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Area MPs clash over prospect of coalition deal |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Friday, 28 November 2008 |
Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Dick Harris dismissed Friday the idea of the Liberals, NDP and Bloc forming a coalition government, but the possibility is there even if it is uncharted territory.
Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen -- whose riding includes Fort St. James, just northwest of Prince George -- said the Conservatives have only themselves to blame.
The opposition parties have threatened to bring down the Conservatives in a confidence vote just weeks after the last election because they are angry over what they are calling a lacklustre economic stimulus package. But the opposition parties are also unhappy with a plan to cut taxpayer funded subsidies to political parties.
The non-confidence vote could have come as early as Monday, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has put off the possibility of the vote until Dec. 8.
"Those guys can't even live with each other -- how could they convince Canadians that getting in bed with each other in a coalition is a good idea?" said Harris.
"It's doomed to failure because the Bloc hate the Liberals, the NDP hate the Liberals, the Liberals hate the Bloc. It might last for a week. It's like having a bad marriage to start with."
Harris praised Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's fiscal plan.
"Last election, Canadians chose our Conservative government to deal with the economic crisis facing the world," said Harris. "The economic statement takes prudent action to restrain spending by forcing government and politicians to cut back spending, before asking Canadians to tighten their belts."
The Conservatives have announced no new spending.
Flaherty has said that Canada has provided more economic stimulus than other countries by cutting the GST and other taxes, and allocating $33 billion for infrastructure spending.
So far, Flaherty says fiscal measures taken by the government amount to about two per cent of Canada's GDP, well above what the U.S., Europe and other countries have done.
Cullen said the Conservatives were over-confident of their ability to push through their aims not taking into consideration they are a minority government. "Two-thirds of the country did not vote for the Conservatives, so it's hard to suggest that they wanted to hand Harper all the power," said Cullen.
While taking away public funding for political parties is an issue, the bigger issue is the lack of a proper economic stimulus package, said Cullen.
He noted that there are thousands of forestry jobs that have been lost, and people are concerned about the impact of the financial crisis on their investments and pensions as well. The auto sector in Eastern Canada has been calling for a bailout, and provincial leaders in B.C., including Premier Gordon Campbell, have said the forest sector needs to be given consideration as well.
Cullen said he believes the public is looking for something more from the federal government, something other than a promise to wait until next spring. "To suggest that any one party has the right ideas for an economy in turmoil is a bit arrogant," said Cullen.
No federal government has ever been ousted in favour of an opposition coalition.
But the threat was so real that Rideau Hall said Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean had made contingency plans for a swift return to Canada from a European tour should the government fall.
With The Canadian Press.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 28 November 2008 )
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