From Government whip Jay Hill's column today:
Over the next several weeks, our Government will be undertaking a cross-country tour, meeting with Canadians as we enter Phase II of Canada’s Economic Action Plan and leading up to the Throne Speech on March 3rd and the federal Budget on March 4th.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and a number of my other Cabinet colleagues, including myself, will be meeting with and hearing from Canadian families, homeowners, workers, business-owners and industries across the country about how best to meet our economic goals.
Paul Wells wrote yesterday about the various means by which Harper's Tories intended to co-opt Liberal strategy, but he doesn't mention Iggy's much derided plan for a "listening tour", so I am thinking this has been cobbled together rather hastily to demonstrate that yes indeed the government is "working for Canadians". Consider this quote from the Tory website (dated January 02,2010), which contrasts Iggy's gallivanting with the steady, stay at home Harper and co.:
As Michael Ignatieff travels the country promising lavish new spending, the result such reckless policies would be higher taxes for everyone.
Our Conservative Government will remain committed to responsible economic leadership by continuing to carry out Canada’s Economic Action Plan. We will always work in the best interest of Canadians, their families and our economy.
But that was then and this is now, right?
Incidentally, last Kady night posted an interesting analysis of the recent EKO poll results. One bit stood out:
Regionally, Atlantic Canadians were more likely to characterize themselves as "strongly opposed" [to prorogation] than denizens of any other province...
Not surprising, when you think of it. This is a region of the country that has long been derided by Western Conservatives (including Mr. Harper himself in an earlier incarnation) for being lazy no-goods, and now you've got a gov. straight outta Calgary that's awarded itself a three month vacation. That's gotta grate. Bums from out West, anyone?
Might be nice to get that itinerary. Little prorogue protests might "derail" the desired presentation.
ReplyDeleteOK Libs, stay ahead of this and show the media that governments have always gone to the people for advice before creating a budget, without the need to prorogue Parliament. Oh look, here’s a list of pre-budget consults by the Harper government without proroguing:
ReplyDeleteDepartment of Finance Canada - Recent Discussions
You can of course go back to Paul Martin’s famous public consults before he drafted his first budget as Finance Minister …Chrétien didn’t seem to think he needed to prorogue parliament to clean up Mulroney/Wilson’s mess.
Remind the public that regardless of Harper’s spin and sugarcoating of the subject with his ‘we’re working by talking to the people, honest’ shtick, that this was a full frontal attack on the most fundamental democratic institution of our country.
And the damage control begins.
ReplyDeleteProrogation means no pre-budget consultations are held by the Standing Committee on Finance. No committee = no formal consultations.
ReplyDeleteInputs are therefore all behind closed doors.
OT Canwest publishing group uyp for sale:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Canwest+publishing+group+sale+after+filing/2420298/story.html
wv = diate
Prorogue protests?
ReplyDeleteOther then Facebook? Surely you're kidding Steve.
Canadians are gearing up to celebrate the Olympics. They don't want to see a bunch of dour, bitter progressives and their histrionics messing things up.
They do want to see a lot more Miga, Quatchi and Sumi.
Get over yourselves.
Enough of that troll, BCL.
ReplyDeleteIf we do happen to win a gold, CMPs will be lining up for photos.
ReplyDeleteOne could hope for a Ross Rebagliati.
Paul S: "Canadians are gearing up to celebrate the Olympics. They don't want to see a bunch of dour, bitter progressives and their histrionics messing things up."
ReplyDeleteYou know, Canadians have the ability to multitask.