Politics: Canada: Conservs may hold off election call to introduce a new Enviro policy, other parties show sharp green teeth
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Toronto Star's Susan Delacourt reports "Green plan needs work: Harper -- It's `reason I'd like to keep governing,' PM says, amid growing vote speculation" (Dec15,2k6).
OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper has acknowledged that his environmental plan needs more time and more work and that he's not eager for the opposition to provoke an election early in 2007.North America > Canada
"Putting this in place is major, probably the biggest single industrial initiative we've had in the history of this country. It's going to take a few months to finish," Harper told reporters at a hastily called news conference on Parliament Hill last night. "That's part of the reason I'd like to keep governing, to finish it."
The initial unrolling of the Conservative environmental plan has been widely criticized as inadequate and it's expected that a "relaunch" is set for the new year, perhaps with a cabinet shuffle to put a greener hue on Harper's government.
Harper said he didn't want to talk about cabinet shuffle "speculation," but he did say he agreed with criticism from former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who told CBC Radio this week that the current Tory environmental plan needs improvement — "substantively and `presentationally.'"
"I actually agree with what he said. What he said was that the Liberals have a dreadful record on the environment and the Conservative government can do better," Harper said.Environment Politics > 5-way fite Canada
The Prime Minister displayed annoyance with suggestions his minority government may fall over a non-confidence vote on the Afghanistan mission. La Presse reported yesterday the Bloc Québécois is ready to provoke that vote on Feb. 15 — barely a year since the Jan. 23 election.
Harper said that Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe is simply worried about letting the Tories unveil a budget later in February or in the spring, because it could contain measures that make the Tories attractive to Quebecers.
"I think, very simply, Mr. Duceppe is looking for an excuse to call an election before we table a budget," Harper said.
Using the Afghanistan mission, Harper said, flies in the face of Canada's "moral obligation" to the troops and Parliament's previous commitment — expressed in a controversial vote earlier this year — to extend the Afghan mission until 2009.Harper is girding his loins for an election that will be forced by the Libs' Old-Guard-turned-green, under the baton of Stephan Dion who's busy stealing the green thunder from the New Democrats and the Greens themselves. Harper has to bend and will do so if given the time.
"Parliament has voted. Our government is not going to stand back here and play political games. What kind of politician would do that?" Harper said.
"What kind of person would sit around the cabinet table, vote to send our troops, our young men and women, into the most dangerous province, in probably the most dangerous country in the world, and then a few months later say `well, I'm not sure whether they should be there.' We have a moral obligation to stand behind these people as they do what we asked them to do."
The Prime Minister said he is enjoying his job and is not keen to leave it.
But, he said, he suspects that new Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion isn't going to wait long for an election.
"I'm not asking for an election. I don't know what the reason for an election would be. But as you know, Mr. Dion, his first words as Liberal leader were `have an election' and he's made it pretty clear that's where he's thinking of going. So I can assure you if that occurs ... we will be ready and certainly we will be sending all kinds of signals that we are ready."
--Politicarp
Further Research:
How the NDP can help colour Harper green
Federal cabinet shuffle expected --
New environment minister likely as Conservatives seek greener look.
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