- 6:49 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper takes to the stage in about 10 mins…by-which-I mean, they press play on his recorded message
- 6:50 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion is set to speak after at 7:30pm EST
- 6:50 PM Jonathan Keebler - This is almost as excited as US politics
I figure, I watched the US debates; at least I can watch this Can(adian)Con(tent) - 6:50 PM PollyPrissyPants - Do you think he’ll be be-sweatered?
- 6:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - I doubt he’ll make that mistake again. He’d better have a Canadian flag in the background after his comments in parliament yesterday
- 6:51 PM Jonathan Keebler - The Governor General should make an address after these two
- 6:51 PM PollyPrissyPants - The way things are going, I would assume he’d have a giant Palin-esque flag pin on his lapel.
- 6:52 PM Jonathan Keebler - …and slaughtering turkeys in the background
- 6:55 PM Jonathan Keebler - The dark clouds on the CBC broadcast behind Peter Mansbridge are freaking me out. Susan Bonner gets a Christmas-tree; no fair!
- 6:57 PM Jonathan Keebler - NDP and Bloc are going to issue video statements later tonight too
- 6:58 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter Mansbridge made a “blue sweater” joke. YES!
- 6:59 PM PollyPrissyPants - It’s a hard one to resist – even for a professional newshound.
- 7:00 PM Jonathan Keebler - Seriously, what’s with those clouds? Is Peter in Mordoor?!
- 7:00 PM PollyPrissyPants - Love when they “pause to bring in the rest of Canada” on CBC. Where were they before?
- 7:00 PM Jonathan Keebler - Watching ‘Friends’ reruns
- 7:00 PM PollyPrissyPants - It does look like the Eye of Sauron is going to appear at the top of the Peace Tower.
- 7:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - Here we go. Throw it over to Stevie
- 7:01 PM PollyPrissyPants - Here we go…
- 7:01 PM PollyPrissyPants - Someone had his makeup done.
- 7:01 PM Jonathan Keebler - Creepy smile right off the back. He looks thin
- 7:01 PM PollyPrissyPants - No sweater
- 7:02 PM PollyPrissyPants - He’s talking about the fact that a core of Canada’s identity is that our government is always chosen by the people.
- 7:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - His argument: governments have always been chosen by the people
- 7:02 PM PollyPrissyPants - He is honoured we returned him to office on October 14 with a strengthened mandate. I hate he keeps repeating that.|
- 7:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Says that the Conservatives came back to parliament with a “strengthened mandate”
- 7:02 PM Jonathan Keebler - Blah blah blah helping sooooo many people blah blah blah
- 7:03 PM PollyPrissyPants - It doesn’t even look like Stephan Harper – looks like his stunt double.
- 7:03 PM Jonathan Keebler - He looks mellow or something…and concentrating too much on those cue cards
- 7:03 PM PollyPrissyPants - He’s telling us to wait to see what their big Budget plans will be at the end of January.
- 7:03 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We are consulting with” x 10
- 7:04 PM Jonathan Keebler - “We have already changed some of our *own* proposals”
- 7:04 PM Jonathan Keebler - Harper: The opposition wants to “overturn” the election results
- 7:05 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…he is pulling out the separatist card. He says a coalition with the BQ cannot help Canada.
- 7:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - Says the government can’t be run by a coalition with the separatists. [NOTE: the Bloc isn't in the coalition]
- 7:05 PM PollyPrissyPants - He didn’t mind them when they helped him pass his past budgets.
- 7:05 PM Jonathan Keebler - “Not a time for backroom deals with the separatists”
- 7:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - He didn’t mind their help taking out Paul Martin
- 7:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - The BQ has only agreed to help the coalition until 2010. Way to sell falsities, Harper.
- 7:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - That’s it! Wow, that was short with no surprises
- 7:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…not even 5 minutes long.
- 7:06 PM PollyPrissyPants - Was that even necessary?
