No Coalitions Says Martin

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-06-29 09:48pm

CBC wrote:OTTAWA - Prime Minister Paul Martin says he's confident he can get the Liberals' major policies through Parliament without a formal coalition with another party.

Martin met reporters on Tuesday, a day after his party won 135 seats, enough to form a minority government.

Voters elected 99 Conservatives, 19 New Democrats, 54 members of the Bloc Québécois and one Non-Affiliated

The results mean the Liberals can't get any laws passed without the co-operation of at least some of the members of the other parties.

But Martin said he's confident he can work on a case-by-case basis to find common ground on his main priorities: health care, a national day-care program and a better deal for cities.

"I think what we have got is a stable minority government," he said. "Minority governments can work and I do believe minority governments can have mandates and I do believe we have a mandate to act on the program we set out."

Met with Governor General

Martin said he has already met with Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson and told her he wants to form a cabinet before considering how soon he'll convene Parliament.

"Quite clearly the first focus is to put a cabinet together, then prepare a speech from the throne," he said, adding that he'll convene Parliament "in due course."

Martin said he's spoken to the other party leaders, but he did not discuss how they could work together. "We got into no specific talks at all," he said.

Earlier in the day, NDP Leader Jack Layton accused the Liberals of running a campaign of fear, persuading voters that the only way to stop the Conservatives was to vote Liberal.

But Martin denied that there was anything negative about the Liberal campaign.

"There was no doubt that there was a clash of ideas," he said, but added, "debating the ideas is what an election campaign should be all about."

How does he expect to get anything done if he won't form coalitions with anyone? He's definatly got a touch of Cretins arrogance.

White Cat · Post by **White Cat** » 2004-06-30 01:32am

Perhaps he's taking lessons on how to run a minority government from his new friend, Joe Clark.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-06-30 02:28am

Excellent, my plan to create the 51st and 52nd states from Western
Canada moves apace

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-06-30 07:07am

MKSheppard wrote:Excellent, my plan to create the 51st and 52nd states from Western
Canada moves apace

no! 3 states in the east after the country goes bankrupt and Quebec rebels. sheesh! have you not been readin the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy newsletters?