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The Liberals' Worst Nightmare
A moderate, centrist NDP after a meltdown in Liberal support.
However, I don't think Layton is near that position yet, but if his gambit wins seats, and he moves to the centre (not just talks about it) the Liberals could have a tough road to rebuild.
A moderate, centrist NDP after a meltdown in Liberal support.
NDP will be Commons' voice of moderation: Layton
Updated Tue. Jan. 17 2006 12:24 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A minority Conservative government led by a tax-slashing Stephen Harper should be counterbalanced by the moderate and people-friendly NDP, leader Jack Layton told a crowd at the Toronto Board of Trade Tuesday morning.
Layton painted his party as one of the middle ground, saying New Democrats are far from the extremes of the Conservatives, who would eliminate social programs, and the Liberals, who are falling apart at the seams.
Layton also repeated his call, first made yesterday, for Liberal voters to just give him one chance, saying Liberal Leader Paul Martin needs a "time out" after years of unfulfilled election promises.
"The Martin Liberals said they would fix the democratic deficit and, instead, they run a tightly-centralized, patronage and command-controlled machine," Layton said.
"They said they would deliver a national child care program… They first said it in 1993, but they only began to deliver on it when they lost their majority. They said they would fix health care for a generation… and they have been saying that for five straight elections."
At the campaign stop, Layton said he would stand up for health care, the Kyoto Accord and same-sex marriage and would fight against Canadian involvement in American wars.
"We will not stand by and watch the positive advances of Canadians be undone," he said.
Members of the Board of Trade gave Layton a warm welcome and departure, including a standing ovation following his speech.
While the NDP has not traditionally been associated with Bay Street dealmakers, Layton's party has worked to present itself as a fiscally competent alternative to the Liberals and Conservatives.
Paul Summerville, former chief economist of the Royal Bank's investment arm, is running in downtown Toronto's St. Paul's riding, and was chosen to unveil the party's tax platform in December.
The NDP has a chance to gain more Toronto seats in Monday's election, where it currently holds only one of 23 -- Layton's own in Toronto-Danforth.
When asked to respond to Layton's warning shot, Harper said during a campaign stop in Quebec that he's prepared to work with any party in the next Parliament.
"If the people of Canada gave us a minority government, in a situation where we have to work with other parties, we'll work with other parties," he said Tuesday morning. "We'll stay faithful to the things we ask the people to give us a mandate on, and we'll seek to work with other parties on an issue by issue basis."
He added: "I think, frankly, there'll be pressure on all parties to make Parliament successful."
Updated Tue. Jan. 17 2006 12:24 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A minority Conservative government led by a tax-slashing Stephen Harper should be counterbalanced by the moderate and people-friendly NDP, leader Jack Layton told a crowd at the Toronto Board of Trade Tuesday morning.
Layton painted his party as one of the middle ground, saying New Democrats are far from the extremes of the Conservatives, who would eliminate social programs, and the Liberals, who are falling apart at the seams.
Layton also repeated his call, first made yesterday, for Liberal voters to just give him one chance, saying Liberal Leader Paul Martin needs a "time out" after years of unfulfilled election promises.
"The Martin Liberals said they would fix the democratic deficit and, instead, they run a tightly-centralized, patronage and command-controlled machine," Layton said.
"They said they would deliver a national child care program… They first said it in 1993, but they only began to deliver on it when they lost their majority. They said they would fix health care for a generation… and they have been saying that for five straight elections."
At the campaign stop, Layton said he would stand up for health care, the Kyoto Accord and same-sex marriage and would fight against Canadian involvement in American wars.
"We will not stand by and watch the positive advances of Canadians be undone," he said.
Members of the Board of Trade gave Layton a warm welcome and departure, including a standing ovation following his speech.
While the NDP has not traditionally been associated with Bay Street dealmakers, Layton's party has worked to present itself as a fiscally competent alternative to the Liberals and Conservatives.
Paul Summerville, former chief economist of the Royal Bank's investment arm, is running in downtown Toronto's St. Paul's riding, and was chosen to unveil the party's tax platform in December.
The NDP has a chance to gain more Toronto seats in Monday's election, where it currently holds only one of 23 -- Layton's own in Toronto-Danforth.
When asked to respond to Layton's warning shot, Harper said during a campaign stop in Quebec that he's prepared to work with any party in the next Parliament.
"If the people of Canada gave us a minority government, in a situation where we have to work with other parties, we'll work with other parties," he said Tuesday morning. "We'll stay faithful to the things we ask the people to give us a mandate on, and we'll seek to work with other parties on an issue by issue basis."
He added: "I think, frankly, there'll be pressure on all parties to make Parliament successful."
However, I don't think Layton is near that position yet, but if his gambit wins seats, and he moves to the centre (not just talks about it) the Liberals could have a tough road to rebuild.
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