A Victory for Kyoto
The Liberals and the opposition parties have teamed up against the Conservative government voting in favour of the Kyoto Protocol. The Conservatives tried to kill the bill hours before the vote was held by trying to have it declare invalidity; however as we all know the bad guys always lose.
Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez ten months ago introduced a private member’s bill for the government to recommit to Canada’s Kyoto targets. Last week a motion introduced by Stéphane Dion was voted in favour of Kyoto. The government is doing terribly, as I’ve mentioned previously Canadians favour Kyoto and not the Conservatives’ made-in-Canada plan.
February 14th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Well, I’m certainly pleased to see some solid action on implimenting the Kyoto Accord. And is it not rather pathetic to hear of the Tory Government attempting to have the bill ruled out of order. Shame.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Where do you see this going from here, Anth? As far as I can tell, this is the first time in Canadian history where a government downright refuses to implement a bill passed through the commons.
Will they somehow delay Royal Assent?
Will the writ drop this week?
Is there a 60 day countdown to the start of the campaign (I’m assuming Harper would like to introduce the budget first to fight an election on that)?
There are so many unanswered questions…
February 14th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Does this really count as action on the Accord? seriously their should have been action years ago if this Bill was oh so worth it to the opposition. what a waste of time….how about the opposition teams up and actually thinks of something that may, oh I don’t know Help the environment maybe?
February 14th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Matt,
I am uncertain what is going to happen next due to the government’s blatant ignorance if they continue to refuse the implementation of C-288 after it passed in the House. I don’t think the government has the power to delay Royal Assent or even the writ is dropped unless Stephen Harper’s government hides all printed copies of the legislation in one of the remaining Diefenbunkers and under lock and key with armed detail.
I don’t think Stephen Harper will call an election in sixty days and I remember Stéphane Dion saying he’s willing to support and cooperate with the budget is released to avoid an election unless the government has changed their mindset on the Kyoto Protocol and a few other demands that I’m uncertain about.
I don’t think Harper will call for an election because recently the polls aren’t in his favour, and Canadians are starting to get frustrated after one year of Conservative governing due to them not listening to the approval/disapproval polling on issues that are currently in the political spotlight.
Manuel,
There is always a lot more that we can do for the environment besides Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol is a step in the right direction because this is a global issue and we need an international solution to fight climate change and pollution.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I’m not so sure Anth. There is so much saber rattling going on from both the Grits and the Tories that I wouldn’t be surprised if stubbornness on both sides of the Commons resulted in an unexpected election.
Your reasoning for suggesting Harper won’t call an election (polls) is the same reason that I think the Liberals may end up forcing one. Of course, it all depends on how much the NDP and/or BQ like the budget.
This time around, the Conservatives have the advantage of the incumbent, but the Liberals have the advantage of, well, being the Liberals, the party which has governed much of the past century.
I think the sooner the election is called, the more likely it is to be won on who the leaders of each party are (of course, policies still being the main thing, but the leaders having the ability to “decide” the election). Each partys leader will have decreasing significance on the outcome the further away the election is.
February 14th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Matt,
I just hope the unexpected election occurs in the late to mid spring and after the April 20th weekend so the convention here in British Columbia isn’t postponed. I think the next election will be the most gruesome and fought out campaign between the majority parties.
February 14th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
“however as we all know the bad guys always lose”
Just like Jean Chretien, Sheila Copps, Heidi Fry, etc., right??
February 15th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Feynman and Coulter’s Love Child,
The bad guys are; Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney, John Baird, Peter MacKay, Stockwell Day, Gurmant Grewal, Nina Grewal, Bev Oda and the list goes on.