Categories: Capital Read, Inside the Queensway

Dion is gone – and the coalition? Still on.

by kadyomalley on Monday, December 8, 2008 1:31pm - 134 Comments

Date: December 8, 2008

For Release: Immediate

Statement by the Honourable Stéphane Dion

After the election on October 14 I announced I would stay on as Leader of the Liberal Party until my party could select my successor. One of my goals was to ensure an effective opposition to Stephen Harper’s government.

I believe that decision was the right one and I am proud of having forced Stephen Harper to back away from his attempt to force upon Canadians his most ideological and harmful plans in these tough economic times.

The alliance between the Liberal Party and the NDP to replace the Harper government, with the support of the Bloc Québécois, is a solid basis to give Canada a government that reflects both the aspirations of the majority of Canadians and the support of the majority of Members of Parliament. Such a government would be more stable than a minority Conservative government incapable of cooperating with opposition parties.

As the Governor General has granted a prorogation, it is a logical time for us Liberals to assess how we can best prepare our party to carry this fight forward.

There is a sense in the party, and certainly in the caucus, that given these new circumstances the new leader needs to be in place before the House resumes. I agree. I recommend this course to my party and caucus. As always, I want to do what is best for my country and my party, especially when Canadians’ jobs and pensions are at risk.

So I have decided to step aside as Leader of the Liberal Party effective as soon as my successor is duly chosen.

I will offer my unconditional and enthusiastic support to my successor in the same way I have always supported the leaders of our great party. I will work under the next leader’s direction with all my energy in order to give Canada a better government.

I wish to close by making it absolutely clear that my earlier departure does not change the facts of the situation that the Prime Minister has created in the last two weeks.

The Prime Minister and his government refused to lay out a plan to stimulate the economy. The Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the House of Commons. The Prime Minister shut down Parliament to save his job while thousands of Canadians are losing theirs. The Prime Minister has poisoned the well of trust and respect that is necessary for a minority government to work in Parliament – especially in a time of crisis.

Mr. Harper took an economic crisis and added a parliamentary crisis that he then tried to transform into a national unity crisis: this is no way for a Prime Minister of Canada to act.

It is my hope that the decision I have announced today will enhance the capacity of Parliament to function effectively for the sake of Canadians in this economic crisis.

Stéphane Dion, PC, MP

Tags: it's not over til it's -- oh, it's over, liberal notaleadership, Stéphane Dion, with a sigh not a whimper

More by kadyomalley

T. Thwim

Brian: The problem is, you seem to think Chretien’s failings justify Harper’s.

It’s the old “But MOOOMMMM! HE DID IT FIRST!” defence.
Perhaps you don’t recall as it’s been so long ago, but there was a point when Mr. Harper was promising to do politics differently.
Bert

All the politicians can now say
” Been there Done that”
“How come it did’nt work.”
“Lost my ticket”
“Joe who?”
“What no raise”
“An election what?”
“Put off untill tomorrow what you are chicken to do today”

Well at least this comment makes as much sense as those above. Lol
kody

The Liberals cut a backroom deal to put into power a guy who not only lost the election, but was the most unpopular Liberal leader in a century,

and Liberals here throw around accusations about “naked power grabs”.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is precisely the type of tone deafness and hyperpartisanship that now has the Liberals hovering around 20% support and on the brink of political extinction.

And as the Liberals appear set to fast track their next leader into power (for getting a Liberal back into their rightful position of power is apparantly more urgent than ever-lack of popular support be damned), the calls for a thoughtful reformulation of policy and leadership that many a Liberal had promised after adscam and the Martin era, become ever more distant.
Sophie

I want to say ‘thank you’ to M Dion.
A brilliant man with no instinct for the political gutter.
It was like that time in secondary school when the nerdy boy tried to reason with the bully. It didn’t work, and even his ‘friends’ abandoned him. He deserves better than what we have given him.
I think our country will yet owe much to Dion and his Clarity Act.
And love or hate the Green Shift, you can’t say that he wasn’t passionate about climate change. He could take a punch- but he took them silently, without giving one in return, so he seemed weak.
Maybe when Canada collectively leaves Grade 9, we’ll see what he’s done for us as a nation.
but for me

The only thing we owe the doorknob Dion is the door.
Brian

Jack Mitchell said “Brian, does foam dribble down your cheek when you type these posts?

is another way of saying “as your intellectual inferior, I’m unable to debate any of the points you raised. On the other hand, tradition calls for me to respond in-kind and so I will ask you a rhetorical question based on the premise of you having the rabies virus. that” learn em.”

T. Thwim said “Brian: The problem is, you seem to think Chretien’s failings justify Harper’s. It’s the old “But MOOOMMMM! HE DID IT FIRST!” defence. Perhaps you don’t recall as it’s been so long ago, but there was a point when Mr. Harper was promising to do politics differently.”

If you read my post again, you will notice that at no time do I suggest that Chretien’s “failings” (is that what you liberals call stealing, laundering and rackateering these days?) justify Harper’s failings. There is no moral equivalency between Chretien and his kleptocratic regime who, as a matter of public record, bilked the nation and citizenry out of millions and Harper who wanted to use the powers of the state to end the subsidization of political parties.
Jack Mitchell

Brian: “[Jack's hilarious post] is another way of saying “as your intellectual inferior, I’m unable to debate any of the points you raised. On the other hand, tradition calls for me to respond in-kind and so I will ask you a rhetorical question based on the premise of you having the rabies virus. that” learn em.””

Absolutely, Brian. The very first thing that pops into my mind when I read your comments, here and elsewhere, is, “Man, I’m really this guy’s intellectual inferior.” I cringe when I read them, but I’m only cringing for myself.

If it makes you feel any better — as I’m determined to help stop the palpitations — I’m still thinking over the points you made and will get back to you when I’ve come to a wise and mature decision about them. I don’t take your thoughts lightly, Brian, and the least you can do is treat mine the same way.
Steve Wart

Jack that’s a bit harsh. Brian was responding to a childish insult. I don’t think it deserved any response at all, let alone the respect you’re suggesting. I think Jack’s post say enough about his level of discourse.
Steve Wart

Sorry, my mistake. You are Jack Mitchell. You have a lot of nerve.