Spring federal election likely
Spring federal election likely
Opposition parties won't support the budget as it stands
News1130 Staff Mar 22, 2011 18:08:25 PM
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•Federal budget comes down
OTTAWA (NEWS1130) - We should know on Friday if we're heading to a federal election this spring.
All three opposition parties say they do not support the budget presented by the Conservatives, and they plan to vote against it unless big changes are made.
Liberals
No surprise from Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, who had previously said the Liberals would vote against the budget.
Ignatieff says he's disappointed with the government's plan. "It's spending more on one day of the G8/G20 Summit than it's spending on helping seniors out of poverty in a whole year. There's nothing on affordable housing. There's nothing on child care."
He says there aren't enough details. "This is a government that doesn't seem to be listening to what Canadian families are telling us. And there's no credible deficit reduction plan because there's a black hole in the middle of this budget. They don't tell you what the prisons are going to cost, they don't tell you what the tax cuts are going to cost."
Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe is also rejecting the budget.
He had already hinted that his party was unlikely to support it. The Bloc says the budget does not include enough for Quebec, and Duceppe says his party "can't accept this treatment".
NDP
It was the NDP's support the Tories were counting on, even adding measures like tax credits for kids' arts programs and seniors.
But Jack Layton says that isn't good enough and unless there are changes, they will vote against it. "I want to build a Canada where no senior lives in poverty, a Canada where no family has to go without a doctor, a Canada where every Canadian can retire with dignity. Clearly Mr. Harper doesn't."
Spring Election?
The Conservatives need the support of at least one opposition party for the budget to pass. If the government isn't defeated on the budget, it could be brought down by a non-confidence motion planned by the Liberals for Friday, triggering a federal election.
If the government is toppled, Canadians will head to the polls in early May. |
發表於 2011-3-22 19:10
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