IT'S ON! (you can watch Jack Layton's speech here)
More on this from Bourque Newswatch:
...NDP leader Jack Layton has decided to pull the plug on the governing Liberals, this in the wake of last week's Gomery Report, a weekend think about a proposed Liberal health care package, various arm twists from the likes of the CAW's Buzz Hargrove and myriad MPs like Ed Broadbent and Bill Blaikie, provincial heavyweights, and ordinary NDP members from one end of the country to the other. The bombshell was let loose moments ago in a speech to the Empire Club. Pulling the plug on this Parliament could happen as early as November 15, leading to a pre-Christmas election day. According to sources inside the party, "It could be his finest hour, or it could blow up in his face", this referring to the very real risk that the next election may cost the NDP both seats AND influence due to the election of either another minority government or a new majority government for either the Liberals or the Conservatives. One Parliament Hill regular told Bourque that "Layton is smart to pull the plug, he¹s hit the end of the road. The only way to capitalize on what he¹s done is to go into an election while the Liberals are down. It¹s about opportunity, and it doesn¹t get much better than this." Already, phone lines are buzzing as NDP insiders reach out to party movers and shakers, all of them waiting, wondering, and watching for the big announcement's blowtorch ramifications.
More from the CBC.
..."What the government is proposing is unacceptable," said Layton during a speech in Toronto. "There's no basis for our party to express confidence in this government."
...The time for a vote is approaching "sooner, not later," said Layton, who didn't give any further indication of a time frame.
"This parliament's life is likely limited ... by the unethical
Again from the CBC.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who spoke moments after Layton's speech, said he believes the NDP leader still hasn't made up his mind and is still negotiating with the Liberals.
"It's the same soap opera. We will continue to assume that Mr. Layton is still bargaining with the Liberal government," said Harper.
The Tory leader said his party won't introduce a confidence motion before Christmas because he doesn't believe Layton will follow through with a three-party opposition attack.
If Layton is serious about bringing down the government, Layton has to present "a clear confidence motion that speaks to corruption in the Liberals," said Harper.
The Bloc Québécois leader, Gilles Duceppe, echoed Harper, saying that though he has no confidence in the government, Layton "has to make a move."
What did Mr. Layton do to Mr. Harper and Duceppe!? Man, they do not trust him. He looks to be handing them the opportunity they need and their distrust is getting in the way of taking it. Stop messing around and go for it. If you don't the Liberals will find a way to weasle out of all of this....they always do.
Update: Paul Wells agrees with me (ok, ok, I agree with him).
Stephen Harper...
... seriously, seriously needs to stop looking gift horses in the mouth.
Update II: Bob Tarantino says:
...unless I'm missing something, that it's now the Conservatives who would be propping up the Martin Liberals
