Harper: ‘Abolition is closer than it has ever been,’
In the eyes of Stephen Harper, Parliament has become dysfunctional again. He lost: 153-151. Will he prorogue? Never one to admit defeat, Harper's Cons are vowing revenge on the treacherous opposition MPs who switched their votes on the long gun registry. Hoeppner must be so disappointed.
From a Canadian Press report in the Globe and Mail.
Gun registry lives, but Harper vows to keep up the fight
That's quite a mouthful. Who are "the people of the regions"? I guess Harper means gun owners who don't live in non-regions - i.e., cities. Who is treating them like criminals? Must be the city slickers. Is that how criminals are treated? Made to fill out some forms? Has anyone been sent to jail for long gun registry violations?
Doesn't the NDP have a proposal for improving the registry? As do the Liberals? There is no middle ground for Harper. Abolition or bust!
The Tories are warning opposition MPs the issue will be front and centre in the next election campaign. They plan to target MPs in rural ridings who changed their votes after saying
they would support scrapping the registry.
Don't know who the 9 Liberals are but good luck with the NDP. The Cons came in second place in only 2 of the 6 NDP ridings - Allen in Welland is vulnerable but Stoffer had 61% in '08. In some of them, like they've been 3rd place for decades. Thibeault in Sudbury may also have to redouble his efforts as this was a fairly tight 3-way race in '08. But who can reasonably imagine Harper taking Sudbury after the strike at Vale Inco.
Angus, Hughes and Gravelle should be safe. This is more about fund-raising than it is winning unwinnable ridings. It's bluster which once again puts the PM's character on display for all to see. Stubborn but sly. Divisive but strategic.
From a Canadian Press report in the Globe and Mail.
Gun registry lives, but Harper vows to keep up the fight
“The people of the regions of this country are never going to accept being treated like criminals and we will continue our efforts until this registry is finally abolished.”
That's quite a mouthful. Who are "the people of the regions"? I guess Harper means gun owners who don't live in non-regions - i.e., cities. Who is treating them like criminals? Must be the city slickers. Is that how criminals are treated? Made to fill out some forms? Has anyone been sent to jail for long gun registry violations?
Doesn't the NDP have a proposal for improving the registry? As do the Liberals? There is no middle ground for Harper. Abolition or bust!
Mr. Harper predicted that opposition to the registry across Canada would not recede...
A bold prediction indeed. Partisan gain and public policy are so intertwined that there is no hesitation in switching from Parliament to the ridings. It's not about public safety and civil rights. It's about trying to win an unbridled majority government. The Tories are warning opposition MPs the issue will be front and centre in the next election campaign. They plan to target MPs in rural ridings who changed their votes after saying
they would support scrapping the registry.
Don't know who the 9 Liberals are but good luck with the NDP. The Cons came in second place in only 2 of the 6 NDP ridings - Allen in Welland is vulnerable but Stoffer had 61% in '08. In some of them, like they've been 3rd place for decades. Thibeault in Sudbury may also have to redouble his efforts as this was a fairly tight 3-way race in '08. But who can reasonably imagine Harper taking Sudbury after the strike at Vale Inco.
Angus, Hughes and Gravelle should be safe. This is more about fund-raising than it is winning unwinnable ridings. It's bluster which once again puts the PM's character on display for all to see. Stubborn but sly. Divisive but strategic.
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