This comes as Members of Parliament (MP’s) prepare to return to the House of Commons for a fall session. The New Democratic Party (NDP) is the smallest of the three opposition parties, and on the extreme left of the political spectrum.
Layton, Harper Meet Discuss EI, Mohamed
Layton and Harper discussed changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) system. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff agreed to a working group on reforming the system.
Meetings between the Prime Minister and opposition leaders are routinely used to set the agenda prior to the resumption of Parliament. Harper holds a minority government, so this means these discussions could trigger a decision to bring his government down and a subsequent election.
NDP Leader Jack Layton, doesn’t like what he sees. In comments published on the Globe&Mail.ca he told a press conference his party had no reason to continue supporting the government: “I didn’t see any change in direction on the part of the government in my conversation with Mr. Harper.”
Layton also raised the case of Suaad Hagi Mohamud. Mohamud is the woman who was stranded in Kenya for three months because Canadian officials didn’t believe she was Canadian. Later in the same Globe& Mail article, Layton said he pressed the need to assure Canadians they would be protected when going abroad: “The people in Canada need to know there are procedures in place to protect them.”
When asked directly about supporting of a non-confidence vote, Layton was evasive. In comments published on CBC.CA he shifted the focus to the Liberals: "Time and again the Liberals talked about Elections. That seems to be the main thing they think about."
The NDP needs the support of the Liberals and Bloc Québécois to bring down the Harper government.
Liberals Ask Parliamentary Budget Chief To Estimate EI Plan’s Cost
The federal Liberals meanwhile have asked the Parliamentary Budget Chief to put a price tag on their plan to reform Employment Insurance (EI). The request follows weeks of discussions between themselves and the Conservatives on how best to reform the system.
Those talks have been characterized in some media reports as going at a snail’s pace. Liberal members of the working group are showing some frustration. In recent comments published by the Calgary Herald, MP Michael Savage said they want the Conservatives to demonstrate their commitment: “They’ve got to show their serious if we’re going to move forward.” They want the full estimate finished by August 28, 2009.
The ongoing talks on EI are part of a deal, which included an extra financial report to Parliament and an opposition day in late September. At this point the rumour is the Liberals plan to use the opposition day to introduce a motion of non-confidence in the Harper Government. If passed, that motion will trigger the dissolution of Parliament and a second federal election in as many years.
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