Layton Claims Coalition Will Give Canadians Hope
Posted December 3, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
“He’s trying to turn an economic crisis into a political one.”
That’s how NDP leader Jack Layton is characterizing Stephen Harper’s actions, as he fights against a coalition plan to take over his government.
Layton was the last of the three main party leaders to speak on Wednesday night after yet another amazing day on Parliament Hill.
In what’s increasingly sounding like the same political rhetoric heard during an election campaign, Layton accused Harper of putting his own interests ahead of the country by clinging to power when Canada faces an economic abyss.
“He seems to be more interested in his job than in protecting your job,” he chides in a rebuttal to the P.M.’s historic speech Wednesday night. “Now that’s simply wrong.”
Layton knows that the Conservatives have painted his partnership efforts with Stephane Dion and Gilles Duceppe as an undemocratic, separatist-supporting act of villainy. But he insists it’s the exact opposite.
“The opposition parties acted together with a common objective to give hope back to the people and help them get through these difficult economic times,” he assures. “For the first time the majority of the parties chosen by the people have set aside their differences … for the good of Canada. And for the good of every Canadian.”
He worries what will happen if Governor General Michaelle Jean grants his imminent request to end the Parliamentary session early.
“Every Canadian will be silenced, because this House will be not permitted to speak,” he points out. “We will have a Conservative government without legitimacy. At the time of an economic crisis. That doesn’t have to happen. Because this is a remarkable moment in Canadian history.”
That last statement may be the only one on which both sides can agree.
