For Immediate Release | December 2, 2008
A Crass Grasp for Power
Ottawa (December 2, 2008)- Ed Komarnicki, Member of Parliament for Souris-Moose Mountain and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour released the following statement today in response to the actions taken by the opposition parties to form a coalition in an effort to take over the government:
“The recent happenings on the Hill by the three opposition parties is nothing more than a grab for power and the reins of government for their own self interest under the guise of their concern for the economy. All of this occurring only weeks after an election where the people have spoken, after the passage of a Throne Speech and before the tabling of a budget.
“There has been no attempt by the coalition to work with the government on a single measure before hatching a plan to take over government. The Liberal leader, Stéphane Dion aspires to be Prime Minister despite his own party rejecting him as their leader. Jack Layton who hoped to be Prime Minister joins the proposed coalition with the smallest number of seats in the House and hopes to be a cabinet minister along with five others from his party.
“The Liberals and the NDP together have less seats than the Conservatives. So who will they have to rely on to make the coalition work? No one other than Gilles Duceppe and a party that wishes to separate from Canada, the separatist Bloc Quebecois. What will their dependence on Gilles Duceppe cost the country of Canada?
“All of this without having to face the electorate, they hope. There is no doubt in my mind that none of the three parties would propose such a coalition if they thought that they would have to face the electorate. If they want legitimacy they need to go before the people of Canada.
“Ultimately, the Governor General will have to decide if they get their wish. A case can be made for the Governor General not accepting such an arrangement but rather advising that if the opposition parties fail to work with the government, they must face the people in a general election. As distasteful as that may be, allowing what is occurring to remain is even more distasteful.
“The fact that the NDP and Bloc Quebecois separatists had a secret and long standing deal predating the government’s Economic and Fiscal Update- the fact that the Liberals and NDP campaigned explicitly against such a coalition- the fact that the Speech from the Throne passed- the fact that a budget has not yet been presented- the fact that the Liberals received their lowest share of the popular vote since Confederation all go against accepting such a crass grasp for power.
“The bottom line is that there is no compelling reason for such an arrangement other than political self interest. The fact that the Liberals, NDP and Bloc do not care what Western Canada feels or thinks and are prepared to forge ahead regardless of and in spite of what Western Canada thinks does not bode well for Canada. Really, it is a slap in the face to Western Canadians.
“That said, when all is said and done, Parliament needs to work as best it can to further the interests of all Canadians and I certainly pledge to do my part to make it so. This is truly a historic and interesting time to be a Member of Parliament.”
