WILL THE AFGHAN MISSION TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT?
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe said yesterday that if there aren't any serious changes made to Canada's efforts in Afghanistan than he will put forth a non-confidence motion and attempt to topple the Conservative minority government. If they do manage to table a non-confidence motion than they are obviously going to need some help in order for it to pass. The Bloc would need 155 votes in order for it to pass of which they would only hold 51 assuming that all Bloc members voted against the government.
Jack Layton and the NDP, who have repeatedly said they are against the Afghan mission, would probably support the Bloc adding another 29 votes to their count, now at 80. They are going to need to persuade Stephane Dion and the Liberals to join them on this effort, at least 75 of them anyway. Dion has said he will not make up his mind on the issue until he actually sees the motion that Duceppe has proposed. Earlier on this year when a vote was held on the Afghan mission there were 30 Liberals who voted with the Conservatives so if these numbers hold true than there would not be enough support to bring down the government.
Personally, I don't believe that the mission in Afghanistan is an appropriate issue to hold a vote of confidence on. Almost anything else would be fine but not this. Dion and Duceppe are trying to get more efforts put towards reconstruction rather than fighting the Taliban which is all well and good but in order for proper reconstruction of Afghanistan, its people, and its society the Taliban must be pushed out of the area. Layton and the NDP are taking the hard line on the issue and want Canada out of Afghanistan altogether which is quite possibly the worst idea I have ever heard.
It is yet to be seen what the possible outcome might be if a confidence motion is put to a vote. Some have said we may be looking at a June election, some say even earlier than that. No matter what the outcome of all of this we need to make sure we do the right thing in Afghanistan.
- DCM
Jack Layton and the NDP, who have repeatedly said they are against the Afghan mission, would probably support the Bloc adding another 29 votes to their count, now at 80. They are going to need to persuade Stephane Dion and the Liberals to join them on this effort, at least 75 of them anyway. Dion has said he will not make up his mind on the issue until he actually sees the motion that Duceppe has proposed. Earlier on this year when a vote was held on the Afghan mission there were 30 Liberals who voted with the Conservatives so if these numbers hold true than there would not be enough support to bring down the government.
Personally, I don't believe that the mission in Afghanistan is an appropriate issue to hold a vote of confidence on. Almost anything else would be fine but not this. Dion and Duceppe are trying to get more efforts put towards reconstruction rather than fighting the Taliban which is all well and good but in order for proper reconstruction of Afghanistan, its people, and its society the Taliban must be pushed out of the area. Layton and the NDP are taking the hard line on the issue and want Canada out of Afghanistan altogether which is quite possibly the worst idea I have ever heard.
It is yet to be seen what the possible outcome might be if a confidence motion is put to a vote. Some have said we may be looking at a June election, some say even earlier than that. No matter what the outcome of all of this we need to make sure we do the right thing in Afghanistan.
- DCM
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