Congrats to Jack Layton for now being tied with Joe Clark circa 1980 as the largest opposition ever in a Canadian majority government. Before you go making all kinds of promises to your new constituents Jack, just remember how much Joe Clark accomplished in the last term of Pierre Trudeau, nothing at all. Also there seems to be a belief among Quebec's chattering class that Layton is now Quebec's "strongman" in Ottawa, when in reality he can't accomplish anything more than Gilles Duceppe did. If Quebec Nationalists expect the NDP to be the new Bloc Quebecois, they are in for a major disappointment.
Unless of course Jack's strategy is a Quebec-centric platform designed to retain his seats, but he's still in opposition to a majority government and can't do anything without Conservative approval. He has to be willing to compromise if he's going to accomplish anything for Quebec. As we saw with Budget 2011, Jack wanted everything or nothing. The Tories addressed many NDP demands, but didn't spend quite enough so Jack withdrew his support of the government and forced an election. 60% of what he wanted wasn't enough. For Jack it was everything or nothing and if he takes that attitude into the next session, he won't pass any legislation of substance.
Being a slave to Quebec might just cost him votes in the rest of Canada next time around.
ReplyDeleteIts a political marriage made in NDP nirvana. Victim loving leadership and victims. lol
ReplyDeleteWatching Power Play and an interesting comment re the new Speaker. 50 some new ndpqers are going to vote on this position without knowing a thing about any of the candidates. Will Jack whip his caucus and tell them who to vote for.
ReplyDeleteShould have included, 50 some newbies from quebec.
ReplyDelete"ndpqers"
ReplyDeleteGood one Mary! Is it up for grabs or have you got a copywrite already ;-)
Jacko has already had one newbie MP make a brain-dead remark about "guaranteeing Quebec will get their sovereignty" or something to that effect. Wow, here we go.
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