Ignatieff and his pouting brigade

It's obvious that PM Harper has the best vision to lead this country.

Ignatieff is voting against the government no matter what is proposed. I don't think this is "making parliament work" at all but is instead akin to a child pouting because he/she cannot get their own way.

I wonder if the Liberal constituents want them to vote against the government?

Maybe they should ask them and follow their wishes instead of following their own egos.

The longer Ignatieff is leader the farther the Liberals drop in the polls. Ignatieff was doing better in the polls when he was an unknown but the more he speaks and the more Canadians get to know him the more they don't like or trust him. The polls speak to that.

Ignatieffs Liberals are at 29% in the polls now, Dion finished the election at 25-26%. I see the Liberal numbers falling that far again very soon, perhaps even further down.

Sick and tired of whining about Canadians jailed abroad!

If a Canadian living abroad breaks the law and is convicted they are a criminal and must pay for their crimes with jail time or what have you. Canadians cannot travel the globe, break the law when it suits them and expect the government of whatever stripe to bail them out and bring them home. People need to take responsibility for their actions.

This notion that the Canadian government must drop everything it's currently working on and travel the globe to bring all these Canadians who broke the law in lands around the globe back to Canada is just insane. What else do we expect from the left wing?

These people who happen to be living or staying abroad would have no use of the Canadian government if they hadn't gotten caught doing something they shouldn't have been doing in the first place.

Canadians traveling abroad need to heed the laws and customs of the lands that they are visiting. Not every country is like Canada which will change its laws to suit everyone except Canadians. Some countries actually expect people to adapt to their countries laws and not the other way around like in Canada.

That being said there are of coarse exceptions to the rule where a Canadian is imprisoned unjustly and that must not be allowed to go on and then and only then should our government step in to investigate. However even then the government should proceed with restraint and diplomacy as Canada has no business telling another country how it should govern itself.

This notion by the left that every law breaking criminal who happens to get busted in another country should be rescued and brought back to Canada is absurd and laughable.

Harper boycotts Irans UN address.

I applaud this move. No race or nation of people should be told that they don't have the right to exist.

Anyone who disagrees with this statement is agreeing with the Iranian president in denying the holocaust.

He shouldn't be getting a free pass and should have sanctions slapped against his country asap. If PM Harper or some other G7 nation said the things he said it would be huge news and people would be calling for his removal from the UN and NATO. This guy shouldn't be getting a free pass to deny the holocaust.

We kicked out Ernest Zundal out of Canada for denying the holocaust. Are some pople on the left now agreeing with him?

2 month work year proposed by the Liberals, NDP and BQ.

If they brought this through then EI load would double therefore requiring more staff and more offices which equals more overhead which does come from every Canadians tax dollars. This in turn makes for bigger government, not less. Many Canadians think that government is big enough and doesn't want any more government control into their lives.

It's important to take all Canadians views into account and not just our own. We must think about what is good for everyone as equals and not just try to label a group as special therefore requiring more benefit then another group.

Me not supporting some working for 45 working days in order to collect EI for a year doesn't make me heartless. It makes me responsible and I would wish everyone would take responsibility for themselves.

I think it's set at 20 weeks atm or somewhere there abouts which is 5 months worked. That is low enough in my books. If we start paying a years benefits after 2 months worked it will quickly bankrupt the EI funds and EI premiums would likely triple or quadruple. I don't wish to pay quadruple EI premiums so that someone can sit around for a year after only working for 2 months.

Would everyone who collects after 2 months worked be like this? Of coarse not the majority that collect EI are really trying to look for a new job, enlisting in job training programs, etc. At the same time there is a group of people collecting EI who are habitual collecters who will work the minimum then collect for a year and do nothing over that time. Then work again for the minimum...etc. I personally know of people who do this. A 2 month work yearmay lead to more people taking advantage of the system in this manner. This doesn't make Canada a stronger country.

I support many many things that Jack Layton says and does but I wouldn't want this to happen as we still need to be responsible and fair to everyone across this land. We cannot afford to give everything to the poorest and let everyone else pay for it. This isn't responsible.

That being said if Jack brought forward a proposal getting rid of the ridiculous 5 week waiting period before getting benefits every Canadian would support that, no doubt about it. A lot of people need help(people who have tried to help themselves first) so lets get the help out to them as quickly as possible. That would be an easy sell for Canadians.

As I said I support many things about Layton but he would have a very hard time selling a 2 month work year to normal everyday suburban middle class Canadians such as myself. I'm sorry if that offends the left wing but that's reality.

Absolutely we need to help the less fortunate but he 2 month work year just sets the EI fund up for abuse. Why take that chance?

NDp and Bloq supporting the Tories isn't a coalition.

