Categories: Capital Read, Inside the Queensway

Liberal Gut(lessnes)sWatch: The reckoning hour is at hand, or something like that.

by kadyomalley on Sunday, June 14, 2009 2:50pm - 81 Comments

The last line is my favourite:

For Immediate Release
June 14, 2009

Michael Ignatieff News Conference

Event: Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, will make an announcement regarding the Conservative government’s accountability report.

Date: Monday June 15, 2009

Time: 11:00am

Location: National Press Theatre

150 Wellington Street

Ottawa, ON

Please note that all details are subject to change.

Tags: at least it's a *reasonable* reckoning hour of the day, Gut(lessnes)sWatch 09, Michael Ignatieff, suspense is killing us

More by kadyomalley

Westbreeze

Harper will definitely keep his base support with a minority win, in any scenario. The base understands that Quebecers like their BLOCs.

This is a win-win scenario for CPC. Most people who support other parties invent/hope for CPC rifts, but they are shallow.

The Liberals do not have full control of the ball here: if they try to pull the plug, they can not assume that the NDP will stand pat on their "F", as they are out to get the Count too. They want their EI legislation in the cue, so that could be Jack's face-saving "out", as well as saving Canada from an election and lack of stimulus spending and firmly branding Iggy as an opportunist. The BLOC could do the same and have nothing to lose.

Canadians will be furious about a summer election, cancelled pending legislation and stimulus funding. My gut says the news conference will be the usual fluff, eyebrow fury and a call for PMSH to sit in the corner after the prof has given an F, but wants to save Canada with his extreme kindness. If not, the Liberals will be in deep trouble and polls will shift. Remember the coalition windlash???

See you at the Olympics, PM Harper!

http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

The question will be for the Liberals, can you get Quebec angry enough at the Tories to realize they have to stand behind Ignatieff rather than send 50+ BQ MPs to Ottawa.

Westbreeze

Right you are… I am not sure their anger quotient is high enough yet, but it will be great for Canada when they move their votes, as minority governments are not allowed to think long term, so can be disfunctional. The BLOC is an impediment to federal government. I just wish Quebecers could move in the RIGHT direction, as PMSH really shares a lot of interests in common with Quebecers. He wants the provinces to exert their legislated powers vs. a mis-mash of expensive, duplicated services at all levels.

http://www.canadianrosebud.blogspot.com rockfish

"…See you at the Olympics, PM Harper!"

Why? Is the IOC now adding unprincipled lying to the events list? Harper will have to buy a ticket like everyone else. My guess he's going to be part of Ari Fleisher's PR office come October…

Stephen

I never bought the Canadians dont want an election argument as a reason to not have one. Didnt buy under Martin and I dont buy it under Harper.

If Parliamen falls apart and canadians are asked to express their opinion, they will. The answer may very well be not what anyone expects.

Everyone makes their calculations and Canadians will begin their evaluation process if necessary.

My bet is no, but I am beginning to wonder. There are a million ways to not defeat the government and still vote against it. They used to do those kinds of things, absences etc were allowed as part of the game.

Iggy has set himself up as the evaluator. To avoid Dionism he will need to pull the trigger soon. I still think his best time is fall, partially because their policy review isnt dont yet…..what the heck are they going to run on.

http://intensedebate.com/people/LeenieJ LeenieJ (imho)

Dion paid a big price to let us see the truth. he knew (as did a few of us out here) that the current embarrassment in Ottawa sought sexy career advancement through manufactured crises regardless of the cost to real human beings and our country. he did us all a big favour. as usual i see derision instead of understanding and appreciation by that "Dionism" theory.

Will

A lot more than Harper ran on last time, that's for sure.
http://intensedebate.com/people/SophiaGeffros SophiaGeffros

Will there be an election?
I highly doubt it.
It's not that I don't love any opportunity to (vicariously) go to the polls- I get off on democracy- but if there is an election, all the parties will be scared of ideas and therefore won't propose any, there will be a l ow voter turnout, youth will be completely ignored, the green party will win a higher percentage of the vote and no seats, once again, and we will end up with an unstable minority government. Which, of course, means that we will be heading back to the polls around htis time next year.
If we do a comparison of elections over the past century and account for eligible voters, etc., the highest turnouts came during the Conscription Crisis (the second one) and the 1967 election. On the one hand, you had a huge issue that struck to the hearts of the public. On the other, you had an inspiring leader with charisma and fresh ideas. (Bob Stanfield, of course.)
We have neither.
I'm beginning to feel like I'm inside Groundhog Day , an election and an election and an election- and nothing changes! Yaaaaargh!
Rant over.

http://intensedebate.com/people/LeenieJ LeenieJ (imho)

that "Groundhog Day" is an apt description.
wilson

There was a huge change last election,
the coalition of the Liberals, Dippers and Bloc was formed.

Next election, Canadians will have a new awareness of how our parliamentary system works.

Right out of the gate, Liberals will be asked about a coalition with the Dippers, and the GG will be listening.
Dion was asked about a coaltion in the last days of the campaign, he said no,
but did it anyway.
Which may have been one of the reasons the GG gave PMSH his prorogation.

http://www.canadianrosebud.blogspot.com rockfish

So when does Inspector Gadget, ie Harper, get asked the same question? Or was his answer in 2005 not blunt enough for you. While Harper will stoop to anything to fool the wilsons of this land, the silent chasms forming around his feet aren't likely going to be holding together as well when he again tries the 'scorched earth scenario' without any luck.

Mike514

In response to OntarioTown's comment above:
Voting only takes a few minutes and if you are going on vacation you can vote ahead or by mail

There are 2 problems with this idea. First, the problem with voting early is that some people haven't made up their minds (the "undecideds" in polls) until after all parties present a full platform / policy book and after the debates, usually near the end of the campaign. Voting early is just not an option for some.

Also, summertime = distractions. No one wants to follow the details of a campaign when they're busy planning vacations or enjoying the nice weather.

And voting by mail is typically for Canadians living abroad, not those traveling. "Today we're going to find a post office, so I can mail in my vote… the pantheon will just have to wait! Good thing I remembered to pack my voting card along with my passport and traveler's cheques." Voter turnout is already horrendously low among voters who are actually in the country, I can't imagine those traveling would vote en masse.
Eva

Please let there be an election.
Observant

If the Opposition parties do not pass the finance estimates on Friday Jun 19th, that will be tantamount to a vote of non-confidence. If the writ is dropped the next day and 36 days minimum required for an election, we will be voting on July 28th.

If the estimates pass with the cooperation of the BQ or NDP, that would force Ignatieff to table a non-confidence motion on the Liberal 'opposition' day of June 23rd … plus 36 days would push the election date to August 4th right after the Civic Holidays.

If it appears that the NDP and BQ will support their past coalition partner for a June 19th no confidence vote, expect to see the airwaves flooded with CPC election-ready ads this coming week. If Ignatieff chickens out of an election this summer, expect to see CPC MPs criss crossing the countries announcing stimulus programs non-stop … and then when Parliament resumes in September, a whole new batch of CPC ads defining and deriding Ignatieff and the lugubrious Liberals.