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.Nope. Recommend this Post
The NDP is adamantly opposed to the trade pact due to Colombia's record of human rights abuses.
Supporting the ways and means motion would not prevent New Democrats from voting later against the trade pact. But the party must decide whether it wants to be seen to be facilitating the trade deal in any way (emphasis mine).
Monday, September 14, 2009
Simple Answers To Simple Questions
From the Star:
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I think I can explain that.
ReplyDeleteThis tells me that the Tories aren't all that against going to the polls this fall.
They're happy to take Layton's support for a while, but they don't feel like playing Paul Martin circa spring 2005 to him -- they don't want to be seen as having their pockets picked, policy-wise, by the Dippers.
If that is so, then this is a case of the Conservatives being too clever by half.
ReplyDeleteThat may well be -- the Liberals were smug, going into December 2005.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't see an alternative read here to that -- I think the Tories are aching to see how they can do against Ignatieff...
I agree, but if they aren't very careful, they will end up wearing the blame for the election and that is something they claim to want to avoid.
ReplyDeleteCould be.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I think they're all right with not having an election, too. But on their terms.
And let's not mince words: Conservatives are pro-free trade. This is a major part of Harper's foreign policy. So if he falls on it, he falls on it -- it's not an unreasonable point to fall on.
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But this is why NDP/Tory alliances are not really workable for any length of time -- there is a simple clash of policy prescriptions and ideology.
But this is why NDP/Tory alliances are not really workable for any length of time -- there is a simple clash of policy prescriptions and ideology
ReplyDeleteAgreed. If it happens at all, it will be a very short run thing.