Now that the Liberal caucus seems unified around Iggy's proposed reforms of the long-gun registry, that still leaves the opposition parties a few votes shy of what they need to keep the thing alive. Will these come from the NDP, who lost a full dozen MPs to the government position last time around?
From Taber in The Globe:
NDP Leader Jack Layton had allowed his MPs to vote their conscience on this issue – 12 of them did just that last November. Yesterday, however, he would not commit to allowing a free vote again when the Hoeppner bill comes back to the House.
“Well that’s a big if. I’ll address it then,” he told reporters when asked if the NDP MPs who voted against it were not satisfied with the changes to the registry that he wants to bring in.
More slippery stuff in the NP:
NDP leader Jack Layton said his party will propose amendments to Ms. Hoeppner's bill, but he would not comment on whether he will whip his MPs to vote against the bill.
Meanwhile, NDP MP Peter Stoffer, who voted with the government last time out, tells his leader to get boned.
Not much hope from that direction, I'm afraid.
Personally I don't actually care if the registry falls or not, as I wrote before the Libs handled this badly right from when the law was first introduced. I do think a registry is a good idea to help police solve crimes (just like they keep DNA banks and sex offender records) and if it actually helps to prevent them - that's a bonus. But the registry should have been set up as Iggy's been proposing just yesterday; at no cost (my own thought was a $10 charge) to the owners and no criminal record if you fail to register.
ReplyDeleteBut if the registry falls thanks to the the dozen NDP MPs who voted with the government the last time - that's one more legacy the NDP will leave for the progressive community. Add that to the end of child care (which the Martin government did create - a $4 billion plan), and the Kelowna accord. Layton's NDP - working hard to screw the centre-left, kitchen table crowd.
Oh, added bonus, the province which is most favourable to the registry is Quebec. Mulcair and the rest of the NDP candidates from la belle should have a real fun time in the next election. If I were the Libs, I know where I'd start with the attack ads in Outremont.
This is very important to some folks so I think we should make it a confidance vote.
ReplyDeleteThis is very important to some folks so I think we should make it a confidance vote.
ReplyDeleteI guess with the Afghan torture probe, and the Helena Guergis situation, an election is preferable to governing. ;)
But if the registry falls thanks to the the dozen NDP MPs who voted with the government the last time - that's one more legacy the NDP will leave for the progressive community... Layton's NDP - working hard to screw the centre-left, kitchen table crowd.
ReplyDeleteExcept that this isn't necessarily a "centre-left" or "progressive" issue. In the last EKOS poll 35.2% of Dippers supported abolishing the registry compared to 28.9% who want to keep it. The rest "don't know".
http://www.cbc.ca/news/pdf/ekosdata-tables-nov18.pdf
Is that the same "some" that likes to speak on behalf of all Canadians without actually knowing what they want or the one that causes Jim to spazz out whenever he tries to make an argument?
ReplyDeleteWho ever heard of a confidence vote on a private member's bill
ReplyDeleteLiberals only need some of the NDP vote to win more seats.
ReplyDeleteI choose young urban and suburban moms worried about gun crime violence.
The NDP can have whatever elements of angry older white men don't vote Tory.
It's a win for the Liberals.
"Who ever heard of a confidence vote on a private member's bill"
ReplyDeleteWho ever heard of a whipped vote on a private member's bill.