Ayes 153 Noes 150

[chickenfeet]

We have a potential constitutional crisis on our hands.

Comments

[carlanime.livejournal.com]

Yup.

Oimoi, talas. ::sigh::

[forthright.livejournal.com]

Martin now says he'll have the budget vote on the nineteenth, which of course doesn't satisfy Harper or Duceppe, who want the budget vote today. A short while ago, I read this story on the CBC (http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/11/pm-budget050511.html) which *had* a very interesting quote from Duceppe, which has now been excised from the story, apparently, but it's still on the Macleans article:

"I'm telling him he would have the co-operation of the Bloc Quebecois if he would have the vote today. Otherwise no collaboration - but no collaboration at all." (http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/politics/news/shownews.jsp?content=n051117A)

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the BQ waits for the budget to pass, *then* brings down the government with the Tories during one of the opposition days at the end of the month.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

I guess my read is that Martin is every bit as arrogant as Chretien. He's using a technicality to hang on to power. It's shabby.

[forthright.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I agree completely that Martin should call for a non-confidence vote immediately (on the budget, ideally), and I wonder whether Duceppe is extending an olive branch by inviting Martin to call the budget vote earlier than the 19th in return for support. I'm honestly not sure why the BQ would do such a thing, but then I'm often bemused by the BQ's actions. The line "Otherwise no collaboration - but no collaboration at all" is classic. Alternately, maybe a backroom Martin-Duceppe deal? Who knows?

We now seem to be at the point where many people who held their noses and voted Liberal last time won't be doing so again. We lefties over here in Trinity-Spadina don't have any worries, because the NDP is a cinch to take this riding from the Liberals this time, but what about the rest of the GTA? (You're in Toronto Centre-Rosedale, right?) I don't see any solution.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

but what about the rest of the GTA? (You're in Toronto Centre-Rosedale, right?) I don't see any solution.

Neither do I at this stage. Last time I voted, reluctantly, for Bill Graham. I guess I will likely vote NDP this time.

[forthright.livejournal.com]

I suppose there is a case to be made that even if they are running the worst possible candidates, the NDP is the only major federal party fully in support of proportional representation. I once hoped, not so long ago, that a Conservative minority government would have enough old-style Reformers to have PR as part of their platform, and could use NDP support to get such a bill passed. But it only took the new Tories about fifteen minutes to realize that it was not to their electoral advantage to do so, and you don't hear them talking about it any more. My only consolation is the wry smile that will be on my face when the Liberal opposition points out in three months' time that the Tories are governing with the mandate of only 30% of the electorate.

[carlanime.livejournal.com]

"Shabby" is a good word; it's got the right mixture of distaste and disdain--can I use that, as well as the cookie-jar line, for my next poll? (I'll credit you if you like).

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

of course you can!