In West Vancouver, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says Stephen Harper promotes fear
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff took in the sunset on the ferry to the Lower Mainland.
At a town hall meeting on the North Shore, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of trying to foment fear.
"This is how this man governs: let's find something to be frightened of," Ignatieff told an audience of several hundred people today (August 22) at the West Vancouver Community Centre.
The federal Opposition leader cited the example of Tamil refugee claimants, who travelled in a rickety boat across the Pacific Ocean and arrived in B.C. earlier this month.
Ignatieff claimed that federal Conservative politicians tried to make people "afraid of people you don't even know".
He added that officials with the Immigration and Refugee Board should have been left to do the proper screening without interference.
"Politicians should shut up and let these people do their job," Ignatieff declared to loud applause.
He pointed out that his own father was a refugee who fled Communism in Russia. "We must always be a haven in a heartless world," Ignatieff said.
He went on to describe how the Harper government has created a "democratic deficit".
"This is a prime minister who shut parliament down not once, but twice," he noted.
Ignatieff also claimed that Conservative politicians smeared the reputation of a civil servant, Richard Colvin, after he raised questions about the handling of Afghan detainees.
The Liberal leader commented on how the Conservative government "pretty well ignored" a Federal Court order involving the detention of Omar Khadr in Guantanamo Bay.
From there, Ignatieff highlighted how Harper's government "basically fired" the ombudsman for Canadian veterans.
He then noted how the RCMP officer overseeing the long-gun registry was shuffled out of his job to take French lessons after speaking out in favour of gun control.
"Anybody who cares about law and order wants a gun registry in this country, pure and simple," Ignatieff said.
He closed his speech by inviting "compassionate Conservatives" and those who are concerned about the $54-billion deficit to join the Liberals' "big red tent".
Ignatieff also cautioned those who are considering casting ballots for the two other major federal parties outside of Quebec.
"If you vote NDP or Green, you will give this country four more years of Stephen Harper," he claimed.
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Comments
My Father escaped a soviet prison camp, came to Canada and became a Canadian.
Iggy was partying with Knob Rae in a dorm at the same time.
My father raised a family of 5 while learning english...Iggy spent the salaries of 5 taxpayers sucking up to elite poloticians for personal gain!
I'm vexed & puzzled by Ig. Why has he continued to prop up Harper's dreary, minority gov't for so long? PM-ship is within Ig's easy reach via coalition, yet he has repeatedly cringed, cowered & caved to Harper's abuses of power. Ig's indictments against Harper are indictments against Ig too, as Ig's currently Harper's primary ally, enabler, & prop-er-up-er in Parliament. Stop cowering Ig. Be brave & say nay to the autocratic, power abusing Harper!
If his Toronto Liberal-UCC chums hadn't made him an offer he couldn't refuse, to be PM of Canada, he would still be at Harvard teaching British history and neocon-style 'human rights' (torture, assassination, denial of rights, preemptive war).
Ignatieff, the lapsed and now born-again Canadian who wants to live in 24 Sussex ... with his non-Canadian wife!! Ignatieff ... NOT worthy to be PM of Canada just because he dons Liberal drag.
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Unlike Michael who became a refugee who fled Canada for 34 years only to return on an invitation from the Liberals.
Sorry Mike,too little,too late.
Your should have,could have,would have speeches don't say anything about how you will govern.
If he thinks he has the asnwers then he should be telling the public what he plans on running for in the net election and bring Harper down. Then he will learn just what canadians think of him.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/QPeriod/20100523/government-online-forums-100523/
This is called policy and it is developed by numerous people not just one. It is also acheivable, because the Liberals may actually form the next government. This is something you won't see out of the Conservatives or the NDP. The CONS are a one man show and the NDP will never hold government so they can say what ever they like. If someone could post a link to some CON policy I would love to read it, or some NDP policy that can actually be acheived, and isn't just against present government policy. Of course then we can debate the soundness of these policies if you dare. It is something the Liberals and Ignatieff don't seem to fear.
Mr' Ignatieff is drawing large numbers in BC, and this is just the beggining. There will be no coalition, it won't be nessacary, time is now on the Liberals side. the Harpercons are selfdestructing because one man can't run the whole show, and a "my way or the highway" revenge motive is no way to govern.
The fall will be fun for some of us and I look forward to the spring election when Steve will have taken enough rope and the NDP and Layton will have exposed themselves as the blind oppurtunists they are. Canadians are looking for more than scripted news conferences where questions on the issues of the day that count can't be asked.That along with strong policy will be the making of a strong minority for the Liberals.
