Federal election averted for now
Stephen Harper's Conservative government is safe and an election has been averted, for a little while at least.
The NDP and the Bloc, or the socialists and the separatists, as Harper has been calling them for years, jumped on board to prop up Harper's government on Friday during a vote on an important ways-and-means motion.
The vote passed 224-74 with all Liberal members present voting against.
This is pretty much a complete about-face for the parties.
With the exception of this most recent vote, the Liberals supported Harper's Conservative government during the last 79 confidence votes. The last time the Liberals voted against the Conservatives government was June 22, 2007.
On the other hand, the NDP leader got a lot of enjoyment over the years bashing the Liberals for constantly supporting the Conservative government until his turn came Friday to do the very same thing.
But Jack Layton stood by his decision to vote with the government.
"What we've done is to accomplish something for people in these votes," Layton told reporters outside the House of Commons just after the vote. Layton and his NDP voted with Harper in order to see a plan to extend Employment Insurance benefits for 190,000 long-tenured workers for an additional 20 weeks get passed. If the reform is approved, it could cost the government over one billion dollars.
"We feel it's very important that this money be received by those who are struggling right now," Layton said. "The House of Commons should be the place that helps people out when they're going through tough times."
I agree, kinda. Lots of Canadians are unemployed and hurting right now. I don't see why long-tenured workers should get special treatment, but I guess it's better than no one getting the help.
Micheal Ignatieff told reporters he felt good about voting against the government for the first time as leader of the Liberal party.
"Personally, it felt like the right thing to do. It feels good to stand up for your convictions," he said.
The election may be put off for now, but Ignatieff doesn't seem to be wavering in his intention to topple the government.
"My sense is the question is: Is this government good enough? Yes or no? I've said no and now my job is to present Canadians with a clear alternative," he said.
Now that the vote has passed, Ignatieff would like to see the proposed EI legislation rushed through the House in order to take away the NDP's excuse for supporting the Harper government.
"We don't want to give Mr. Layton any alibis," he said Thursday.
Ignattieff's wants to see the bill pass both Houses of Parliament before the first week of October.
It still looks like anything could happen amonst the power players on the Hill during the next few weeks.
The NDP and the Bloc, or the socialists and the separatists, as Harper has been calling them for years, jumped on board to prop up Harper's government on Friday during a vote on an important ways-and-means motion.
The vote passed 224-74 with all Liberal members present voting against.
This is pretty much a complete about-face for the parties.
With the exception of this most recent vote, the Liberals supported Harper's Conservative government during the last 79 confidence votes. The last time the Liberals voted against the Conservatives government was June 22, 2007.
On the other hand, the NDP leader got a lot of enjoyment over the years bashing the Liberals for constantly supporting the Conservative government until his turn came Friday to do the very same thing.
But Jack Layton stood by his decision to vote with the government.
"What we've done is to accomplish something for people in these votes," Layton told reporters outside the House of Commons just after the vote. Layton and his NDP voted with Harper in order to see a plan to extend Employment Insurance benefits for 190,000 long-tenured workers for an additional 20 weeks get passed. If the reform is approved, it could cost the government over one billion dollars.
"We feel it's very important that this money be received by those who are struggling right now," Layton said. "The House of Commons should be the place that helps people out when they're going through tough times."
I agree, kinda. Lots of Canadians are unemployed and hurting right now. I don't see why long-tenured workers should get special treatment, but I guess it's better than no one getting the help.
Micheal Ignatieff told reporters he felt good about voting against the government for the first time as leader of the Liberal party.
"Personally, it felt like the right thing to do. It feels good to stand up for your convictions," he said.
The election may be put off for now, but Ignatieff doesn't seem to be wavering in his intention to topple the government.
"My sense is the question is: Is this government good enough? Yes or no? I've said no and now my job is to present Canadians with a clear alternative," he said.
Now that the vote has passed, Ignatieff would like to see the proposed EI legislation rushed through the House in order to take away the NDP's excuse for supporting the Harper government.
"We don't want to give Mr. Layton any alibis," he said Thursday.
Ignattieff's wants to see the bill pass both Houses of Parliament before the first week of October.
It still looks like anything could happen amonst the power players on the Hill during the next few weeks.
posted by Street Wise Guy | 6:18 PM
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