Click here to write to Dion and Layton urging coalition!
November 29, 2008 - 3:57pm
The Rideau Institute has set up this page:
Add Your Voice: Only a Coalition Government Can Provide the Leadership Canada Needs
You fill out a form and it sends this letter on your behalf to Dion and Layton:
Dear Leaders,
I write to you during this time of economic crisis to urge that you set aside all partisan considerations in favour of decisive action to help Canadians who are suffering and whose livelihoods are in jeopardy.
I write to you during this time of economic crisis to urge that you set aside all partisan considerations in favour of decisive action to help Canadians who are suffering and whose livelihoods are in jeopardy.
At this critical moment, a coalition government would be the most capable of delivering the kind of stewardship the economy needs, and the least likely to put partisan interests ahead of responsible government.
Time is of the essence. You have an unprecedented opportunity to deliver to citizens a coalition that is capable of putting aside partisan ploys and to work cooperatively and swiftly in the interests of all.
Thank You
Yeah, it's risky, but IMHO it's light years ahead of doing nothing. I couldn't have imagined doing this last week, but I've already sent mine in. Please consider doing likewise.
Here's that link again:
http://www.smartvote2008.ca/coalition
You fill out a form and it sends this letter on your behalf to Dion and Layton:
It's Duceppe I'm worried about. Will there be enough in the proposed accord for him to sign on for three or four years?
Discussions are ongoing as we speak. My source seems very confident that there will be a signed document, but I know nothing at this point about where the hangup(s) might be. I also don't know what timeframe they're talking about - someone said two years - would that be enough?
The other dark horse here is the Québec election. My head is spinning.
I also don't know what timeframe they're talking about - someone said two years - would that be enough?
That's not for me to say. The Ontario 1985 accord was two years. But the similar accords in New Zealand are for the full three-year term of their parliaments. Will we still be in a recession in two years? So a three-year or four-year term would be my preference.
Hasn't the BQ said they will support the proposed Coalition only on an issue-by-issue basis, and unless Quebec gets a better deal, the BQ aren't interested?
A little odd that they wanted ones mailing address too. I just left that info blank. Otherwise this is a good idea, especially since the Conservatives and their allies are going to try to blanket the media with misinformation, spin, innuendo and lies. It's rather unconscionable how disgustingly partisan the Conservatives have been. While I've never been a supporter, and if I were polled last week I would've said that I "disapproved" of what the Harper government - if I were polled now I'd say "strongly disapprove." If it came down to another election, I'd even volunteer this time, despite the fact that I don't really have the time for it.
My hed is spinning too!! I believe we re looking at an NDP/Liberl coaltion govrenment with both parties having cabinet posts. TheBloc has demaded some things for Quebec, help for froestry and manufacturing, but will not be formally part of the coaltion. And there seems talk of an immdiate stimuls package,and a two year period without an election Presumbaly ther will be soem sort of agreed upen Agenda involving maybe a half dozen or a dozen nor two dozen key points., signed on to by the leaders. The 1`985 Ontario Liberal/NDP deal seems a likely model.
GO JACK GO!!!
Well, I'm back. I was off to an Ont Public School Board mtg in T.O. and I can say that the room the humming. It was the talk of 72 public school trustee in Ontario who represent boards across Ontario, and eveybody seems very exacted by this.
There was no negativity. I'd say that 99% of the trustees were supportive. Go Jack and the ndp and libs.
______________________________________________________________________________________ Our kids live together and play together in their communities, let's have them learn together too!
This talk of coalition is the strategic voter's wet dream.
While I have no objection to the NDP and the Liberals making a temporary alliance to advance one or more particular programmatic demands that benefit the working class, talk of a coalition with the Liberals is madness for anyone who understands the importance of independent working class political action.
After the NDP finally figured out that the way to run an election campaign is to talk about the Party forming the government, is it now to become, in effect, a mere rump of the Liberal Party?
I think with those issues, plus others (transit, childcare, public housing etc) we can find enough common ground with the Bloc to work, as these are issues across the country.
This talk of coalition is the strategic voter's wet dream.
Very True!
While I have no objection to the NDP and the Liberals making a temporary alliance to advance one or more particular programmatic demands that benefit the working class, talk of a coalition with the Liberals is madness for anyone who understands the importance of independent working class political action.
After the NDP finally figured out that the way to run an election campaign is to talk about the Party forming the government, is it now to become, in effect, a mere rump of the Liberal Party?
I fail to understand. Do you like perpetual opposition or something? This is a chance for the ndp to prove themselves. Even if it fails, the ndp will come out of it looking more serious in the eyes of voters enough that they will be perceived as a credible option.
