Harper Appeals to Canadians in Address
Source: The Canadian Press
Posted: 12/03/08 8:14PM
Filed Under: Canada
OTTAWA - Stephen Harper made an extraordinary televised appeal to Canadians Wednesday night in an effort to turn public opinion against the opposition coalition, calling it a threat to the economy - and to democracy.
Budget Fallout |
Surrounded by members of the Newfoundland and Labrador caucus, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff speaks with the media on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009 and said he would let the Newfoundland and Labrador MP's vote against the budget in protest of unilateral changes to the Atlantic Accord. |
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The prime minister dropped the angry tone of recent days as he asked for the support of voters and justified his bid to hold on to power.
He repeated his vow to use "every legal means at our disposal" to stop opposition plans to bring down his minority Conservative government in a confidence vote Monday.
But he admitted no errors in political judgment and offered no hint of whether he will ask the Governor General to suspend Parliament.
Harper is expected to follow up the speech with a visit to Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean on Thursday morning, likely to ask that she prorogue Parliament until late January when he can present a budget.
Liberals Bungle TV Address |
In the battle of the airwaves Wednesday, Dec. 3, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion showed up almost an hour late and a few pixels short in his duel with the prime minister he hopes to replace. Above, Caleb Reid, five, climbs on his mom Andrea Reid as she watches Dion address the nation during a national TV broadcast about the current Parliamentary crisis from their rural Alberta home near Cremona, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008. |
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PHOTOS |
He condemned the Liberal-NDP coalition, which is backed by the Bloc Quebecois, as a dangerous deal with the separatists - the same separatists he flirted with four years ago.
Harper gave nearly identical four-minute speeches in English and French, with the exception that he referred to the Bloc as "separatists" in English and "sovereigntists" in French - a word preferred by Quebecers.
He told voters the opposition is trying to take power "without your say, without your consent, and without your vote."
"At a time like this, a coalition with the separatists cannot help Canada," he said, flanked by two Canadian flags.
"And the Opposition does not have the democratic right to impose a coalition with the separatists they promised voters would never happen."
In fact, every constitutional experts has said the coalition is legal and legitimate.
Opposition MPs have assailed Harper for what they called a desperate ploy to cling to power despite the fact that proroguing Parliament would preclude any major spending at a time of economic crisis.
They point out that Harper signed a letter with the separatist Bloc in 2004 advising the Governor General to consider letting the opposition govern should the Liberal government of Paul Martin fall.
Harper took pains to emphasize that he is working on the economy, outlining several measures the government is taking, including consulting premiers and international partners.
But he said new economic initiatives will wait until the federal budget Jan. 27.
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion insisted Harper must go because of his failure to focus on the economy.
"His mini-budget last week demonstrated that his priority is partisanship and settling ideological scores," Dion said in response.
"We offer a better way. We say settle it now and let's get to work on the people's business. A vote is scheduled for next Monday. Let it proceed. And let us all show maturity in accepting the result with grace and the larger task of serving Canadians in mind."
Liberals squarely blame his combative streak for causing a political showdown the Tories are now using to demonize Quebec separatists.
Dion sent a letter to Jean on Wednesday urging her to reject any attempt by Harper to prorogue Parliament.
Catcalls filled the House of Commons for a third straight day as Dion accused Harper of trying to save his political skin at the expense of allowing Parliament to focus on a sputtering economy.
"Why does the prime minister care more about his own job than allowing Parliament to save the jobs of Canadians?"
Harper shot back that Dion could help save those jobs by co-operating with the teetering Conservatives.
"He can reach across the aisle and work with this government, which will be pleased to work with him on saving this economy."
Harper later announced that he has invited the premiers for a mid-January economic summit, a way of demonstrating that he's working on economic matters despite the political turmoil.
Harper precipitated the crisis last Thursday with the provocative economic update that contained no stimulus package, killed public financing for federal political parties, and banned public sector unions from striking for two years.
Desperate back-peddling by the government over the weekend in the face of coalition talks did nothing to stop opposition momentum.
The Conservatives turned up the rhetoric Wednesday, going so far as to talk of treason.
Ontario MP Bob Dechert accused the Liberals of trying to destroy the country by aligning with the separatist Bloc.
"They're getting into bed with the separatists," he said. "They've actually written a deal giving the separatists a veto over every decision of the Canadian government. That is as close to treason and sedition as I can imagine."
The three opposition parties in the House together won just over 54 per of the popular vote in the Oct. 14 federal election. That figure rises to 61 per cent including the Greens who do not have a seat in the House.
MP Irwin Cotler, who served as Justice minister under Paul Martin, said the Conservatives are disingenuous at best.
"The prime minister ... was prepared to join together with the Bloc," Cotler said, referring to the 2004 arrangement. "So why is it all right for him to do that, and it becomes a matter for demonizing when it's done now?"
The Tories have fired up their formidable campaign machine for an all-out blitz against the opposition. The barrage includes radio ads, rallies, and urging supporters to swamp MPs, talk shows and media with calls and e-mails.
The coalition was preparing a counterattack. The Canadian Labour Congress, which is organizing rallies in support of the coalition, says it has radio spots ready to go.
Rallies were being organized across the country by supporters on both sides of the bitter parliamentary meltdown.
Into the political maelstrom lands the Governor General.
Jean, who must decide whether to allow Parliament to prorogue or let the opposition take over, has been working closely with her advisers and constitutional experts, said an official.
There is precedent for the vice-regal refusing to dissolve Parliament in the face of a confidence crisis - the King-Byng affair of 1926. But the question of refusing prorogation is uncharted territory.
The coalition would be first change of government without an election since 1926.
Under the opposition pact, Dion would serve as prime minister until spring when he is to be replaced as Liberal leader. The deal calls for the coalition to survive at least 18.
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