Sudbury itinerary

 A couple of people have asked me today about the itinerary for the Liberals'  caucus retreat in  Sudbury next week. (Yes, I'm going.)

Here, as an informal service to the curious,  is what I'm expecting will  be the shape of events at the Sudbury retreat.

Monday, Aug. 31:

Daylong: MPs arrive in Sudbury; will be asked as they enter the hotel if they want a fall election.

Tuesday, Sept. 1

Regional caucuses/ MPs entering and exiting are asked if they want a fall election.

Evening event/rally: Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is asked before and after speech if he wants a fall election.

Wednesday, Sept. 2:
National caucus meeting: Ignatieff and MPs talk about whether there should be a fall election. Reporters stake out entry and exit, ask about fall election.

Final news conference: Ignatieff  answers reporters' questions about the possibility of a fall election.

Thursday, Sept. 3

MPs go back to homes/ridings, Ignatieff heads to China ...  and reporters return to offices to write weekend pieces on whether there will be a fall election.

Comments

[Wascally Wabbit]

Conveniently - I have to be in Toronto during this time period of this event.
Convenient - because I might be asked to shell out $500 to be "in the presence".
Convenient - because if I was - I would want to ask some pretty penetrating questions for that $500 about summer strategy (or lack of same) and then - what is wrong with alliances and heavens - even formal coalitions - if they achieve the objective of freeing Canadians of a government that wants to get rid of government - and each day that passes - takes one more step to achieving that end.
I worry that - when a political party gets so "full of itself" -rather than its raison d'etre - and when its grass roots have to fight kicking and screaming to take it back from what I call "the guys behind the curtain" - that democracy is on a downward spiral...

[Bocanut]

Since when is less government a bad thing?

[LOL]

If you have less government you can't have things like the Billion Dollar Boondoogle, the Adscam, and the Gun Registry.
As for the coalition, if you really think it is a good idea, have the Liberals campaign under that banner. I know I'd love to see that.

[Gabby in QC]

You're right to point out your colleagues' obsession ...

If the one and only burning question is whether there's going to be a fall election, what does that say about the curiosity of the media?
About the importance of policy?
About any policy differences among the parties?
About the public's need to know and all those other clichés about the media's mission?

[Sarann]

I think it's more likely that the journalists will be obsessing about a fall election rather than telling the readers about what is really being discussed - something like the question of the name change at the NDP convention instead of the resolutions. Poor Canadian public!

[KRB]

Wascally Wabbit, it would be refreshing to see the Liberals and NDP put forward a joint platform (along with individual party ones), and run on that ticket in an election. I would fully welcome that, because they would either win a legitimate mandate from the people, or their dual-ticket would be rejected. The clearest expression of democratic intent from the electorate could be rendered.

A good example of this would be the Swedish Alliance coalition of four right-of-centre parties.

What we'll get instead is Ignatieff saying "we won't have a coalition with the NDP" when of course we know he would do it if he had to. Jack, meanwhile, will say he's against corporate tax reductions, when of course we know he'll throw that policy (and many others) overboard minutes after the results are in if it's the price of forming a coalition, and getting a cabinet spot.

And we wonder why voters are cynical, and participation has dropped? Sadly, elections are more about hoodwinking voters for a 36-day period than winning a decisive democratic mandate expounding clear policies and principles. But we can dream, can't we?

[Wascally Wabbit]

It would be refreshing if ALL centre left parties (and I include the Bloc in this - actually further left than even the NDP if you discount the Sovereignty plank))did what they did last Xmas - but not in such haste - and agree two things...

1) whatever their differences - they were united in opposing pretty much all that the CPC under Harper stands for and its total lack of democratic principles and that

2) that whatever their differences - they would each incorporate into their platforms what I would call the "reality clause" - that - if there was not a clear majority for one party - then the three of them (four if they could find some way to include the Greens) would be prepared to govern with a government made up proportionally from members of the participating parties - with the Bloc agreeing that they would bring up no issues related to Sovereignty for the balance of that electoral period.

It would neatly respond to the CPC argument last time that the colation didn't represent the will of the people in the election and would also to a degree - give a government created by Rep by Pop...rather than First Past the Post!

[Wascally Wabbit]

I should have prefaced my previous remark with the following disclaimer -
That I am not – nor do I wish to be – a member of the Liberal “organization”.

[woods]

Wascally Wabbit, what you propose would definitely drive me to vote Green. I don't like Harper, but the idea of a Bloc-NDP-Liberal is something I like even less -- and I have voted for two of those parties in the past. I can't imagine a more unstable situation than having that group running our government. Fortunately, Ignatieff already passed up the possibility of governing with a coalition and Layton immediately ran attack ads on Ignatieff and has consistently said Ignatieff is no better than Harper, so there is zero chance of any coalition.

[Darwin O'Connor]

"I can't imagine a more unstable situation"

How about a minority government which is deeply disliked by all opposition parties and could fall at any moment for any reason.

[woods]

"How about a minority government which is deeply disliked by all opposition parties and could fall at any moment for any reason."

Not close. A minority government is at least a government where most of the cabinet ministers are trying to support the government and Prime Minister. Layton has made it clear that he does not respect Ignatieff or Liberal MPs and I can't even imagine the Bloc working to support a government for ALL Canadians. As I said, I can't imagine a more unstable situation.