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Yay! There's not going to be another federal election... yet
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/serv...y/National/home
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Dion pledges to 'make parliament work'
TENILLE BONOGUORE
Globe and Mail Update
October 17, 2007 at 7:32 PM EDT
The Liberal Party will not send the minority government to the polls.
The party will instead put forward amendments to gain its favour, said Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion. If those amendments are not accepted, the party will abstain from a vote to support the Throne Speech.
The tactic was quickly decried by New Democrat Leader Jack Layton, who said the Liberals should “show some leadership and stand up against the Conservative government and its agenda.”
The reality, Mr. Layton said, cannot be “sugar coated” with “self-congratulatory amendments.”
Mr. Dion says he will propose amendments calling for: a new environmental approach to meet the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol; to withdraw troops from the combat mission in Kandahar in Feb. 2009; and to bring forward proposals to reduce corporate taxes.
“If they are not accepted, they will abstain in order to avoid causing an election,” Mr. Dion told the House of Commons.
Sources told Canadian Press that Mr. Dion wanted to force an election, fearing his reputation as a champion of the environment and progress he has made wooing Green and left-wing voters will be seriously hurt if Liberals don't vote against Mr. Harper's anti-Kyoto message.
But he came under heavy pressure from many of his MPs who worry about going into an election while party is disorganized, weak in Quebec, stagnant in the polls, and low on funds.
“The Throne Speech we heard yesterday, with all of its weaknesses, has to be assessed in light of the fact that Canadians don't want another election right now. They want parliament to do its job,” Mr. Dion told Parliament.
“We are determined to make parliament work, in keeping with Canadians' wishes.”
The Throne Speech on Tuesday night included broad tax cuts, tough-on-crime legislation and the desire for a two-year extension of the Afghanistan military mission.
The Tory government also promised to unveil new measures to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, apologize for residential school abuses, find money for infrastructure and require people who wear veils to uncover their faces to vote.
Mr. Dion described the speech as “vague” and “full of holes”, and he said the positive notes were matched by numerous failures.
It was encouraging, he said, to see plans to extend the scope of the action plan on official languages; a pending apology to victims of the Indian residential schools; increased attention to Northern Canada; and greater support for veterans.
But all of those elements were woefully short on detail, he said. His strongest complaint was for the Tory government's environment message, which he said misses the chance to help fight “the biggest ecological threat our planet is facing.”
The Liberals called on the government to immediately tell NATO and the Afghanistan government that the commitment to the combat mission in Kandahar will end in Feb. 2009.
“By refusing to do so, the government makes it more difficult to replace our troops and to prepare a new Canadian mission,” he said.
“... The mission in Afghanistan is an important one, but we cannot remain silent on our other responsibilities. We cannot turn our back on Africa ... and what does the government intend to do in Darfur?” Mr. Dion said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper hit back, saying that Canada was the only G8 nation fulfilling its African commitment, and he had made it clear to the United Nations that Canada would provided whatever help was needed in Darfur.
He urged the Opposition to pass the Throne Speech.
One of the proposed measures from the Throne Speech has already been passed.
In its first action of the day, Aung San Suu Kyi was granted honorary Canadian citizenship to recognize her efforts to promote peace and democracy in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
With a report from Canadian Press
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Dion said he'd propose amendments, but since he already said he won't force an election, that means Harper can tell him to shove his amendments up his ass.
Seriously, can anyone tell me what the difference in platform between Liberals and NDP? I really can't tell.
Harper needs to pull his head out of his ass and sort out the Afghanistan debate soon.
Well, the new tax cuts (incl. another 1% on GST) is going to be nice.
Apparently a 1% in GST brings in about 5 billion dollars in tax revenue 
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| quote: | Originally posted by chinamon
not true. i say "ugh"
but i am a tranny. |
| quote: | Originally posted by kotsy
lol colour me retarded |
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