- 7:06 PM Jonathan Keebler - There was NOTHING new in that
- 7:07 PM PollyPrissyPants - Also – way to alienate the entire province of Quebec. I have a feeling this could really pull the seperatist question back to the front burner…which IS bad for Canada but only because he’s forcing their hand.
- 7:07 PM Jonathan Keebler - lol In the French version, they said “sovereignists” instead of “separatists”. Other than that, the French version was a direct translation.
- 7:07 PM PollyPrissyPants - CBC just called Harper on his inaccurate statement that the Bloc was a part of the coalition.
- 7:08 PM PollyPrissyPants - Wow…he does know most people in Quebec can speak English too right? And know he’s doing that?
- 7:08 PM Jonathan Keebler - The CBC reporters seem pissed that there was nothing new
- 7:08 PM PollyPrissyPants - Yeah – he does! He seems all “I came all the way in and got dressed up for nothing?” Sonofa…
- 7:08 PM PollyPrissyPants - Oh Keith Boag…how you amuse me.
- 7:09 PM Jonathan Keebler - He’s going to burn down that Christmas tree behind him
- 7:09 PM Jonathan Keebler - CBC is waiting for the Dion tape to arrive at the station. Somewhere, someone is yelling “EDIT FASTER, DAMNIT!”
- 7:10 PM PollyPrissyPants - More blue sweater comments!
- 7:10 PM Jonathan Keebler - Don Newman said it was a “low key” statement
- 7:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - I can’t believe I got out of the shower for this. I hope Dion’s speech has something in it
- 7:11 PM PollyPrissyPants - Don Newman is calling Harper on his inaccuracies. Pointing out that Harper talked about the coalition “overturning the election results”…when in fact the coalition is using the results to get to where they are.
- 7:11 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter seems pissed that they aired that for free. Maybe they take that airtime out of his salary
- 7:12 PM PollyPrissyPants - But Don Newman also pointed out Harper’s accurate statement that the parties did say before the election that a coalition was out of the question.
- 7:13 PM Jonathan Keebler - Yah, totally. Of course, if they said that during the election, their party supporters would have been upset
- 7:13 PM PollyPrissyPants - Oh…apparently Harper doesn’t know his Canadian history. Wow…you think they’d look that stuff up before hand.
- 7:13 PM PollyPrissyPants - Exactly…you wouldn’t RUN for election as a coalition here…and least not officially, it wouldn’t work.
- 7:14 PM Jonathan Keebler - So Harper’s strategy:
1) Make your point
2) Buy time
3) SUCCESS! - 7:15 PM PollyPrissyPants - The sad part? People won’t look into what he’s saying…and check up on his inaccuracies. He’s actually looking into the camera and not telling the truth! How is no one in the public pissed about this?
- 7:15 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion’s tape has arrived at the “central pool point for the networks”
- 7:15 PM PollyPrissyPants - Peter does not seemed impressed with any of this…
- 7:16 PM Jonathan Keebler - All the networks need to see it at the same time. Probably about 4-5 minutes
- 7:17 PM Jonathan Keebler - Here’s Harper whole speech:
STATEMENT by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement:
“Good evening,
Canadians take pride in our history as one of the world’s oldest continuous democracies. During the past 141 years, political parties have emerged and disappeared, leaders have come and gone, and governments have changed.
Constant in every case, however, is the principle that Canada’s Government has always been chosen by the people. And following the light of this democratic tradition, Canadians have built one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries the world has ever known – a land of hope and opportunity that inspires others around the globe, and has drawn millions as new immigrants to our country.
On October 14, for the 40th time since Confederation, Canadians voted in a national general election. We are honoured that you returned our Government to office with a strengthened mandate to lead this great country through the most difficult global economic crisis in many decades. Canada’s Government is acting to deal with the crisis, right now.
