FUCK THE POLICE
911 EVERY DAY
This guy supports the Iraq war and torture.
Let's just say this turn of events makes an ousting of Harper much less likely. Ignatieff is more likely to go into coalition with Harper than the left. The only question is, will the Liberals start splitting the vote with the Conservatives, rather than the NDP and Greens, in the next election?
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1232881320081212
UPDATE 1-Canada PM meets with opposition leader on budget
Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:23pm EST
By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday held his first meeting with the main opposition party's new leader, who is threatening to help bring down the minority Conservative government unless it delivers a stimulus-rich budget next month.
Michael Ignatieff on Wednesday took over as head of the Liberals, the official opposition, and said he was prepared if necessary to vote with other parties to defeat Harper over the budget, due on Jan. 27.
"It was a businesslike meeting. They talked about the economy and the upcoming budget. Mr. Ignatieff made it clear ... that the ball is in Harper's camp. It's up to him to put up a credible economic plan," said a Liberal spokesman. Harper's chief spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
The opposition parties last week signed a coalition deal to bring down the government as soon as they could but signs are emerging that tensions might be easing.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said earlier that he would hold talks on the budget with senior Liberals on Monday.
The Liberals indicated doubts about the usefulnes of such a meeting, saying they wanted Flaherty to produce accurate details about the economy. He presented a fiscal update last month that many economists dismissed as unrealistic.
"I am prepared to listen to the views of the coalition," Flaherty said during a televised news conference in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The opposition parties says the budget should contain major stimulus measures, an approach the government says it backs, and boost spending on infrastructure projects.
"It's quite clear that infrastructure is a very good way to stimulate the economy. ... We can invest more in infrastructure but it needs to be fast," said Flaherty, repeating that Ottawa planned to spend C$6 billion ($4.8 billion) on infrastructure projects next year.
The Liberals are unhappy with November's fiscal update, which forecast that Ottawa would stay in the black for the next five years if it did not take any stimulus measures.
The government's forecast contradicted those of many economists and Parliament's own budgetary officer, who see deficits of various sizes.
"We are prepared to have a constructive discussion if he is prepared to provide Canadians and ourselves with honest fiscal numbers," said Liberal finance spokesman Scott Brison.
"It's very difficult to develop honest solutions unless you're being honest about the nature of the fiscal situation. ... You can't build a real stimulus package based on a false fiscal framework," Brison said.
Flaherty told the Saint John Board of Trade that 2009 would test Canada in unprecedented ways. Continued...
Let's just say this turn of events makes an ousting of Harper much less likely. Ignatieff is more likely to go into coalition with Harper than the left. The only question is, will the Liberals start splitting the vote with the Conservatives, rather than the NDP and Greens, in the next election?
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1232881320081212
UPDATE 1-Canada PM meets with opposition leader on budget
Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:23pm EST
By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday held his first meeting with the main opposition party's new leader, who is threatening to help bring down the minority Conservative government unless it delivers a stimulus-rich budget next month.
Michael Ignatieff on Wednesday took over as head of the Liberals, the official opposition, and said he was prepared if necessary to vote with other parties to defeat Harper over the budget, due on Jan. 27.
"It was a businesslike meeting. They talked about the economy and the upcoming budget. Mr. Ignatieff made it clear ... that the ball is in Harper's camp. It's up to him to put up a credible economic plan," said a Liberal spokesman. Harper's chief spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
The opposition parties last week signed a coalition deal to bring down the government as soon as they could but signs are emerging that tensions might be easing.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said earlier that he would hold talks on the budget with senior Liberals on Monday.
The Liberals indicated doubts about the usefulnes of such a meeting, saying they wanted Flaherty to produce accurate details about the economy. He presented a fiscal update last month that many economists dismissed as unrealistic.
"I am prepared to listen to the views of the coalition," Flaherty said during a televised news conference in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The opposition parties says the budget should contain major stimulus measures, an approach the government says it backs, and boost spending on infrastructure projects.
"It's quite clear that infrastructure is a very good way to stimulate the economy. ... We can invest more in infrastructure but it needs to be fast," said Flaherty, repeating that Ottawa planned to spend C$6 billion ($4.8 billion) on infrastructure projects next year.
The Liberals are unhappy with November's fiscal update, which forecast that Ottawa would stay in the black for the next five years if it did not take any stimulus measures.
The government's forecast contradicted those of many economists and Parliament's own budgetary officer, who see deficits of various sizes.
"We are prepared to have a constructive discussion if he is prepared to provide Canadians and ourselves with honest fiscal numbers," said Liberal finance spokesman Scott Brison.
"It's very difficult to develop honest solutions unless you're being honest about the nature of the fiscal situation. ... You can't build a real stimulus package based on a false fiscal framework," Brison said.
Flaherty told the Saint John Board of Trade that 2009 would test Canada in unprecedented ways. Continued...