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more CPC hypocrisy?
So...irresponsible spending when the Liberals attempted to "buy" NDP support...but ok for him to do the *exact* same thing.
For the record, I didn't have a problem with the Liberals attempting to woo the NDP...that's how a minority gov't works...and so I don't really have a problem with Harper now doing the same...other than (once again), he's being a complete hypocrite since he was vocally against the "buying" of the NDP support and calling the additional spending irresponsible while he was in opposition.
So the hypocrisy continues with this gov't, LOL. From the Emerson floor crossing, to appointing Fortier to the Senate and cabinet without him being elected, to limited media access to cabinet ministers (nice increased accountability), and now this. Nice move by Layton though...the money is still being spent, without a deal involving NDP support for the minority gov't.
I'm looking forward to how today's budget is received...but I found this story rather funny. From today's Toronto Star (bold added):
| quote: | PM sought 2-year NDP pact
Fledgling Tory government offered deal, but Layton's party rejected pitch fearing `political suicide'
May 2, 2006. 05:19 AM
BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper personally appealed to the New Democrats to support his minority government for two years, the Star has learned.
In return, the Prime Minister offered to make good on all the spending contained in the NDP's budget deal with the Liberals a year ago — almost $4 billion worth of new cash that was at risk of expiring.
Harper made the dramatic offer in late February, as his government was in its early days and feeling out the opposition. The deal was rejected by the NDP.
Details of the prospective deal-making — confirmed by several Parliament Hill sources — offer a window on how Harper intends to work with this minority government.
"He intends to take everything on a case-by-case basis," one source said.
Harper's strategic thinking — sussing out opposition support he really didn't need — was contrasted with former prime minister Paul Martin's approach of calling the opposition leaders only after the political crisis had already developed.
Of the 308 Commons seats, the Tories hold 125, Liberals 102, Bloc Québécois 51, NDP 29 and one is an Independent.
Still, the irony of Harper trying to use a year-old budget deal to secure NDP support one more time wasn't lost on some Ottawa sources yesterday.
At the centre of the Tory-NDP discussions earlier this year was the deal the NDP struck with the Liberals last May.
At the time, NDP Leader Jack Layton had pushed the minority Liberals, who were on the ropes at the time and facing a possible election, to eliminate a $4.6 billion corporate tax cut from their budget.
In its place, the New Democrats won cash for other priorities, such as $800 million for public transit; $1.6 billion for low-income housing; $1.5 billion for post-secondary education; and $500 million in foreign aid.
The deal last spring cemented the support of the NDP for the Liberals, helping Paul Martin's government survive a narrow budget vote.
Harper condemned the budget pact as an "unprecedented and irresponsible series of spending promises."
Yet Harper was singing a different tune this year as he dangled the budget deal as a carrot to woo the backing of the NDP.
Despite Liberal promises, little had been done to make sure the money was actually going to what it was earmarked for, sources say.
Under provisions of the spending bill, known as Bill C-48, the money had to be allocated by March 31, the end of the federal fiscal year, or it automatically would be used to reduce the federal debt.
That's what prompted the call from Harper's office to Layton's staff with a proposal that would see the cash spent on the promised priorities if the NDP vowed to support the government for "an extended period of time."
That offer was soon followed up with a personal entreaty from Harper.
Layton was unavailable to meet with the Prime Minister so the NDP dispatched two veteran MPs, Bill Blaikie and Libby Davies.
The politicians met for about 20 minutes in Harper's Langevin Block offices, sources say.
The Prime Minister told the two MPs he was prepared to spend the cash if the NDP was ready to commit its support for two years.
Sources say the NDP had no intention of accepting an offer that could spell political suicide.
Instead, the New Democrats quietly called the groups and governments counting on the cash that could be lost from C-48, such as provinces, municipalities and transit agencies, setting in motion a furious backroom lobbying effort to save the spending program.
"They were all convinced the money was secure and, in fact, it was already in their budgets," said one federal official.
It appears that effort succeeded. Last month, it was revealed the government will set up independent trust funds to distribute about $3.6 billion from C-48.
Layton spokesperson Karl Belanger yesterday confirmed talks took place but gave no details. "There's been several meetings with the Prime Minister and his staff ... but we've made no agreement to support this government in any way, shape or form." |
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