Now, if the government had put forward some partisan bills instead of the EI package. You left wingers would be saying "look! He can't work with other parties! He just wants to push his own left wing agenda!"

So it seems that the PM is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't as nothing is good enough for you hyper partisans.

In your view if any party at all votes with the Tories this constitutes a coalition? So the Tories aren't allowed to have any other party vote with them is what you're saying other wise it's a coalition?

This is absurd. The Liberals, NDP and Bloq signed a contract with every member of their parties signing it. Ignatieff was prepared to lead the coalition government with cabinet positions given to the NDP not to mention a veto vote power for the BQ.

I don't see anything like that here. If the Tories did sign an agreement with the NDp and Bloq this week please post a link to that as not ven the media is aware of it.

How Harper can get a Tory majority.

If the Tories want a majority they need to keep attacking Ignatieff and the Liberals like they are doing. Keep excluding them from everything and get Layton and Duceppe to vote with the Tories as much as they can without giving too much.

The Tories cannot discredit/attack the NDP too much in the east as he will need those soft left wing liberal votes to go to the NDP while the Red Tory votes come to Harper. But discrediting the NDP in the west(Man-BC) is exactly what Harper must do because out there people vote either Tory or NDP very few Liberal votes there so discrediting the Liberals out West is a waste of time.

With the BQ voting with the government Harper can try to erode those soft nationalist Quebec votes and bring them into the Tory fold.

If Harper can do all those things and run a perfect campaign and all the stars line up he has a shot at it...it would be possible.

Michael Ignatieff's recent foreign policy speech, part of his “Big Canada” kick, is an admirable, wide-ranging canvass about how “it is time for the world to be at the centre of our national conversation, not the margins.” But a grab-bag of proposals do not constitute a vision. And in the very week he gave his speech, Mr. Ignatieff appeared to downplay its contents, reflective of the political calculation with which he has been seized of late. Source

Ignatieff has zero plan. The Liberals have zero plan. The Liberals haven't had any policy since Martin left. They don't know what they stand for. They are still rebuilding and trying to find an identity.

So far they just seem content to repackage Tory ideas and call them their own. This isn't going to wash with Canadians. Canadians don't trust him as a leader as it is, regardless of what he says.

The only ones fawning over him are about 12 Liberal MPs and the hyper partisans of the internet. Everyone else in Canada sees him for what he is.

An out of touch professor who has lived outside Canada for 90% of his adult life. In fact he's lived outside of Canada for the entire life of the 18-35 voter bracket. Which is the bracket a party leader is supposed to connect with.

How can he do this if he has lived out side Canada for their entire lives? He hasn't the foggiest as to how this age group thinks. He's out of touch.

Poll finds Liberals support falling. Harper support rising.

For all of you that still believe that Ignatieff can beat Tories had better look at the polls again. There is nothing in the polls to suggest that we'll have any different result then we now have.

If we have an election it will be a $350 Million waste as the result will be the same. A Tory minority.

Latest poll by Ipsos Reid

BQ 9%
Tories 39%
Green 8%
Liberals 30%
NDP 12%

Not to mention that 89% of Canadians don't want an election.

As I've said the Tories stock is rising and Ignatieff and his Liberals are falling.

The only people who want an election are the hyper partisan Liberal supporters.

Fall election looking doubtful. Ignatieff left holding the bag.

“This proposition is a very serious proposition,” NDP finance critic Paul Dewar told reporters, just minutes after Human Resources Minister Diane Finley and Revenue Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn announced the expanded benefits. If the legislation truly does assist the unemployed, Mr. Dewar said, “we would be irresponsible not to seriously consider and support that.”
Source

The NDP was showing signs of reversing its position. Even the Bloc has shown signs it wants to work with the Tories with a crime bill.

This is taking credibility away from the Liberal party not that it had much to lose in the first place.

Three out of four federal parties don't see why we need to go to an election. This leaves Ignatieff looking really quite foolish in the process. Foolish, arrogant and power mad is how Ignatieff is appearing as their doesn't appear to be an election issue at all.

EI reform? No sir. The Tories have unveiled their plan for some EI reform that is to the liking of Mr. Layton and his NDP party faithful in the mining and manufacturing sectors. It even is good for Duceppe and Quebec as forestry workers in his province would also benefit from this EI proposal. Both of these guys would have a hard time voting against this measure that it bound to be popular with their constituents.

They'd certainly have some explaining to do if they did. I'm eagerly awaiting the response by Ignatieff and the Liberals when they do vote against it. I want them to explain to the Canadian people as to why they are voting against the bill.

To onwards to the Bloc and Quebec. I pleasantly surprised today in Question Period when Duceppe said he and his party was interested in closing the loophole that allows offenders to be eligible for parole after just 1/6th of their sentence is served. To be perfectly honest it appeared to catch everyone including the PM off guard as well.