This is a common practice for many countries. Coalitions are how various groups of people decide on common ground policies to implement. You can't dictate your agenda if you are unable to get even near 40% support. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but the ndp will never reach that federally.
If you are unwilling to compromise, you deserve the same fate that Harper looks to be getting.
I am wondering if a Liberal/NDP coalition would also include an agreement for each party not to run candidates in certain ridings where either party has the best chance of defeating Conservatives in the subsequent election?
Example: No NDP candidate in P.E.I.'s Egmont riding in exchance for no Liberal in Nova Scotia's South Shore-St. Margaret's.
David Young.... No. Will never happen. Period.
I think even talking about "way in the future" like future election is way off base. Let's the "working accord" for this parliament in place. As to the other, well definitely not on.
______________________________________________________________________________________ Our kids live together and play together in their communities, let's have them learn together too!
In my dream world, this coalition government would last 4 years. It needs to be taken as a "test run" PR system, as another pointed out in a previous thread. This test run would be both for the political parties and the peoples of Canada, as if we get PR, coalition governments will be the way of the future.
So much for the environment could be done in the next four years under a green job infrastructure plan, serious issues facing Canada's social safety net could be addressed, and they would also give economic drivers a boost.
Canadians en masse are not close enough to a complete socialist mindset, but if they can be shown, that socialist economic policies work for the good of the many. Then they will have a much better understanding of why it is a good thing to enhance socialist policies. And thus their confidence in rank capitalism will become even further disillusioned.
My thoughts on the cabinet would be that of course where there is a Liberal cabinet minister, there will be a NDP deputy minister. And the opposite said for the NDP Cabinet ministers. This would/will be a huge plus for the NDP MP's they would get a high profile in their own riding as a minister, or deputy minister.
If there are 30 or so cabinet positions, that would only leave 8 NDP MP's without a full high profile position, maybe, as there will be secretary of state positions too.
___________________________________________________________ "watching the tide roll away"
I seriously doubt the Liberals will go along with having an NDP presence in finance or industry portfolios - because of Liberal fears of driving away investment by doing so. The Cons and Libs after all pander to the corporations, and anything that smacks of socialism (such as eliminating corporate tax breaks) will be strongly resisted. I can see the Cons gearing up their propaganda machine specifically against this type of thing.
It's amazing to see the Libs and NDP talking about coalition given the strong distaste these two parties have for each other. I'd like to see it happen, but, boy, it would take a hell of a lot of firm discipline and goodwill on both sides to prevent such a coalition from falling apart quickly, if indeed it does come to pass.
After the NDP finally figured out that the way to run an election campaign is to talk about the Party forming the government, is it now to become, in effect, a mere rump of the Liberal Party?
You mean...................... as opposed to the "leading role" they have played for the past 75 years?
You know the definition of insanity, whereby a person keeps trying the same thing after each failure?
Maybe it's time for some sanity and some success. Or at least, taking a chance.
"I am wondering if a Liberal/NDP coalition would also include an agreement for each party not to run candidates in certain ridings where either party has the best chance of defeating Conservatives in the subsequent election?"
I have a better idea. Australian style PREFERENTIAL voting. People number their preferences on the ballot frmhighest to lowest and when their first preference gets knockd out, their votes go to their second preference.
I'd like to see a system like that where the Liberals, NDP and Greens make a joint appeal to their supporters as follows "we don't care how you rank the candidates on your ballot - but ALWAYS rank the Conservatve candidate dead last!!!" that way the Tories would be frozen out of power forever!!!
Don't get too lovey dovey about this coalition. I think that Scott Reid has analyzed this properly. Harper is the most dangerous animal in the house. If it wasn't for Harper this wouldn't be possible. Expect the CPC to try to seduce the BQ. In the meantime, I hardly believe this is a strategic voters wet dream, or a PR supporters test market. Infact, this is a result of the FPTP electoral system, where a weak LPC can be influenced by the NDP in order to achieve or maintain power. Obviously after over a decade in power it required the LPC to be near unconcious before accepting the aid of the NDP. Any further talk is pure fantasy and disconnect with what is currently happening. The Next 8 days are going to test the will of the coalition, and quite frankly, with Dion at the helm, this is probably the all the marketing ammunition the CPC needs to fight back with.
All the players that need to be at the table are there because of the FPTP system. These are the only players that should be involved and it is already incredibly complicated.
Desperation and survival is what is putting parties with very little common ground to join to fight the enemy. This is survival instincts. This is war. This is like the USA and the USSR joining. THere was no common democratic justice, just a need to survive.
Desparation is what will make Harper fight back.