Ignatieff supports Dion as temporary coalition leader; Former Tory MP tells Harper to 'take the hit'

Print

E-mail

Text

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is responsible for the extraordinary Liberal-NDP accord that could form a coalition government next week, deputy Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said today.

"(Harper) succeeded in the unique feat of uniting three parties in opposition of distinct ideological stances," Ignatieff, Etobicoke-Lakeshore MP, said in an interview today. "It's a disaster. Stephen Harper precipitated a crisis and created the possibility of an alternate government."

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and NDP Leader Jack Layton signed an historic accord supported by the Bloc Quebecois in a dramatic turn of events Monday on Parliament Hill to form a coalition government to replace Stephen Harper's Conservatives through June 2011.

Under the deal, the NDP would get six positions in the 24-member cabinet, and six parliamentary secretary posts. The finance minister would be chosen by the Liberals.

Dion would serve as prime minister. Front-running Liberal leadership candidates Ignatieff, Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc emerged Monday united in their support of Dion as coalition leader.

"It's important the party stands united around the current leader of the party," Ignatieff said. "Mr. Dion has made it clear he intends to step down in May when a new leader is chosen. It seemed obvious to me how we should proceed."

Etobicoke Centre MP Borys Wrzesneskyj echoed that sentiment, noting that Dion has the full confidence of the caucus.

"We all understand that we're at a critical juncture in Canadians lives. With hundreds of thousands at risk of losing their jobs, this is no time to be playing around with leadership questions," he said. "Dion has clearly, personally risen to the occasion... I can't imagine anyone better suited to lead a coalition with the Bloc."

On Monday, Dion said he would step down as planned on May 2 and he pledged to turn over "a strong government and stronger Canada" to his successor.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe has agreed to support the coalition until June 30, 2010, and left open the possibility of extending his support. There will be no Bloc members in a coalition cabinet.

Since last week, the Liberals, NDP and Bloc engaged in closed-door talks aimed at preparing a coalition government following Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's Nov. 27 economic statement.

Flaherty told a news conference Sunday the government tried to stave off an economic slowdown by lowering taxes. Last year, Flaherty brought in a six-year, $60 billion tax-reduction program. He said there is further stimulus to come, and hinted it could include help for the ailing auto sector.

For the opposition, the central issue continues to be the Tories' lack of a package of significant new measures to address the economy.

"The economic statement last Thursday did nothing to add additional stimulus to the Canadian economy," Ignatieff said of the opposition parties' rally to sign an accord. "The government's previous stimulus has not manifestly succeeded in keeping us out of recession."

Ignatieff's riding is in an "industrial crisis," with closures in recent years of ArvinMeritor, Stackpole and Alberto Culver. "I'm fighting to ensure that industrial base is not eroded further," he said.

Newly-minted Etobicoke North MP Kirsty Duncan expressed similar concerns yesterday. Some 18 per cent of residents in her riding work in the manufacturing sector. Twenty-three per cent of families are headed by single parents, some working two or more jobs.

"It's hard to predict what the future will hold, but we've got to put Canadians first," Duncan said. "The economy has to come first... I know people in our riding face real hardships. We really have to protect the most vulnerable during an economic downturn and last week's (Conservative economic statement) didn't do that."

Ignatieff also pointed to the Conservatives' attempt to change the rules of federal political party financing, pay equity claim and public sector employee bargaining rights' changes.

In a reversal from his economic package, Flaherty said Sunday he would remove from legislation implementing a package a bid to temporarily ban public sector strikes. On Saturday, he backed away from a plan to scrap federal subsidies for political parties.

Two senior Conservative cabinet ministers emerged from a meeting with Harper within an hour of the coalition's news conference Monday to deride the coalition as "undemocratic."

Earlier, Harper accused the opposition of trying to overturn the Oct. 14 federal election through "backroom deals."

"They want to take power, not earn it," Harper said.

Former Mulroney-era Conservative MP Patrick Boyer criticized Harper's defensive posture. Ignatieff defeated Boyer in the recent federal election.

"(Harper's) comments are inappropriate terms that do not reflect an understanding of our parliamentary system," said Boyer, who has written extensively on Canada's parliamentary system. "Whoever is going to govern has to have a majority in the House; in a minority government, you have to earn MP's confidence (votes)."

Boyer argued the Conservatives' approach to the economy has been "solid, sound and serious" for some time, but blamed Harper and the Conservatives for sending Canadians "mixed messages" about deficits.

The Conservatives "clearly provoked" the opposition parties when they cut public funding for political parties, Boyer said. He expressed doubt a coalition government would last, or succeed.

Harper could decide to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament and return with a throne speech and new budget in January.

But Boyer warned against it.

"You don't walk away from a fight. Take it like a man. If you're going to take the hit, then take it."