vote,'' Grewal explained.

"In exchange, I was given an understanding that I would be rewarded in some fashion.''

The offer was made not only to him, Grewal added, but also to his wife Nina Grewal, who is also a Conservative MP.

Three or four other MPs were said to be the target of similar negotiations, Grewal added.

"At no time did I have any intention of accepting these offers," he said. "I entered these discussions to determine the level to which the Liberal party and Paul Martin were willing to sink to save their government."

Despite the three-time MP's insistence, reaction from the Liberals was swift and unequivocal.

"This is not what happened,'' Martin's director of communications Scott Reid told The Canadian Press.

"(Grewal) asked for a post and was told no.''

Grewal's allegation comes the day after Ontario MP Belinda Stronach left the Conservative benches to sit with the Liberals.

Both Stronach and the Liberals have since denied suggestions she, or any other MPs, are being lured across the floor with promises patronage appointments.

With files from The Canadian Press

Mike Duffy just played a tape. I just caught the end of the segment.

[Fake Boris]

I'd hit Belinda, she's not that bad for a Blokess.

[Ben Kenobi]

Insignificant. Last time, she won by a very narrow margin in a traditionally Liberal riding as a Conservative star candidate. There are no Conservatives around who could out-star Belinda, and the new budget has lots of plums for her riding. She'll be easily re-elected.

First of all, there will be no other liberals. There will just be her.

Secondly, she will attract top notch talent to run against her, just because of her status.

All those who did vote for her because she is a Conservative, now have to decide whether they can trust her as a Liberal, or whether they will turf her out.

[Fake Boris]

Deluded as usual, there's no way she's not getting elected.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi


First of all, there will be no other liberals. There will just be her.

Secondly, she will attract top notch talent to run against her, just because of her status.

All those who did vote for her because she is a Conservative, now have to decide whether they can trust her as a Liberal, or whether they will turf her out.

So?
Probably quite a few of the people who voted for her before will vote against her but all those liberals who voted against her before don't have much of a choice but to vote for her now. Its not even going to be close.

[Ben Kenobi]

why not vote for the NDP?

[St Leo]

Harper scolding may have pushed Stronach to act

CTV.ca News Staff

More details are emerging this morning about the events leading up to Belinda Stronach's dramatic jump from the Conservatives to the Liberals -- a decision she said was very, very difficult.

In what was likely the best kept secret in Ottawa, Stronach, now the Minister of Human Resources, defected to the Liberal Party yesterday, just days ahead of a crucial vote that could bring down the government.

In an interview with CTV's Canada AM today, Stronach reiterated her reason for leaving.

"I do not believe it is right to line up with the Bloc Quebecois, who have a separatist agenda, to bring down the government to force an election," she said.

"I don't believe that's in our national interests and it compromises national unity."

While she is eager to talk about keeping the country together, a report in The Globe and Mail Wednesday suggests her relationship with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper caused an irreversible rift.

A few weeks ago, Stronach was summoned by Harper to his Rockcliffe mansion over comments she had made to The Globe warning against defeating the budget, which would kill money for infrastructure to her Ontario riding of Newmarket-Aurora.

A Tory insider told the newspaper that Stronach was reportedly told she was being frozen out of appearances in election ads.

A report in the Toronto Star suggests the meeting between the two ended in a shouting match, with Harper telling her she would never be the leader of the party.

Stronach told CTV that shouting is not her style. But she said she had begun feeling uncomfortable with the direction the party was going, in terms of urban issues, and social issues, such as a youth wing.

"I respect the fact he is the leader, and he has the right to lead the party. But I'm going to express when I have some concerns about some of the fundamental issues affecting the nation," she said.

She said she was so upset that she considered leaving politics altogether. When she discussed her concerns with former Ontario Liberal premier David Peterson at a black-tie dinner last Thursday, he suggested there may be another way she could serve.

"It was a very, very difficult decision to leave the party.

"I was involved in putting the two parties together, but I didn't get involved in putting the two parties together so we could break up the country," she said, referring to the merger between the Tories and the Canadian Alliance.

The decision to leave the Conservatives has caused some hurt feelings. Reaction in her riding of Newmarket-Aurora was mixed, but Stronach defended her move.

"When I campaigned I said I would be a strong voice for Newmarket-Aurora and that I would always stand up for what I believe is in the best interests of Canada," Stronach said.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
why not vote for the NDP?

Because you are predicting that she will lose. Sorry Ben, you're a really nice guy but as far as predicting election results your track record is pretty appalling.

[Ben Kenobi]

oh I think she will lose.

And I'll take an avatar bet with you on that.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
oh I think she will lose.

And I'll take an avatar bet with you on that.

Sure.

[notyoueither]

No one seems to care that Martin is making Luther's Popes look like they could learn a lesson or two about venality.

Sigh.

[Tingkai]

Politicians are making political deals? How scandalous! Stop the presses!