* Further personal and business tax reductions are coming into effect;
* We are doubling spending on infrastructure;
* We are ensuring credit for businesses and consumers by injecting liquidity into financial markets;
* We are helping seniors who rely on RRIR income;
* And securing pension plansWe are implementing the Automotive Innovation Fund and, working with the Government of Ontario, we are undertaking due diligence on any further requests for assistance from the auto industry. We are increasing support and incentives for manufacturers, the forestry sector, and others to pursue business opportunities. We are implementing agreements with the provinces to enhance labour mobility. And, next month on January 27, we will bring in a budget which will contain additional measures to boost Canada’s economy, while making sure we avoid a long term structural deficit in Canada’s finances.
In preparation for that budget we are consulting widely with Canadians, meeting with premiers of our provinces and territories, and working in collaboration with our international partners in G20. The Minister of Finance will be consulting with the business community and interest groups.
We are consulting with, and expect to hear more from, the opposition parties in Parliament. We hope they bring forward specific proposals – we have invited them to do so. In fact, we have already changed some of our proposals to meet their concerns. Unfortunately, even before the Government has brought forward its budget, and only seven weeks after a general election, the opposition wants to overturn the results of that election.
Instead of an immediate budget, they propose a new coalition which includes the party in Parliament whose avowed goal is to break up the country. Let me be very clear: Canada’s Government cannot enter into a power-sharing coalition with a separatist party.
At a time of global economic instability, Canada’s Government must stand unequivocally for keeping the country together. At a time like this, a coalition with the separatists cannot help Canada. And the Opposition does not have the democratic right to impose a coalition with the separatists they promised voters would never happen.
The Opposition is attempting to impose this deal without your say, without your consent, and without your vote. This is no time for backroom deals with the separatists; it is the time for Canada’s government to focus on the economy and specifically on measures for the upcoming budget. This is a pivotal moment in our history.
We Canadians are the inheritors of a great legacy, and it is our duty to strengthen and protect it for the generations still to come. Tonight, I pledge to you that Canada’s Government will use every legal means at our disposal to protect our democracy, to protect our economy, and to protect Canada.Thank you, and goodnight.”
- 7:17 PM PollyPrissyPants - I really think Harper missed out on an opportunity to really make something of his time. I wonder if Dion will use his time wisely…
- 7:18 PM PollyPrissyPants - Is it just me or does Harper really seem completely blindsided by everything? How can anyone as a minority leader ever be resting on their laurels enough to be caught off guard?
- 7:19 PM Jonathan Keebler - Keith Boag thinks the Conservatives are burning bridges in Quebec to try “to save the furniture”
- 7:19 PM PollyPrissyPants - What does that even mean? lol
- 7:20 PM PollyPrissyPants - This killing time as they wait for the tape reminds me of Dan Rather trying to take up air time while waiting for them to call Florida for the second time in 2000.
- 7:21 PM Jonathan Keebler - That he’s happy to throw them under the bus to keep control of government. Quebec won’t get them any votes anyhow
- 7:21 PM PollyPrissyPants - Ah…thank you for the translation.
- 7:22 PM PollyPrissyPants - 2 minutes…
- 7:22 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter is pointing out more historical inaccuracies with the Conservative statements. Seems to be a fun game for him
- 7:23 PM PollyPrissyPants - It is a fun game…sad that there are enough that it’s mentioned more then once!
- 7:23 PM Jonathan Keebler - Peter thinks our children’s children are going to be talking about this week. Only if it works
- 7:23 PM PollyPrissyPants - Otherwise…the children will just be talking about the ridiculous storm graphics.
- 7:25 PM Jonathan Keebler - They should have made Harper and Dion give the speeches live, no teleprompter
- 7:25 PM PollyPrissyPants - Yes! Sadly…this is another core of Canada…shitty planning.
- 7:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - Keith Boag seems concerned that it’s almost 7:30pm. I wonder if CBC will switch to Jeopardy!
- 7:26 PM Jonathan Keebler - At 7:28, the tape will start rolling
- 7:27 PM Jonathan Keebler - Swiss Chalet just buzzed up. Blast!
