NDP may be willing to support EI changes

The Conservative government intends to introduce legislation that would provide temporary, additional employment insurance benefits for unemployed workers who have previously been paying into the system for years.

It's a move that could help stave off Canada's fourth federal election in less than six years -- if the NDP agrees to support the changes in the House of Commons, which appears to be a likely scenario.

snip

The NDP do not want an election at this time, which would cost the country $350 million and has party members concerned about taking part in a campaign.

"Right now, a lot of New Democrats are worried about going into an election campaign and therefore, you're seeing a change in attitude on the part of Mr. Layton," Fife said.

more

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090914/parliament_election_090914/20090914?hub=TopStories

on Sept 30-Oct 1.

It will have nothing to do with any particular bill.

but because their coffers are in need and they will not increase their support. If Layton and the NDP vote against the non-confidence motion, which would not surprise me sadly, they will pay a price in the end, imo.

From a tactical point of view, I don't think this is an advantageous time for an election for the NDP. But from a strategic point of view, supporting Harper is probably a losing proposition for them.

I don't know if Harper will go along with the NDP for long, though. I think he will "refuse to take yes for an answer" soon enough, for the following reasons:
- Firstly, I think he really hates the NDP, and requiring their support will stick in his craw.
- Secondly, it has a whiff of desperation about it, same as Paul Martin had in 2005. Conservatives won't want to look weak, even if it is a good tactical move.
- Thirdly, Harper's psychological makeup seems to demand confrontation, and he seems to thrive on twisting the knife into his opponents. It is his tragic flaw. I don't think he will pass up a chance to do so to Layton for long.

his conundrum would whether to twist the knife into the Libs using the NDP or not. It all depends on their internal polling, imo.

To think, Layton ditched Paul Martin's national childcare program and the Kelowna accord and ultimately got this extremely thin gruel. And even at that, Harper will stab Layton in the back and humiliate him the first chance he gets. I just shake my head at the folly.

From what I read, the changes to EI are to be introduced Friday, surprise, surprise, and if CRAP doesn't fall, watch how quickly there would be amendments to the proposed EI changes and NOT to the good. If Layton backs the CRAP he betrays his own position, imo, because his original 'demands' were for greater changes in EI PLUS changes in other areas as well.

Have an opposition party!

PM has new love for 'socialists': Ignatieff
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff accused Stephen Harper of forming his own coalition with the NDP, as members of Parliament returned Monday from summer break to speculation of a possible federal election.

Ignatieff fired the first salvo at Prime Minister Stephen Harper during question period, accusing him of cozying up to the NDP — the same people he has referred to as socialists. The attack was in reference to a Tory plan to extend employment insurance benefits, a proposal the NDP has signalled it could support.

It was also a reference to a recent speech Harper gave to his supporters, in which the prime minister warned that if the Conservatives don't get a majority, the Liberals will govern in a coalition, “propped up by the socialists and the separatists."

"I find it curious that after weeks of berating the idea of a coalition, the prime minister seems to be hard at work forming one himself and with people that he referred to until this morning as socialists," Ignatieff said.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/14/parliament-house-commons-vote281.html


Layton hints he may keep Tories alive -- for now

There is a ways-and-means vote taking place on Friday that could potentially take down the government. However, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe eased any tension in that vote, when he indicated Monday that his party would support the Conservatives on that measure.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090914/parliament_election_090914/20090914?hub=TopStories

And lastly.

MP has H1N1 concerns for federal election
An NDP MP from Winnipeg has written to Elections Canada about H1N1 concerns should a fall federal election be called.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis wants to know what measures Elections Canada has in place to safeguard voters from the spread of swine flu, considering an election poses significant health risks with large public events and many people coming into contact during canvassing.

"As you are no doubt aware, experts expect a strong resurgence in H1N1 infections in the coming months, with high incidences in some communities, including remote aboriginal communities," Wasylycia-Leis wrote in her letter, dated Friday and addressed to Marc Mayrand, Canada's chief electoral officer.

"An election poses significant potential public health risks. Large public events, canvassing and other typical campaign activities, not to mention polling booths and long line-ups to vote on election day, all result in a great deal of contact between members of the public.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/09/14/mb-wasylycia-leis-election-h1n1-winnipeg.html
A bit out of character. She should be going to the RCMP.

Again. Finally we will have an opposition party. And remember. All we have to do is knock seats away from Harper to see his coat tails.

I hope the Libs point out how the PM and his party have been 'missing in action' when it comes to defending Canada's universal health care system.

LOL at Judy Wasylycia-Leis, I wonder why she wasn't concerned about all the shoppers in malls getting their kids ready for school seeing as they, too, result in a great deal of contact between members of the public.

This proves it.

Most of the campus Liberals are in cahoots with the broad right. There is a lot more to the pulse of this country than Jack Layton's tactical considerations. Liberals are too dense to grasp this though.

Turnout in the 18-24 range is what, fifteen percent averaged across the last two elections?

It used to be that university students could bring about changes nationally, but the current crop in Canada threw that away.

(I very much enjoyed watching Romeo Dallaire slag Dalhousie's student body over it last winter. Made a lot of slacktivists uncomfortable.)

Of The Story.

NDP expected to back Tories

Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe said today his MPs will support the ways and means motion if it includes the home renovation tax credit — and no poison pills.

However, the party was surprised late Monday to find that the motion also contains a possible poison pill: a reference to tax measures that will go into effect should Parliament approve separate legislation on a free trade agreement with Colombia.

The NDP is adamantly opposed to the trade pact due to Colombia's record of human rights abuses.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/695415#

So that's it folks.

Not one day old and Harper can't stand being painted as giving in.

Don't forget, NDP and BLOC, all we have to do is have Harper back in a minority parliament with 20 or 30 seats less and then he is toast!

I can't get too offended at the specific plans that the Bloc and NDP each plan to support as far as the confidence bills in questions go - the EI thing and the home renovation tax credit seem decent to me. If the government goes down by insisting on something else when they're already in a precarious position, though, that means we not only lose a couple of potentially good things (for awhile), but we lose them because of an extravagantly stupid governing party.

That somehow manages to be more than twice as annoying as either of those in isolation. I wish they'd at least play nice with the other three parties until they get explicitly no-confidenced.