Canada's left mulls new price for backing Martin

[Minstrel Boy]

Canada's left mulls new price for backing Martin

Thu May 26, 2005 1:46 PM GMT-04:00
By Randall Palmer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's leftist New Democratic Party, which helped the minority Liberal government survive a confidence vote, said on Thursday it may make fresh demands as a price of its continued support.

The New Democrats reached a deal a month ago to support the government's budget legislation, with the Liberals agreeing to drop proposed corporate tax cuts and boost social spending by C$4.6 billion ($3.6 billion).

But even once the budget legislation is passed, "there are other things we'd like this government to take a look at," New Democratic Party spokesman Ian Capstick said.

...

Conservative Member of Parliament Jason Kenney said it would be a "disaster in the making for Canadian taxpayers" if the NDP continued to wring concessions out of Martin. "It is a sign of Paul Martin's desperation that the man who styles himself as a pro-free-trade fiscal conservative is ... potentially willing to seal a deal with Canada's socialist party that will undermine investor confidence in Canada and ultimately will end up costing taxpayers big-time," Kenney said.

http://www.metronews.ca/reuters_national.asp?id=75237

[Spazito]

1. This is the positive aspect to minority governments, imo

It forces the Liberals left and drives the faux Cons nuts, a win/win situation, lol!

[Minstrel Boy]

2. Yeah. I'd like to see a long-term arrangement,

but the Liberals are up in the polls, and since Martin's already promised an election as soon as Gomery reports, he may not be keen to sign on.

[Spazito]

3. It will be interesting, for sure, to see how Martin does deal with

this. He isn't high enough in the polls to be arrogant at all and I suspect his internal polling would show Canadians want a government that works and also that the NDP were the only party to come out of the non-confidence debacle with any integrity. Martin would be wise to capitalize on the NDP's rising star and work with them, it would be the politically smart thing to do, imo.

[yvr girl]

4. The Liberals won't want to make the NDP

look like heroes though. It's a fine line for them to tread.

[Spazito]

6. Agree, it is a calculated risk either way for the Libs

will be very interesting to see how this develops. My bet is Martin will strike some smaller short-term commitments that can be fulfilled well before the next election so they can hype their 'ability to work with other parties'. There won't be any big projects that can help further the image of the NDP.

[applegrove]

10. I agree. Time to see the boots on the NDP. n/t

[getmeouttahere]

5. Well, I hope they do decide to tread that fine line....

because we sure as hell don't need another conservative government in North America!

[MrPrax]

7. Go F*ck Yerself, Jason

What's the fat little turd on about now--potholes?...

oh no--"seal a deal with Canada's socialist party that will undermine investor confidence in Canada and ultimately will end up costing taxpayers big-time"

What a jerk--surprised he didn't call it the 'deal with the devil' again--

Mind you, wasn't the 'deal' with Homolka supposed to be the 'deal with the devil' and before that the 'deal' with Clifford Olsen?

On the bright side, every time one of those cranks like Jason quotes something out of the National comPost and pretends to be a politician, the Tories usually lose a point or two--

Screwballs...

[Lisa]

8. hmm -- how about "letting US war resisters stay in Canada"?

I seem to recall that, back in the day, the NDP pressured the Vietnam-era Liberal minority government into doing this (along with the United Church of Canada and student groups).

[daleo]

9. Jason Kenney is one of the Conservatives biggest goofs.

That's all I can say. The old "it will scare the international investors" ploy doesn't work without a deficit, Kenney.

[CHIMO]

11. Jason

Needs a girl friend. Or maybe a boyfriend. He might find one over at the Fraser Co. Inc.

He would be able to run across the front of the White House a bit faster!

[Selatius]

12. Why is it that socialists are always equated to pure evil?

This grates on my nerves. It's like saying Noam Chomsky is a Stalin wannabe. It's bullshit. It's as if it is not enough that democratic socialists and anarcho-socialists have repeatedly faced state terrorism in the past but that they also have to be demonized.