Precisely -- in how many instances have the Banks and financial institutions turned around ---after hypothecating the mortgage debt 'paper' to the government scooping the proceeds from the billion dollar pool--as part of (apparently) keeping the economy from "another depression" then turning around and initiated foreclosure proceedings against property owners --- to collect the same mortgage money twice--
The victims in this huge multi - billion dollar Made in Canada fraud aren't likely rich folks----like in West Vancouver.
Americans reading this -- take it to the bank
I'm tired of negative Harper, mean Harper and non-accountable Harper. I'll consider all options that will help give him all the time he needs to finish that hockey book Hah!
It was one of the best political meets I've attended and I was proud that my kids came too and took away a sense of decorum and friendly democracy. They felt they counted in some way to this man who may be Canada's next Prime Minister. No mean feat for teens in the iPod age.
A fearless kind of guy the real west has seen far too few of this last decade.
Face it, when VanderZalm is the new Best Thing in BC, we've been dragging the line.
Ignatieff over old woodenhead Harper any day of the week.
Vancouver-Kingsway is a core riding and Stephen Harper poisoned it over Emerson. Of course Emerson couldn't handle the heat and left the kitchen.
From the looks of the Liberal Express stop in Van-King, most people were out looking for an alternative to Harper and any of his wolves-in-sheep's-clothing like the Emersons waiting to be paid for loyalty.
Fertile ground, Van-King. Not for Harper seeds though. Harper salted that ground for whatever rendition of Conservatives might try to plant there. That's Harper's way though, isn't it? If not him then nobody.
I don't understand why so many moderate conservatives tolerate Harper's burnt ground politics.
Van-King is not a rich postal code, but certainly able to tell who's robbing who to pay for the Emersons of the world. We watch and we wait until Harper dares appoint Emerson to the Senate. Even Harper knows who's middle-class toes he'd be trodding on to try it and he wouldn't dare. I'd like to think that Emerson would prefer to retain some modicum of respect and defer a Senate appointment if not outright refuse. I live in hope.
So keep your class warfare and postal code potshots to yourself. Sitting paid in Harper's war room doesn't give you the breadth of understanding of BC. Even Flaherty made the mistake of thinking Canada ends at the Rockies. For him and his Alberta help-meet Harper, Canada does.
Underestimate BC and Vancouver in particular at your peril.
This is just one of so many ways that tax dollars has been spent and the fact is our Government is and never will be held accountable for whatever stupidity they enact.
We get to choose between Harper; a war on drugs supporting corporate whore wearing blue, or Iggy; a war on drugs supporting corporate whore wearing red.
Anyone else feeling overwhelmed with our vast democratic power?
*puke*
"Anybody who cares about law and order wants a gun registry in this country, pure and simple," This is an appalling indictment of many rural Canadians and others who view the registry as a waste of resources. There is nothing "pure and simple" about this -- it is a controversial issue with (arguably) legitimate positions on both sides. His appeal to "compassionate Conservatives" is also manipulative. Most of us are compassionate and caring Canadians. We simply have different views on how to solve problems. Iggy is all talk and no substance.
and ignatieff isn't even progressive. he's trying to give the perception that he is so he can get the green and NDP vote.
it's time for electoral reform not strategic voting, iggy.
Stats Can long form so gov't can plan, get rid of it. Climate change, doesn't exsist. Military, spend big. Diplomacy, waste of time. Take sides against 'axsis of evil'. Overseers of government, get rid of them. Majority opposition, ignored. Gun control, eliminate. Eliminating cause of crime/poverty, too expensive. More prisons/prison time, lot's of money for that. Higher education, for the rich. Promote sustainable energy, no money. Promote tar sands, lots of money. Lower taxes means a less liveable country, the U.S. is deteriorating but Harper wants to emulate it. Canada was doing very well under the Liberals, other than minor corruption which had to stop. They've done their time in the wilderness. Let's go back to sound government policy, why mess with success?
In a populist style bus tour -- he didn't need to bring up the registry - it isn't as useful to him now---as it might be later when he moves about in a limo.
Please be man enough and back up your complaints by actually voting "Against" the government on these issues, instead of voting "With" the government and then complaining about the government. At least we the Canadian People can then go to the polls and really let you know what we think of you and your anti-Canadian lib left stances on issues that are making Canadians irate with you and your party. You and Your Liberal party are what is wrong with this Country, and the quicker we can have an election the better. Back to Harvard with you Sir....
P.S. Time we change the Supreme Court of Canada too. Vote these guys in! I am tired of hearing about their stupid decisions! Like shooting at night isn't dangerous?!?!
people actually believing a politicain??
brainwashed fools