Update: Hearn Responds to Fair Deal Audience
Stronach Crosses Floor to Join Liberals
UPDATE II: I’ll be on Globe TV sometime this evening talking about this phase of the campaign. Not sure when, exactly, but I’ll be there.
UPDATE I: Loyola Hearn is responding to the Fair Deal community with a form letter. This is great news as I applaud any politician who takes the extra step to communicate with citizens (whether we agree with the response or not). I’ll have to give my thoughts on the letter later in the day, however. All thoughts on his response are welcome here!
Stronach found herself ” ‘…at a crossroads,’ adding that she has become uncomfortable with the direction that Conservative Leader Stephen Harper has been taking the party". She’ll be called a sellout, a liar, a crook, and a prostitute just for good measure.
Here’s another way to look at it: she looked at her party and could not in good conscience stay with it. So she went with what she thought was best.
While I don’t know what prompted Stronach’s move (and those who will start dragging her through the mud certainly don’t either), Mr. Hearn and Mr. Doyle are at a similar crossroads: go with the party, or go with the province by voting for the budget this week. That said, I’m sure that Mr. Hearn and Mr. Doyle will base their decisions on what they think is best, and in the end, not vote simply for the good of their party. I believe that whatever vote they cast, they will have firm commitment that they are doing the right thing – though I may disagree with them at the end of the day. The Fair Deal community should react either way, and these letters should help Hearn and Doyle make a more informed decision based on the will of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at home (and abroad).
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I was extremely delighted to hear that Stronagh has crossed the floor to vote with the Liberals; I am not completely surprised however as I believe that she was never quite in tune with Harper’s values. I hope it gives Hearn and Doyle a boost to find the courage, make the right decision and vote for the accord. Right on Belinda!
Comment by Tess — 5/17/2005 @ 10:45 amIf I recall correctly, Mr. Doyle supported Ms. Stronach for the Conservative leadership. I wonder if she has his support today?
And to Kevin and everyone who has participated at Fair Deal, Happy Lucky 13 (thousand that is)!
Comment by Brenda S. , St. John’s — 5/17/2005 @ 11:19 amHello Kevin,
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our beloved province. I have sent my letter to Doyle and Hearn. As well I will be contacting family and friends to encourage them to do the same.
(As an aside I have a question, are you Kevin McCann fromerly of Cherrington St in St. John’s?)
Good luck and good support in all your efforts.
Comment by Rick Maher — 5/17/2005 @ 1:10 pmRick Maher
Did you all get the Loyola Hearn response via email? He doesn’t seem to be wavering nor does he seem to understand the trouble he is in politically.
Hell hath no fury like the electorate when not listened to!
Comment by Brenda S. , St. John’s — 5/17/2005 @ 2:46 pmI replied to Loyola’s letter. Not sure if he will read it or not. But just voiced my concerns to him. My problem is that if the budget fails, the next government will probably be another minority, the way things look. So we wait till next spring for another budget, wait till the summer for voting, and the government hypothetically falls again. (Minoritys don’t usually last too long). This could delay the deal for some years to come. Let’s hope these two guys vote for their constituents and their province. They will be doing a huge diservice to Newfoundland by voting this away. The sponsorship scandal is not enough to bring the Government down. I am sure they are not the only governemnt to provide favours, just tje ones that got caught. Let’s do the right thing.
Comment by Rod — 5/17/2005 @ 3:42 pmI’m not sure how I take this “Move to the floor.” She belongs to the right party now, anyway… the party of scandal.
I’m seeing this as a calculated, self-serving move. I’m also changing my attitude.
More scandal, more lies. I am now fearful that this budget will get passed.
Those of you that gave msgs concerning Liberal delaying of the bill have helped me see the light–particularly when the PC members tried to get the Liberals to sign a separate deal for the Accord, and the Liberals said “NO.”
Loyola’s letter answered some questions I had too. Now, I hope he votes ‘no’ to the budget.
The true wolf in sheep’s clothing is now seen as the Liberals to me. “Ms. Cross-the-floor before the vote” has proven it to me.
Just goes to show what a farce politics has become.
I’ll no longer criticize the US political woes. We are as bad/worse.
Comment by Pauline — 5/17/2005 @ 3:53 pmIf these guys vote against Newfoundland and Labrador I think it is about time us to consider creating a East Coast bloc party of our own. With the minority governments in place today it would make a difference. Just imagine if all our MP’s were of one Newfoundland and Labrador party today. We could be the deciding vote. If Hearn and Doyle vote against us then lets send these to packing cause they will have sold us out. I put you two on notice. Vote to pass the budget and you have my vote in the next federal election vote against it and I am voting Liberal.
