April 23, 2005

Martin to court NDP

PM needs Layton's support to survive

Prime Minister Paul Martin will meet with NDP Leader Jack Layton tomorrow in an attempt to save his government from falling at the hands of the Opposition Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois.

Mr. Layton's credibility and that of his party are at stake.
Jack Layton has been clear in his willingness to make a deal to prop up Mr. Martin's sinking government, but the NDP Leader's terms will be difficult for the PM to swallow.

Mr. Layton wants the Liberal government to drop Budget provisions introducing a corporate tax cut as a fundamental basis for his co-operation. That demand will be politically difficult for Mr. Martin who is counting on the corporate tax cut to stave off the more business-friendly Conservatives in an election campaign. But it will get more difficult for Mr. Martin because that is likely only the first item on a long NDP shopping list. Mr. Layton is also likely to push the govermnemnt to move faster on other files like social housing, the so-called "new deal" for cities, and a national child care scheme.

Despite this, I suspect Mr. Martin will be willing to do almost anything to lock in Mr. Layton's support. In an interview yesterday on Global Television, the Prime Minister would not even rule out a coalition with the NDP.

Mr. Martin's desperation to save his government is understandable, even in the face of allegations the party he leads is rife with corruption and has stolen millions of taxpayers' dollars and deposited them in the party's election war chest. Mr. Layton's thirst for a deal, however, is incomprehensible.

It seem more than likely that the Gomery commission into AdScam will report back that the Liberal Party of Canada engineered government contracts in order fill party coffers. If that turns out to be the case, Mr. Layton's support for the Martin Liberals will have kept Canadians under the rule of a political party mired in corruption and given the impression that he and the NDP tacitly condone it. What's worse for Mr. Layton, a coalition with the Liberals could potentially implicate them in the scandal.

It makes no sense. Sure, he stands a better chance of getting child care, social housing and a cities deal with the Liberals, but at what risk? Mr. Layton's credibility and that of his party are at stake. He should think long and hard before getting into bed with the Liberals in their current situation.

Posted by maxthecat at April 23, 2005 06:10 PM

http://www.maxsmewsings.com/mt/archives/2005/04/martin_to_court_ndp.php