City
Toronto MP Ignatieff To Remain Opposition Leader
Toronto's own Michael Ignatieff will remain the leader of the opposition as he plans to have his Liberal party support the budget announced yesterday - but with a caveat. Ignatieff intends to introduce an amendment requiring periodic economic status updates to parliament. The requirement appears to be the price Conservatives must pay to remain in power.
The NDP and Bloc have been clear that they would not support this budget and it's been hard to tell how seriously the Liberals were considering defeating the budget, although as of last night it was reported that Ignatieff was not expected to simply support the budget as presented.
With so much political wrangling - a dirty dance not likely to stop - what does all this mean for Toronto?
Depending on who I listen to, I hear everything from Toronto being well taken care of to us getting left in the dirt. Jack Layton is taking to the airwaves to explain why he has no confidence in the Harper government - and that they aren't going to make good on their budgetary promises.
Of course when interviewed this morning, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty went on at length about how well he knows Toronto and how badly Union Station needs upgrading and that Toronto will see more than enough federal money to take on capital projects. He practically accused our municipal government of ignoring critical needs, suggesting that the federal government was now stepping in to take care of us.
David Miller has deep concerns about whether he'll be able to advance his Transit City project, and while he won't outright blast the federal government (after all, he wants their money!), it's obvious he's not happy, either.
So, rightly or wrongly, it was left to Toronto's own Michael Ignatieff to find some sort of way forward, and it appears he's content to let the government stand - at least for now - while trying to exert the influence of the potential coalition.
Right, so how does this help Toronto? I guess we'll find out just how well our MPs can get along, but they're certainly throwing enough money at the problems something should improve.
Photo by blogTO flickr pool member lipsofcrimson.
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We belong to a club where every year membership costs increase and club benefits are always reduced.
Yeah as soon as we get some info about the Cadmann affair, elections fraud and etc from the cons.
And that 48.5 millions are nothing compared with the BILLIONS the conservatives wasted already during this pathetic political time in Canada with Harper, the biggest liar of our times.
If Ignatieff had toppled the government, while all of Queen street would be stoned and happy, the majority of the country would be pissed off. And if the recession gets any worse (which by all accounts it WILL)they will Likely be pissed off enough to hand the Conservatives a majority in the next election--Harper could walk away scott free, and blame the recession on "liberal spending". You want a Harper majority? you think he's a prick NOW?
This way, Harper looks like a coward for caving, (and one thing Conservatives despise is weakness)and if he tries to hand off blame for a recession, the question will be asked why he changed the budget if he disagreed with it. Making him look even more like a coward.
This way, Harper is accountable to the people, rather than the Frasier institute, and the banks. Ignatieff played this like a pro, and is for all intents and purposes, the defacto Prime minister. Harper didn't even see it coming.
If Iggy's vision is that great how come he didn't foresee that now he will have some very resentful enemies with the NDP and the Bloc. They will go against him, and will try anything to stop his prime ministerial dreams.
Guess the lust for even the remote chance to sit in power was just too much for them to even think further than that.