Harper's address from: Full text of Prime Minster's address
Dion's verbatim address:
Canada is facing the impacts of the global economic crisis. Our economy is on the verge of a recession. Canadians are worried about losing their jobs, their homes, their savings. Every economist in the country is predicting increased job losses and deficits for the next few years. The federal government has a duty to act and help Canadians weather this storm. Stephen Harper still refuses to propose measures to stimulate the Canadian economy. His mini-budget last week demonstrated that his priority is partisanship and settling ideological scores. Canadians don't want another election, they want Parliamentarians to work together. That's our job. Canadians want their MPs to put aside partisanship and focus on the economy. The Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party are ready to do this. Jack Layton and I have agreed to form a coalition government to address the impact of the global economic crisis. The Bloc has agreed to support this government on matters of confidence. The Green Party has also agreed to support it. Our system of government was not born with Canada. It is ancient. There are rules that govern it and conventions that guide it. Coalitions are normal and current practice in many parts of the world and are able to work very successfully. They work with simple ingredients: consensus, goodwill and cooperation. Consensus is a great Canadian value. In this spirit, we Liberals have joined in a coalition with the NDP. We have done so because we believe we can achieve more for Canadians through cooperation than through conflict. We believe we can better solve the challenges facing Canada through teamwork and collaboration, rather than blind partisan feuding and hostility. Our coalition is a consensus to govern with a well-defined program to address the most important issue facing the country: the economy. It is a program to preserve and create jobs and to stimulate the economy in all regions of the country. The elements of the program need to be spelled out and this is what we will do if we are allowed to present it to the House of Commons. We share the frustration Canadians have about a political crisis that has been allowed to take prominence over the more important economic challenges we face. Elsewhere in the world, leaders are working to cope with the recession, to bring forward the kinds of investments that will help their people and their economies. Politicians are working together. Rivals are working together. Mr. Harper's solution is to extend that crisis by avoiding a simple vote. By suspending Parliament and continuing the confusion. We offer a better way. We say settle it now and let's get to work on the people's business. A vote is scheduled for next Monday. Let it proceed. And let us all show maturity in accepting the result with grace and the larger task of serving Canadians in mind. Within one week, a new direction will be established, a tone and focus will be set. We will gather with leaders of industry and labour to work, unlike the Conservatives, in a collaborative, but urgent manner to protect jobs. To stimulate the economy and create good well-paid jobs we will not only accelerate already planned investments, but invest significantly more in our country's infrastructure. Helping our cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal or Halifax build modern, efficient public transit systems. Investing in our rural communities so that cherished ways of life are protected for future generations. We can stimulate our economy through investments in clean energy, water and our gateways. We will invest in our manufacturing, forestry and automotive sectors to protect and create jobs. We believe that in these tough economic times the government has a role to play to ensure that those who are doing their share for the prosperity of our country can continue to provide for the well-being of their families. In times like this our compassion as a country is tested. We believe it is imperative that the government offers Canadians who have already lost their job, whether in the factories of South Western Ontario or the forests of Eastern Quebec and British Columbia, the support they need to live in dignity and develop new skills. That is precisely what we intend to provide. Earlier today I wrote Her Excellency the Governor General. I respectfully asked her to refuse any request by the Prime Minister to suspend Parliament until he has demonstrated to her that he still commands the confidence of the House. If Mr. Harper wants to suspend Parliament he must first face a vote of confidence. In our Canada, the government is accountable for its decisions and actions in Parliament. In our Canada, the government derives its legitimacy from an elected Parliament. Allow me to end tonight on a personal note. If I am entrusted with the role of Prime Minister for the next months that I have left to serve, I will work day and nights to combat this economic crisis, to do what it takes to minimize its effects on Canadians, to protect jobs and to create jobs. I will serve my country until my time to serve is at an end. Dion's verbatim TV address from Canada.com
Stumble It!
Its bad enough that we have this neo-con in charge of our country but the fact that he wanted to choke off the other parties just goes to show Harper is a slimebag.
ABC = Anybody But Conservatives ...
Unless you're the one making them...right, Steve?
Despite Harper's attempt to deceive Canadians into believing otherwise, the Coalition is obviously legitimate or they would not be a threat to him and would not have the power to replace him as they clearly do, and it is a fact that the only reason the Coalition has any power is because Harper did NOT get the majority of Canadians votes, as he has falsely suggested, but rather the Coalition did. If Harper had actually gotten the majority of Canadians votes then what is happening now with the Coalition could not be happening, making it ridiculous that Harper and others keep saying that the Coalition taking over is undemocratic...it is clearly the exact opposite and in fact is more democratic than Harper, who was not chosen by the majority of Canadians, staying in power.
Harper is so narcissistic and power hungry he is a serious threat and embarrassment to Canada...look at how he lied when he promised Canadians a transparent and accountable government, and then turned around and did the exact opposite, and at how he copied the speech he gave to convince Canadians to get involved in a war, a war based on a lie, and his involvement in bribing a dying man with an insurance policy for his vote as the tape of him talking about being aware of an offer to Cadman for his vote supports, and his inappropriate, unjustified personal attacks on Dion during the election, and how he lied about the recession and the deficit and his promise to work with the other parties to serve all Canadians, then turning around and planning to cut funding to the other parties that received the majority of Canadians votes to destroy democracy in Canada and any chance of his working amicably with the other parties in the best interests of Canadians, and the complete nonsense about lying about Layton, Dion and Duceppe refusing to have the Canadian flag there when they signed the Coalition agreement when there clearly were 2 Canadian flags right there, and on and on and on. And what he is pathetically planning to do now to interfere with the Coalition taking over, which they have the legitimate right to do, and which is clearly not in the best interests of Canadians for Harper to do but rather clearly is all about him and what he wants and him not wanting to give up power.
The Coalition speaks for the majority of Canadians, as decided by Canadians,and have the right to exercise their power to do so and Harper or the Govenor General interferring with this right and the choice of Canadians would be seriously undemocratic and clearly not in the best interests of Canadians.