While he accused the Bloc of abandoning progressive policies by propping up the Tory government in its two budgets, he said Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is leading an "absent opposition" by abstaining from voting against the government's policies in its throne speech.
"At a time when Canada is at war, when our climate is in crisis and when the middle class is falling further behind, this government had an opportunity to show leadership. It failed," Layton said. "It proved once again that it can't be counted on. And when everyday Canadians look to see who has the leadership to stand up to the Harper agenda, they see the Liberals ducking for cover."
NDP officials say their goal is to identify disenchanted supporters of the Liberals and the Bloc across the country as they did in last month's federal byelections in Quebec, when they won the former Liberal stronghold of Outremont in the city of Montreal. A party spokesperson said the NDP also has a healthy bank account and is ready to match the other federal parties by spending the maximum amount allowed on advertising and expenses during the next general election campaign.
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http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=4640b7de-738e-41c3-b550-45fb59e6c98b
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Layton Says NDP Ready For Prime Time
Posted on Thursday, October 25 at 12:37 by N SayContributed By
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I would go further and say vote anybody but Conservatives or Liberals. I
wonder if that outcome could give us something more palatable than old
Canadian hash, topped with old US hash, and rehashed Canadian/US topped
hash because that's just making us all sick.
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"The most sustainable product is the one you never bought in the first place."
Alex Steffan
The real "fringe" player in this country is the voter. While the NDP has own one Quebec riding with an extremely popular candidate there is no evidence that he is gaining any respect from voters. He seems to be able to maintain the core NDP vote but he has done nothing to attract other voters. His pro-corporatist decision to place the ability to enter politics in the hands of financial institutes is just one of his policies that even his MPs cannot explain and he refuses to explain.
You do not replace the official opposition by catering to a right wing government. Layton may believe that is the way forward but he seems to have grown progressively aloof from his own support base. It is inconsistent to support a government policy that would maintain the combat roll in Afganistan after 2009 while advocating the troops return to Canada immediately. These may be a political strategies but to put political strategy before NDP philosophical principles waters down the traditional stands of the party and makes them appear willing to put power before principle.
Layton has helped increase voter cynicism and has made it even more difficult for voters to find a place to put their vote.
His posturing is undermining the concept of a "principled" left.