May 19, 2005

Plot thicken for confidence vote - again

Health troubles could mean Parrish misses crucial votes

Last night as we all tucked ourselves into bed, it appeared the outcome of today's votes on the Budget was fairly certain. Belinda Stronach's defection to the Liberals coupled with Chuck Cadman's signals he'd vote with the government made it pretty clear Canadians would not be going to the polls again in the very near future.

Sure, Liberal Jim Karygiannis had a bit of a scare yesterday and a tempest has developed over whether or not the Liberals tried to lure two Tory MPs to their side by offering them plum patronage positions, but Jim's doing fine and, quite frankly, the Liberal offers to opposition MPs are par for the course. The outcome appeared as clear as it has been ever since Jean Brault blew the lid off Liberal corruption a month ago.

There were rumours the Liberals, feeling more confident than they have since the end of March, might actually throw the vote, however they have boxed themselves in on the issue with their "Canadians don't want an election now" mantra and could face a backlash.

But proving once again how volatile the situation is, CTV News is reporting independent MP Carolyn "Americans are Bastards" Parrish, who was kicked out of the Liberal Party for stomping on the head of a George Bush doll, has developed appendicitis and may miss the vote. Without Parrish's vote the Opposition will have enough votes to defeat the Liberals in the Commons and force an election.

The rumour mill has of course started anew. Here are three I have already heard this morning:

  • Ms. Parrish is not ill but is missing the vote so the Liberals can have it both ways. They can oppose the election they want but still get it.

  • Ms. Parrish is ill but will be there (this is followed by some spin about how important she feels this vote is for the unity of the country).

  • CTV is wrong, Ms. Parrish is not ill and will be there for the vote.

Whatever her status, the vote this evening is going to be close and we should take nothing for granted or at face value with all the games going on.

UPDATE: She's okay. Her staff now confirm she will be at the vote this afternoon. Hmmmm, I wonder what her game is...

Posted by maxthecat at May 19, 2005 09:00 AM

http://www.maxsmewsings.com/mt/archives/2005/05/plot_thicken_for_confidence_vote_again.php