The PM was very diplomatic and said it was willing to look at any bill that the Bloc was willing to put forward in an effort to make Parliament work.

That said it's a positive sign that there will not be a fall election at all. I noticed that all the leaders apart from Ignatieff was very careful not to back them selves into a corner.

This left Ignatieff and the Liberals alone to sulk by themselves for all to see. Ignatieff is going to have to eat some humble pie.

EI reforms may stave off a fall election.

The Conservative government will unveil a plan Monday to enhance employment insurance benefits for workers who have lost their jobs after spending years in the workforce, a move that might help avert a fall election if it captures the support of the New Democratic Party.

This proposal seems fairly reasonable to this conservative. Sure we're throwing Jack a bone but it wasn't unexpected at all when in fact the Tories wanted to do some reforming to EI on their own anyhow.

I'm certain there will be something else in there as well when the announcement comes down today. However Jack Layton and s=hs New Democrats will support it. I have no doubt. I also have no doubt that he'll be in front of the camera 5 minutes after the vote telling Canada how he made the PM see sense and that he and the NDP was responsible for brokering these new EI reforms. Such is life and such is Jack Layton. Always a politician.

"I'm prepared to fight an election if it comes to it. We're all ready for an election." Mr. Layton told his cheering caucus. "But I have to tell you what I'd rather do. I'd rather be in that House ofCommons with my colleagues working with people from other political parties on behalf of the Canadian people who sent us here just 11 months ago." Source for both quotes.

I believe that Jack Layton, PM Stephen Harper and their respective parties are the only ones who are listening to the voters who are screaming that they don't want a fall election.

Ignatieff and his band of Liberals aren't listening and are still beating their drums of war for no other reason other than to make a power grab. I don't believe that they have any plan for the future at all other than grabbing power. Their pompous and arrogant leader has grown tired of waiting and is used to having things handed to him and is at odds with the Canadian voter. His blue blood is showing, he should be ashamed at how out of touch he is with Canadians.

Second Liberal English ad.

Saying nice things doesn't mean anything. I want to hear about how he's going to create these jobs.

One thing has been lacking from the Liberals and that is a concrete plan. I haven't heard of a Liberal policy and plan package since Martin was running for election.

So lets see is this accidental tourist by the name of Ignatieff can come up with one before voting.

I know that for extremely partisan people any Tory government is no good no matter what they do but how much better is a government that has no plan to speak off.

Will a policy-less government really have your best interests at heart?

Ignatieff has just said "wait and see" what his plan is or in essence trust us and elect us without us having any plan to speak of.

I don't think the voters are ready to trust the Liberals with a blank cheque just yet. The Canadian people cannot afford another Adscam.

I see the approach of the Liberals to be truly arrogant. They cannot stomach anyone else being in power as they feel that they are only ones who are fit to govern. The are insulting and pompous without even trying and now they have this Harvard professor who has spent 90% of his adult life outside of Canada coming back to Canada only to rule it, no other reason. If he wasn't in politics he wouldn't even be in Canada.

Count Ignatieff has grown tired of waiting to be crowned PM and he is pouting about it. He will wait no longer which is why he is forcing Canadians into an election that 80% of us don't want. Does he care? Not one bit. He is only intrested in his own agenda.

It's the Liberals who have a "hidden agenda" now. Why else aren't they revealing their plan to the voters. What are they hiding? Surly the Liberals are so deliberately obtuse as to not have a plan at all? Are they?

Welcome Back Mr. Dithers - Take II

Looks like the grand tradition of Liberal fence sitting is back. We had some reprieve with Dion, who wouldn't fence sit but instead would make irrational and absurd decisions.

Following in the footsteps of Chretien and Martin, Ignatieff joins this prestigious bunch of Canadian politicians. He was asked point blank last week if he and the Liberals would try to form another coalition. Here is what he said.

"I think I made it very clear by my behaviour last January in relation to coalition politics," he said.

"I didn’t think it was in the national interest. I could be standing here as prime minister of Canada, but I turned it down."

Source
He said this Thursday Sept. 10, 2009.

This is what he said the next day September 11, 2009.

"Let me be very clear, the Liberal party would not agree to a coalition," he said. "In January we did not support a coalition and we do not support a coalition today or tomorrow."

Source

This is absurd. So in December and November the Liberals did in fact support the coalition and Ignatieff put his signiture to it. Only after feeling the wrath of the public does he back down from the coalition.

This guy want to grab power anyway he can. Make no mistake. Ignatieff didn't come back to Canada for any other reason other then to be crowned PM. A guy who has spent 90% of his adult life living abroad and in the US ha little love for Canada. If he in fact did love Canada he would have spent more of his career here. Not just come back in the twilight of it.

