Today, Stephane Dion held a press conference in the National Press Theatre in Ottawa to address recent comments by the Prime Minister regarding the dysfunction of Parliament, particularly in reference to the Ethics committee which wrapped up a round of meetings last week without much accomplished.
The leader of the opposition started his press conference by responding indirectly to the Prime Minister’s ultimatum given in at the Conservative caucus retreat in Lévis, Quebec when the PM said that Mr. Dion has to “fish or cut bait”, meaning that Dion either has to instruct his members to contribute to a working atmosphere in Parliament or indicate to the PM that its time for an election. Dion made reference to fishing, cutting the fish, eating the fish and fishing for victory… or something. The Liberal leader was certainly fishing, however, not in the way the Prime Minister had hoped and rather was searching for a reason to defer ultimate judgment on this Parliament.
His tough words were empty as he told gathered reporters that the PM was wrong on climate change, irresponsible on the alleged Cadman affair, on the so-called In-and-out election financing scheme, but as Richard Brennan from the Toronto Star asked, why don’t you just say “bring it on”?
Dion was non-committal and responded that Canadians have indicated that they want an election, that there will be an election but there are by-elections to win first. Asked whether his indecisiveness will make him look weak to Canadians, Dion non-answered that his job isn’t to respond to the Prime Minister’s taunts but to replace him.
The opposition leader asserted that this is the most partisan government for some time and reflected a non-partisan tone claiming that while the Liberals are the party of multiculturalism and the Charter that no party has a monopoly on that. Similarly, on the topic of national unity, Dion responded that a right-wing government doesn’t make him feel less Canadian and that the Prime Minister should set a non-partisan tone on the unity file.
Despite these concessions, irresponsibility was the charge that Dion laid against the Prime Minister during the press conference and said that the PM’s tactics in the 39th Parliament were “unacceptable”.
Stephane Dion has had over 40 opportunities to offer more than words on the “unacceptable” state of Parliament. Will he stop fishing and finally cut bait?
Stephen Taylor is a scientist, political analyst and a blogger. Taylor writes here regularly and is the founder of bloggingtories.ca. Taylor has contributed to Macleans, CTV, talk radio and has been a featured speaker on new media at numerous events including the Western Standard Cruise and the Forum for Public Policy. In December 2008, Taylor organized Rally for Canada, a series of rallies held coast-to-coast to protest the proposed coalition government.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I say lets get this election going, that debate is gonna be one bad day for Dion.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I literally cannot wait to watch this guy during an election campaign.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
“Dion was non-committal and responded that Canadians have indicated that they want an election”
As recent polls show, this is not the case. I believe it is only 40% who support an election right now.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
The liblogs have called the Harper government arrogant in the past. I wonder what they call when liberal MPS say that they are the government in waiting or when Mr.Dion says this?<br><br>" Dion was non-committal and responded that Canadians have indicated that they want an election, that there will be an election but there are by-elections to win first. Asked whether his indecisiveness will make him look weak to Canadians, Dion non-answered that his job isn’t to respond to the Prime Minister’s taunts but to replace him."<br><br>Now if these are not arrogant than I don't know what is! "Go figure!"
August 19th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Dion knows he does not have a “leader's image”, and depends solely on the logic of what he says, like a teacher does, and teachers are generally viewed as “leaders”. “Listen to me and vote for what I say”.. pleads Dion. “Don't look at me or put me down for my accented awkward English!”
This is the pleading of somebody who doesn't rate as an inspired and inspiring leader. Dion is a dud and Liberal party members and election candidates know this too.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
The bi-elections in September may be what Dion is waiting for. In the meantime, it's empty banter, wouldn't even give him credit for crying wolf. The Liberals are in no way ready for a snap election given they haven't got all ridings represented due to candidates bowing out.
When it comes to “partisan governments”, find us one that isn't, that's politics and the Liberals have proven partisanship in spades. They've been in government long enough to stack the Senate and the Supreme Court with Liberals to insure partisan Liberal ideology for some time to come. The Conservatives are playing against a stacked deck but Harper isn't playing poker, he's playing a clever game of chess with opponents who aren't up to the challenge.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Dion makes a Freudian slip?
” Dion was non-committal and responded that Canadians have indicated that they want an election, that there will be an election but there are by-elections to win first.”
So what happens if the liberals don't win the by-elections?
August 19th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I watched that so-called Q&A on CPAC. I did not keep count, but the questions from the “unofficial” opposition, the press, were practically all about the possibility of an election. Over and over, the same question was asked in various forms. And over and over, the same insignificant non-answer was given.
Don't journalists listen to each other's questions?
August 19th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Dion knows he does not have a “leader's image”, and depends solely on the logic of what he says, like a teacher does, and teachers are generally viewed as “leaders”. “Listen to me and vote for what I say”.. pleads Dion. “Don't look at me or put me down for my accented awkward English!”
This is the pleading of somebody who doesn't rate as an inspired and inspiring leader. Dion is a dud and Liberal party members and election candidates know this too.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
The bi-elections in September may be what Dion is waiting for. In the meantime, it's empty banter, wouldn't even give him credit for crying wolf. The Liberals are in no way ready for a snap election given they haven't got all ridings represented due to candidates bowing out.
When it comes to “partisan governments”, find us one that isn't, that's politics and the Liberals have proven partisanship in spades. They've been in government long enough to stack the Senate and the Supreme Court with Liberals to insure partisan Liberal ideology for some time to come. The Conservatives are playing against a stacked deck but Harper isn't playing poker, he's playing a clever game of chess with opponents who aren't up to the challenge.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Dion makes a Freudian slip?
” Dion was non-committal and responded that Canadians have indicated that they want an election, that there will be an election but there are by-elections to win first.”
So what happens if the liberals don't win the by-elections?
August 20th, 2008 at 4:33 am
I watched that so-called Q&A on CPAC. I did not keep count, but the questions from the “unofficial” opposition, the press, were practically all about the possibility of an election. Over and over, the same question was asked in various forms. And over and over, the same insignificant non-answer was given.
Don't journalists listen to each other's questions?