Peace
Comment by Matt — 5/17/2005 @ 4:14 pmMr. Hearn makes some good points in his response to my E-Mail, and lest anybody might be under the impression that I give a Hoot for the Federal Liberals, let me correct that impression. I believe that this government deserves to Fall, but not at this time.
Mr. Hearn points out that this is just step 2 in a 6 point process, but at least it is step 2. I don’t see going back to square one, without any guarantee that Newfoundland would be in any better position. Indeed odds are that we would be in a worse position.
If the PC’s truly want to help, let them vote to pass this budget and then do every thing in their Power to move through the remaining steps in the process, to put the provisions of this budget in place, and get this Atlantic Accord money into the hands of Newfoundland.
Then and only then would I support them in bringing down this Government. When this Liberal government does fall, as it will, I will be left with another decision to make, who will I vote for in the ensuing election. Right now I’d have to say if the only choice was between the Liberals and the Conservatives, I would probably not even bother to vote, for the first time in my Life, I am that disallusioned with the whole political scene.
We need new players, new focus and a new Committment to the people of Canada. I don’t know that Canada will ever be any better, if we don’t somehow break the present political mold and move on to more enlightened and encompassing governance.
Comment by Max — 5/17/2005 @ 4:22 pmBelinda is our next LIBERAL Prime Minister!
Put that in yer collective pipes and smoke it!
Fred from CBS
Comment by Fred Harris — 5/17/2005 @ 4:45 pmI sure hope so Fred. That would be the best news for the Conservative Party of Canada that they could ever have.
Comment by Julie — 5/17/2005 @ 4:48 pmTwo things to notice in Loyola’s e-mail reply:
1. At no point does he address the issue of why his party can’t pass this portion of the budgte and bring down the government later. Why now, in other words?
2. Note especially that the “lengthy process” about the budget applies equally to the “separate bill” as it does to the budget motion. Loyola contradicts himself, hoping you won’t know enough of parliamentary procedure to see through the nonsense. The Conservavtives plan to bring down the government before _any_ motion on the money can get all the way to the Royal assent stage.
What Loyola and Norm really don’t want you to realise is that the offshore money was on hold to some undefined future point that fateful night when the cuaucus met and Steohen told them what they had to do - almost a month ago. Loyola’s motion last week was posturing - hollow empty and futile.
Comment by Ed Hollett — 5/17/2005 @ 5:09 pmWe need a BLOC Nfld. So BLOC Nfld. members keep me from going to another election until 2006 and pass this budget. Any member who votes against this budget and thus “outs” the Government will have to look elsewhere for my vote. I will vote but not for my member if he runs again and if he votes against the budget.
Comment by Joe Moore — 5/17/2005 @ 5:28 pmI can’t believe the hypocracy of Doyle and Hearn. Do these two honestly believe the garbage they are spitting out? Hearn knows that what he is saying about a stand alone bill on the Accord is utterly untrue. The Bloc would never, never, support a stand alone bill on the Accord. Of course we all realize that the Bloc would be thrilled to have an election right now giving them the leverage they need to hold another referendum on separating from Canada and they are willing to say anything to bring that about! And I’m certain that Harper would sleep with the devil just to have a shot at being the Prime Minister, even if that means he would only be Prime Minister of a Canada that begins in Ontario and ends in B.C. After all, he has made statements in the past that indicates that he has no use for Atlantic Canadians and if Quebec does separate he won’t have to worry about having to please Quebecers anymore. It may well be Harper’s vision to be Prime Minister of only the richest provinces in Canada and to hell with the rest of us!
Comment by Barbara — 5/17/2005 @ 5:45 pmI couldn’t help sending a separate email letting him know that yes we as Canadians are aware of how corrupt this government is but before he starts pointing fingers just remember that the other parties also have their share of scandals. Are they so insulated that they aren’t aware that a lot of Canadians view most politicians as corrupt.
Comment by Vic — 5/17/2005 @ 6:06 pmLoyola Hearn’s response to the e-mail blast refers to a 6-step process, Thursday’s vote being step 2.
I’m no expert on our parliamentary system, so I’m hoping someone reading this can enlighten me on what would come next.
What are the next four steps? Will this require four more confidence votes? Mr. Hearn seems to be implying that the path to final passage of C-43 will be a lengthy and precarious road. Is it?
Comment by Darryl (Halifax) — 5/17/2005 @ 8:04 pm