- 7:27 PM PollyPrissyPants - I’m willing to bet it’s not CBCs fault this is running late I can guess whose it is…
- 7:28 PM PollyPrissyPants - Dion is up…
- 7:28 PM Jonathan Keebler - Black screen on CBC
- 7:28 PM PollyPrissyPants - And we’ve got black screen…great
- 7:28 PM Jonathan Keebler - Federal government has a duty to act
- 7:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - The video quality is SO shitty
- 7:29 PM PollyPrissyPants - Harper’s priority is partisanship and has lost the trust of the majority of those in the House of Commons
- 7:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Canadians don’t want another election
- 7:29 PM PollyPrissyPants - The parties WANT to work together so they are working with those that are willing.
- 7:29 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Green Party has also agreed to support the coalition
- 7:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - Coalitions work in many parts of the world
- 7:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - Consensus is a great thing
- 7:30 PM PollyPrissyPants - I think he read my blog about this before crafting his statement
- 7:30 PM Jonathan Keebler - We can achieve more for Canadians through collaboration instead of conflict
- 7:30 PM PollyPrissyPants - We can solve this problem with team work…not with partisanship
- 7:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - His speech is so much better.
- 7:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - YES WE CAN!
- 7:31 PM PollyPrissyPants - It really is…he’s doing a great job. He’s really bringing forward the urgency of why now
- 7:31 PM Jonathan Keebler - Shares our distaste that the political crisis has taken priority over the economic crisis
- 7:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Harper’s solution is to extend that (political) crisis
- 7:32 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Let the vote next Monday proceed. Accept the result “with grace”
- 7:32 PM PollyPrissyPants - Politicians are working together elsewhere in the world to deal with this economic crisis…why can’t Canada? We want to…Harper doesn’t.
- 7:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - Bumbled on “significantly” 3 times, but it’s a hard word
- 7:33 PM PollyPrissyPants - He reaching out to all part of the country…trying not to alienate anyone.
- 7:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - He has a book called “Hot Air” on the bookshelf behind him, and *2* Canadian flags
- 7:33 PM PollyPrissyPants - I can barely say that most of the time.
- 7:33 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: We are going to invest in lots of different industries
- 7:34 PM PollyPrissyPants - HA! Hot air…that’s a brilliant subliminal message.
- 7:34 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: Our compassion as a country is tested in situations like this
- 7:34 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: I wrote the GG and asked her to refuse any request by the PM to suspend parliament
- 7:35 PM PollyPrissyPants - If Harper wants to suspend parliament, he must first call a vote of confidence.
- 7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - Damn, he’s a good speaker! Better than during the campaign
- 7:35 PM PollyPrissyPants - Yeah – where was this during the election campaign?
- 7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - Dion: I will work day and nights to fight the economic crisis
- 7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - I’m actually getting goosebumps listening to a CANADIAN politician
- 7:35 PM PollyPrissyPants - Nice reminder that his position will be a temporary one – in power, that is. He is stepping down as leader of the Liberals in May.
- 7:35 PM Jonathan Keebler - That’s the end of it
- 7:36 PM PollyPrissyPants - CBC now reacts…
- 7:36 PM Jonathan Keebler - Keith Boag: The weight of the speech was selling the coalition and what it can do. Reassurance
- 7:37 PM Jonathan Keebler - Manalive, I’ve SO impressed by Dion’s speech. Good on him!
- 7:37 PM PollyPrissyPants - All 3 contenders for the Liberal leadership are in support of the coalition, fyi.
- 7:37 PM PollyPrissyPants - I want a transcript of this…that was very good.
- 7:38 PM PollyPrissyPants - I really hope people actually took the time to watch this and listen to what they had to stay. Style v. substance.
- 7:38 PM Jonathan Keebler - I want to feel hopeful, like we can overcome this economic slump
- 7:38 PM PollyPrissyPants - He really did a good job of outlining what the coalition intends to do, why they are making this move and the fact that they know this isn’t the ideal situation for anyone.
