NDP Jack Layton continues to walk the fine, maybe infinitesimally fine, line between criticizing the Liberals as a moral corrupt party but one in which he will prop up if he can get NDP policy implemented.
...The leader of the New Democrats says he's asked Martin to consider adopting a number of measures put forward by his party, – such as the ethics reform package, protection for pensions and the environment and a renewed commitment to public health care – before making a decision.
"If [Martin is] willing to take action on a few key issues over the next few weeks, then perhaps we can wait until the election in the winter," said Layton. "If not, then clearly the parliament serves no positive purpose."
Martin has promised to call an election within 30 days after the final sponsorship report is delivered on Feb. 1.
Layton says he has asked the prime minister to deliver a specific answer on protecting public health care by Thursday morning. He didn't specify what the deadline would mean.
"We know there will be an election. It's a question of whether it comes in 120 days or so, or sooner," he said.
The Liberals have already called this bluff once and it would not surprise me if they did it again. I understand what Mr. Layton is trying to do but this could easily blow up in his face. If the Liberals do not agree on the NDP proposal and the NDP do not force the government down then Mr. Layton could be a spent force. Furthermore, if the Liberals agree with the NDP then what really would be the difference between the NDP and the Liberals? I understand that Mr. Layton can go to the voters with the "see what I can do with a central role" approach but he might just as easily get squeezed right out. This is a dangerous dance and I, for one, am really curious to see how it works out.
Update: Robert Fife reports that the Liberals are considering coming to agreement with the NDP on Health Care. I think it is more about delaying - on both the Liberals and NDP part. If they keep negoetiating this week then any chance of a fall election is pretty off. The NDP will claim that if the Conservatives want an election they will still have an opportunity to have one by bringing them down later in November. If the campaign is extended then Canadians would go to the polls in mid-January. There is really no chance of that happening but it is a good tactic to deflect criticism that the NDP has received this week.
Greg
Weston expands on this idea.
..."If there's no significant action on these and other matters in a very few days ahead, then ... we will have to make a decision accordingly," Layton said. "There will be a decision soon."
The operative word is "soon." Privately, the Conservatives are praying Layton chickens out on going to the polls until much later.
One of the few veteran Conservative MPs with any influence over the political strategists who inhabit Harper's bunker of bunk, predicts without equivocation that "there isn't going to be an election this fall.
"We fully expect that Layton will run out the clock ... He will continue his so-called negotiations with Martin until it is too late to call an election before Christmas."
That deadline is tomorrow. The Commons is in recess next week, and by the time MPs return, the minimum 35 days required for an election campaign would push voting day into Christmas.
All of which is probably Harper's saving grace, or at least a stay of execution.
