03.23.2011 07:31 AM

What’s your guess?

Public events for March 23, 2011

March 23, 2011
Ottawa, Ontario

Public events for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Wednesday, March 23rd are:

Ottawa

11:30 a.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will deliver remarks.

House of Commons Foyer
Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario

* Open to media

NOTE:

* Media must present proper identification for accreditation.

35 Comments

  1. Brad says:

    I heard that he will reveal Michael Ignatieff’s father bought Michael a $250 bicycle when he turned 14. That will end it for Ignatieff and The Liberal party.

  2. Brad says:

    I forgot, also that the Ignatieff’s had ice cream EACH AND EVERY SUNDAY for dessert.

  3. JStanton says:

    …opposition parties continue to allow Mr. Harper to frame the discourse. It could have been about Mr. Harper’s poor judgment, questionable ethics and ineptitude, but the opposition parties didn’t take the initiative, so, instead it will be about “the economy”, with Mr. Harper using his proven “politics of fear” tactics.

    This will be particularly effective, since, once again, the opposition parties failed to take the initiative yesterday, by emphatically stating that they would bring the government down immediately, and their reasons for doing so. Instead, they have allowed Mr. Harper to beat them to the punch this morning, at which time he gets to frame the election, which will probably effect the fence sitters, on whom the results of this election depend.

    How does one account for this behavior by opposition parties? From their symptoms, they appear to be very, very afraid. And they should be, since the stakes are high, and their hand(s) are marginal.

    I feel strangely calm about the outcome however. Seven years in the wilderness has dulled my ardor. At worst, a Harper majority, leading to a total game change on the part of the opposition, which, actually, is a silver lining. At best, a coalition between the LPC and NDP, which might just be exactly what this country needs to right itself.

    • MikeM says:

      I don’t see why the Liberals should fear running on the economy as well. Even if you believe that the Conservatives are competent (I see them as cruising on the Liberals tank full) the Liberals did a very good job. They even still have Ralph Goodale there so they could, in theory, jump back in without skipping a beat.

      • JStanton says:

        … you are not wrong, but, as the incumbent, Mr. Harper gets to frame the discourse, and propose that there is stability in having a consistent hand at the wheel. Nervous nellies might agree with him.

        The problem is that the LPC doesn’t have the cojones to really attack him on his economic record. Mr. Harper insists that he is good manager, because our economy is better than some. The LPC need to show the opportunity cost of Mr. Harper’s economic mediocrity.

        .

      • MontrealElite says:

        Indeed the LPC can campaign on the economy.

        Here’s a couple of questions I will be posing the CPC candidate in my riding.

        1) Was the stimulus effective in helping the economic rebound? (Answers is an obvious yes)

        2) Why then, did your economic update in Nov. 2008 contain ZERO stimulus?

        Ask your CPC candidates the same question and put that meme to rest.

  4. MontrealElite says:

    Heard Flaherty on local radio this am touting the private sector economists who hail his budget.

    Funny thing though, Jim didn’t think much of economists a couple years back.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkk_OR6Dqt8

    So Jimmy boy, if they were wrong then, why would they be right now?

  5. fritz says:

    I expect people will tune in to see if Harper pulls the plug before he gets defeated in the House but I think it will be the usual crap about how we don’t need an election now, what a good job the Tories are doing and the general evils of the coalition.

  6. smelter rat says:

    Whatever it is it will be delivered in his trademark monotone android-like voice. And also what Brad said.

  7. Dan F says:

    He still has an event later in the day, royal assent to a bill in the senate, so the writ isn’t coming down in the morning. Also, as the brilliant Kady O’Malley pointed out on twitter, if you had the advantage of using taxpayer dollars to sell your plan, wouldn’t you hang onto that until the last possible minute? I would bet on the writ coming down on Sunday night (but don’t listen to me, I also bet that Jack would cave and we wouldn’t be in this campaign)

  8. Thor says:

    Movie A Bronx Tale:
    Chaz Palmieri’s character locks door on rowdy bikers and tells them “Now you can’t leave.”
    Don’t like the budget? Well, then, like it or not, we’re going to the polls. Despite the bravado on all sides, methinks that there are some very nervous nicks and nellies.

  9. jbro says:

    iggy had a REAL piano at home when he was growing up, not a cardboard thing to soundlessly practice fingerings on.

    but to answer yr question – who gives a shit. he;s gonna bullshit us about something or other.

    i do expect a surprise at some point – this guy is desperate to hang onto power however he can, and is a devious mf.

  10. Dave Roberts says:

    Harper will say unless one of the opposition parties can support the budget in the next few days he will go to the GG.

  11. MontrealElite says:

    On the economic file, Harper governs likes the Liberals……without the surpluses of course.

  12. Cath says:

    Prorogue?

    • Chris says:

      I wish the Harper Government would stop presuming to speak on my behalf. I am a Canadian that wants this election, if for no other reason than to force the Cowardly Conservatives to stand by their record instead of blaming the Liberal party for everything that they do.

      Go ahead, Cons – show us what you’re made of.

      • MontrealElite says:

        I also want an election.

        Mind you , my riding, Westmount, hasn’t been anything but Liberal since Diefenbaker so I’m good.

        But I am going to pepper the CPC candidate with many questions and I suggest you all do the same in your respective ridings.

      • Cath says:

        Back at you Chris. Why is Michael Ignatieff making Canadians pay for what his inability to turn Liberal fortunes around? Because that’s what if feels like to me. He’s never done what was promised the Liberal grass roots base and allowed them to re-build and elect their leader.
        This election is all about greed and egos on all sides. Nothing more.

        • Chris says:

          See my post above re: blaming the Liberals.

          This minority government situation has gone on far too long.

          If the next election ends in a minority, I sincerely hope for an opposition coalition.

      • Philip says:

        Quoted for truth. I want to see Harper dragging his ass around Canada, walled off by his bloated PS detail, pretending to be an ordinary person.

    • Mike says:

      Ominous drum beat in background is Harper’s black heartbeat quickened to human audible range by his fear of defeat.

  13. Robert McClelland says:

    Harper is going to announce that the Conservatives and the NDP are entering into a formal coalition with the NDP receiving 4 cabinet posts; health, environment, transport and immigration.

  14. hugger says:

    Lego Man will use this to put forward the top 3 or 4 talking points knowing it will get National press coverage and be repeated numerous times by news anchors.

    He and little Jim haven’t had enough opportunity yet to frame the Oppo’s as being merely opportunistic Bolsheviks.

  15. Dave Roberts says:

    Is it April 1st already?

  16. Kasey says:

    One thing you can count on….he will be LATE.

  17. Dr.J says:

    Maybe he will discuss certain a Liberal MP behaviour with regards of nanny’s payment for a gag order? Well, that is my guess!!

  18. Ted says:

    I think Harper will pull the plug.

    He hates to lose or have things not go his way. Pulling the plug means the history books won’t ever say his government was defeated, won’t say his government was the first to ever be held in contempt of Parliament.

    He hates giving up any kind of control too and allowing his government to be defeated gives the opposition a semblance of controlling the agenda.

  19. wilson says:

    Perhaps PMSH is going to give Canadians an update on our forces in Libya.

  20. reformatory says:

    Start your engine’s folks. The faster we start this election the sooner Harper stops spending millions and millions of taxpayer money demonizing and attacking the opposition and advertising nonsensical things. We could have paid for the election by now- with the money Harper has been wasting. It’s time for him to go…. let’s ROLL.. CANADA!

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