- 7:39 PM Jonathan Keebler - If I have to choose between someone telling me that our country will collapse if the majority of the House gets control, and someone asking me to work together, I’m going to take the latter
- 9:20 PM Jonathan Keebler - Here’s Dion’s full speech:
“Canada is facing the impacts of the global economic crisis. Our economy is on the verge of a recession. Canadians are worried about losing their jobs, their homes, their savings. Every economist in the country is predicting increased job losses and deficits for the next few years.
The federal government has a duty to act and help Canadians weather this storm.
Stephen Harper still refuses to propose measures to stimulate the Canadian economy. His mini-budget last week demonstrated that his priority is partisanship and settling ideological scores.
The Harper Conservatives have lost the confidence of the majority of Members of the House of Commons. In our democracy, in our parliamentary system, in our Constitution, this means that they have lost the right to govern.
Canadians don’t want another election, they want Parliamentarians to work together. That’s our job. Canadians want their MPs to put aside partisanship and focus on the economy.
The Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party are ready to do this. Jack Layton and I have agreed to form a coalition government to address the impact of the global economic crisis. The Bloc has agreed to support this government on matters of confidence. The Green Party has also agreed to support it.
Our system of government was not born with Canada. It is ancient. There are rules that govern it and conventions that guide it.
Coalitions are normal and current practice in many parts of the world and are able to work very successfully. They work with simple ingredients: consensus, goodwill and cooperation. Consensus is a great Canadian value. In this spirit, we Liberals have joined in a coalition with the NDP. We have done so because we believe we can achieve more for Canadians through cooperation than through conflict. We believe we can better solve the challenges facing Canada through teamwork and collaboration, rather than blind partisan feuding and hostility.
Our coalition is a consensus to govern with a well-defined program to address the most important issue facing the country: the economy. It is a program to preserve and create jobs and to stimulate the economy in all regions of the country. The elements of the program need to be spelled out and this is what we will do if we are allowed to present it to the House of Commons.
We share the frustration Canadians have about a political crisis that has been allowed to take prominence over the more important economic challenges we face. Elsewhere in the world, leaders are working to cope with the recession, to bring forward the kinds of investments that will help their people and their economies. Politicians are working together. Rivals are working together.
Mr. Harper’s solution is to extend that crisis by avoiding a simple vote. By suspending Parliament and continuing the confusion. 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.
Within one week, a new direction will be established, a tone and focus will be set. We will gather with leaders of industry and labour to work, unlike the Conservatives, in a collaborative, but urgent manner to protect jobs.
To stimulate the economy and create good well-paid jobs we will not only accelerate already planned investments, but invest significantly more in our country’s infrastructure. Helping our cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal or Halifax build modern, efficient public transit systems.
Investing in our rural communities so that cherished ways of life are protected for future generations. We can stimulate our economy through investments in clean energy, water and our gateways.
We will invest in our manufacturing, forestry and automotive sectors to protect and create jobs. We believe that in these tough economic times the government has a role to play to ensure that those who are doing their share for the prosperity of our country can continue to provide for the wellbeing of their families.
In times like this our compassion as a country is tested. We believe it is imperative that the government offers Canadians who have already lost their job, whether in the factories of South Western Ontario or the forests of Eastern Quebec and British Columbia, the support they need to live in dignity and develop new skills.
That is precisely what we intend to provide.
Earlier today I wrote Her Excellency the Governor General. I respectfully asked her to refuse any request by the Prime Minister to suspend Parliament until he has demonstrated to her that he still commands the confidence of the House.
If Mr. Harper wants to suspend Parliament he must first face a vote of confidence.
In our Canada, the government is accountable for its decisions and actions in Parliament.
In our Canada, the government derives its legitimacy from an elected Parliament.
Allow me to end tonight on a personal note. If I am entrusted with the role of Prime Minister for the next months that I have left to serve, I will work day and nights to combat this economic crisis, to do what it takes to minimize its effects on Canadians, to protect jobs and to create jobs.
I will serve my country until my time to serve is at an end.”
