John Ivison: Ignatieff would be PM in a Liberal-led coalition
Posted: November 30, 2008, 3:30 PM by Shereen Dindar
Full Comment, John Ivison, canada, Canadian, Canadian politics
Updated at 11:09 p.m. ET
By John Ivison
Michael Ignatieff will become Prime Minister in a Liberal-led coalition government if the opposition parties succeed in bringing down the
Conservatives in a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons next week and if the Governor-General deems it to be a viable alternative, sources said late last night.
Mr. Ignatieff met with lame duck Liberal leader, Stéphane Dion, and leadership candidates Bob Rae and Dominic LeBlanc in Toronto last night and hammered out a deal that would see Mr. Dion and Mr. Rae step aside, with the latter named to a senior post, likely Foreign Affairs Minister.
Earlier, Mr. Dion is understood to have struck a deal with NDP leader Jack Layton in which the New Democrats would get around a quarter of the seats around the Cabinet table, if the coalition bid to unseat the Conservatives is successful. The deal would have a guaranteed two and a half year lifespan.
Now I do believe that this is wise because the Canadian public has a strong dislike indeed for Stephan Dion. The public regardless of Ignatieff's true colors will be more likely to give him and the coalition a shot.
It is understood that the plan will be presented to the Liberal caucus Monday at 1 p.m.
Good move. Kudos to Rae as well for putting the greater good ahead of his own.
CTV'S Bob Fife just reported as I was typing this that he is being told that the Prime Minister will porogue parliament. That is an outrageous move. Is there anything that can be done to fight that and stop Harper from clinging to power?