The people of Canada see right through you Ignatieff for what you are. A fake, a fraud.

Yet a week and half ago he makes it clear...again.

Michael Ignatieff has disavowed the coalition idea since taking over the Liberal leadership last December. But he's said he's open to "arrangements" with other parties that would allow the Liberals to form government.

Source

According to Ignatieff it's Harper who has two faces. Well Ignatieff has three faces and he changes his mind seemingly on a whim and almost daily. Yes, I believe we have a heir to the throne of Mr. Dithers. His name is Michael Ignatieff.

What's the Liberal plan Mike?

Standing there in the wilderness in a cornflower blue cotton button down, it could be the back drop for a TV beer ad if it wasn't for the buffoon and lack of scantly clad women.

I'm not sure what exactly he's trying to sell us as it isn't very clear. He hasn't outlined any plan at all just some nice words. He'll be working with China and India as if to suggest our PM, PM Harper is just too aloof to have ever heard of such far away lands.

Who exactly does he think he's fooling? And who is in charge of this train wreck of a campaign? Does that person really believe that Canadians will fall for this?

I almost look forward to hear what Layton is going to say about this. He never shut up about the sweater PM Harper wore that time doing his best grandfatherly bit so I can only imagine what ol' Jack will have to say this time.

He's hardly any better is he? Blatantly ripping off Mr. Obama from the good ol' U.S of A. Not to mention pushing to change the name of the party to "The Democratic Party". Gee Jack we have no idea where that came fro now do we... Weren't the left wing meant to hate the US just a few short months ago. Look who's falling over themselves to be in their good graces once again.

It's quite obvious that Ignatieff has nothing to sell. Unless he's a spokesman for Sears and is hawking cornflower blue cotton button downs now.

Canada appealing White South African Refugee Case.

I'm not surprised by the Tory government decision to appeal this decision to grant a white South African refugee status after pressure by the South African government.

All one need to do is throw around baseless accusations of racism and white people flee in terror. As out own government has done yesterday.

It's interesting that a foreign government can run our own country. I wonder if it would work the other way as well. If Canada were to ask South Africa to make everyone equal and to stop giving preferential treatment to blacks. No that would be racist but we do that in Canada supposedly. Everyone treated equally under the law, it's in our Charter. So it's not racist for Canada but it is for South Africa.

So this white South African has been granted refugee status due to being targeted by blacks because of his white skin. During the tribunal he had witnesses that described the conditions met by many whites living in South Africa and this was enough to convince the tribunal that he faced discrimination and terror due to his race if he was returned to South Africa.

The only reason this decision is being appealed is because he is white. If he was a black South African it would never be appealed and if it was Canada would again be labeled as racist. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I for one am getting tired of white people being beaten over the head with the liberal guilt stick. If a person doesn't like what a white person has to say he or she is a racist and a bigot, regardless of the facts.

When the new hearing begins I hope that the judge in the case will hear all the evidence and witnesses again before making the ruling. However I fear the decision has already been made. he will be denied refugee status due to his white skin. If that isn't racist I don't know what is.

Ignatieff is Panicking

Ignatieff and the Liberals are panicking and scrambling for an election now for one reason and one reason only. In January 2010 the Tories will gain a majority of the senate seats thus the Liberal Senate members will no longer be able to indefinitely stall bills that have already been passed through the house.

It is this desperation that will be the Liberal downfall yet again. The typical Liberal arrogance is simply appalling.

No matter what the Liberal message is it's all about the Senate which the Tories will gain control of January 2010. The Liberals, til now have voted with Harper so many times without worry as they knew that the Liberal Senate would stall any legislation passed. That time is over and the Liberals are showing their fear.

For example the House passed the PM's Tough on Crime Bill yet it sits in the Senate stalled forever thanks to Liberal Senators. They stall these important measures not out of concern for their fellow Canadians but for their own selfish ends.

I find this simply tragic that a group of my fellow Canadians would rather make further victims out of Canadians then to allow passage of a measure that is guaranteed to help make Canada a safer place. It wasn't until public pressure mounted that they finally decided to allow the bill to pass.

Let's hope Bil c-15 doesn't meet the same fate.

PM Harper will actually have a chance to govern with out the shackles of a Liberal dominated Senate which he's had to deal with for 4 years. No more playing patty cake and watering down bills to appease the Senate, no more.

Mr. Ignatieff is running scared he knows that once Canadians see that policy is no longer being stalled by the Senate, which is unbeknownst to many Canadians, they'll come to appreciate PM Harper for what he is, a doer as opposed to all things to all people then do nothing Liberal type.