Smart.  It never made sense to me that Harper would give up his “unnecessary election” talking point this morning, and say he was walking over to Rideau Hall to see the GG.  Along with the fact that his statement has now won me a number of bets on which I intend to collect/gloat, he can still say he was the guy who “wanted to make Parliament work,” blah blah blah, and that the Opposition are just politicians who are in it for themselves, blah blah blah.

As I say, smart.

Harper says opposition will have to push him into election; he won’t jump (FedElxn-Harper)
Source: The Canadian Press
Mar 23, 2011 12:19

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OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he won’t jump into an election; the opposition parties will have to push the government off the cliff.

Asked whether he will ask the Governor General for the dissolution of Parliament and an election, he gave a flat no.

“Our priority is the economy and that will continue to be our focus as long as we’re allowed to make that our focus,” he said.

Harper said the Liberals, NDP and Bloc, who have all pledged to vote against the budget handed down Tuesday, can still change their minds.

“The opposition still have the opportunity to put Canadians’ interests first,” he said. “It is not too late for them to step back.”

He rhymed off a string of measures from the budget, saying they are vital to support a still-fragile economic recovery.

“Our economy is not a political game,” he said.

But Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff wasn’t backing down and was ready to deliver the push into an election.

“We have a responsibility to say quite clearly that this government has lost the confidence of the House of Commons,” he said. “This government has lost the confidence of Canadians.”

He said he’s ready to introduce a non-confidence motion later today and debate it Friday.

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“That is the gist of the message we have to hear in the next few weeks. How will we be better people, a better community, in five, 10 years? No more intolerable waiting lists, for affordable housing, enhanced daycare that is the European and Japanese norm, no more Bangladeshi surgeons driving cab because the cartel of the Ontario Physicians and Surgeons has been broken (And the Law Society of Upper Canada, and the architects and so on.)

It can’t be Harper-bashing 24/7 because he’s been competent enough for that not to work. Any Harper foe is playing his game that way. The Grits and NDP have to play their own game, of how they intend to lead Canadians to a better place.”

The fact that he quotes me approvingly naturally may serve to, ahem, colour my judgment.  But the guy is smart! Listen to him, Grits!

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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.

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If a political party can prevent this from happening again, they would win a massive Parliamentary majority.

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It’s a campaign budget.  Something in there for everyone, etc.  That’s what I just told CITY-TV, anyway.

But that’s not the best part.  The best part came at the start, when Flaherty intoned that his was a government based on “principle,” quote unquote.

And the camera swung to reveal Bev Oda peering over his shoulder.

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From my colleague Jason, who (like everyone at Daisy) is familiar with my intricate plans to survive the inevitable Zombie takeover.

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I predict the NDP will cave.

Frankly, they have a bona fide reason for doing so – their leader is very ill.

Comments?  Contrary views?

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“Imagine, for a minute or two, that you are Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi. What are you going to do?

You are hunkered in your family’s compound, in Tripoli’s Bab al-Azizia barracks, with nowhere to flee. You are trapped. For weeks, your mercenaries had been beating back disorganized pro-democracy insurgents, mercilessly wiping them out with superior military might.

And then, early Sunday, U.S. President Barack Obama and his western allies — including Canada, whose former prime minister, Paul Martin, had just a few years ago come to Libya to sing your praises — did what you never thought they’d do. They attacked Libya.

They declared war on Libya, in effect, and declared they would not stop until you were dead, or deposed, or both.”

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As expected, the Opposition found the Harper regime in contempt of Parliament.

Now what?

It’s a big decision.  If the historic (and unprecedented) contempt finding is to mean anything, and if they are to avoid looking like rank hypocrites, the Opposition now must move non-confidence in the government.  They have no choice.  And, if everyone shows up to vote, the minority government will fall.

But is it a good idea, politically?  From my secure position in an armchair, pretty much everyone has a good reason to avoid an election right now:

• The Conservatives aren’t likely to get a majority – they’d likely only get what they have now.  And, with the sleaze and scandal now emanating regularly from their cabinet and backrooms, they might even lose some seats. They’ve got a leader many trust to be PM, but few like as a person.
• The NDP have recently taken a pounding in public opinion, and Jack Layton is still courageously fighting some serious health issues.  They’ve got a leader many like as a person, but who they don’t trust to be PM.
• The Liberals are likely to lose seats, based on recent polls – and they lack a ballot question, and have a dearth of nominated candidates.  Meanwhile, they’ve got a leader who is neither liked nor trusted.
• The Bloc?  They can’t be seen to be holding up some big federal transfer payments heading to Quebec – and terminating this Parliament would do just that.  They’ve got a leader, and they don’t give a rat’s ass if you like him or trust him.

My guess? Someone will get a case of Parliamentary flu.  No election.

Unless a bunch of them have gone batshit crazy, that is, which – it being Ottawa and all – you can never really eliminate as a factor.

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