Liberal Party

Wednesday May 31, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 31, 2017

B.C. NDP and Greens to release details of their power-sharing deal

B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan held a triumphant meeting of his MLAs at the legislature Tuesday, as his party prepares to overthrow the governing Liberals and take power with the help of the B.C. Greens.

March 11, 1999

Horgan arrived to a standing ovation and a flurry of desk thumping as NDP MLAs and party staff crowded into the Opposition board room at the legislature to hear details of a power-sharing agreement announced Monday with the Greens.

“Wow, what a race, what a contest, what an election campaign, and how excited are we today?” Horgan said to applause.

“We’ll have the opportunity as a caucus of 41 New Democrats to ratify an agreement that will bring stability to the legislature and allow us to focus on the things we campaigned on, allow us to ensure we can make life more affordable for British Columbians, that we can protect the services people care about, and most importantly we can make sure the economy works for everybody.

“That’s what we campaigned upon, that’s what we’re going to deliver. I’m very excited to have you all here, and I’m very excited about the prospect of forming the next government of British Columbia.”

Combined, the NDP and Greens hold 44 seats in the legislature, compared to 43 for the Liberals.

Horgan said the NDP will release a copy of the agreement with the Greens at 2 p.m. Tuesday. He mentioned it will allow an NDP government to improve housing affordability, improve health care, defend the coast from pipelines and improve the education system. (Source: Vancouver Sun)

 

Wednesday December 14, 2016

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday December 14, 2016 Justin Trudeau insists fundraiser attendees hold no special sway on policy Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says business people bend his ear at Liberal Party fundraisers, but he insists they do not hold any sway on government policy. Answering questions on the so-called "cash-for-access" controversy, Trudeau insisted he will answer questions or listen to anyone who wants to speak with him about issues that are important to them. "The fact is, my approach continues to be to listen broadly through every possible opportunity I get and make the right decisions based on what's best for Canada," he said during a year-end news conference in Ottawa. "I can say that in various Liberal Party events, I listen to people as I will in any given situation, but the decisions I make in government are ones based on what is right for Canadians, not on what an individual at a fundraiser might say.Ó Trudeau said he and his cabinet ministers are "extremely available" through a number of public and private venues, including town halls, news conferences, or closed-door meetings with municipal leaders and first responders. "This is a government that is extraordinarily open to multiple perspectives, as we always have. At no point does attending a fundraiser give particular or special access on policy to anyone," he said. Trudeau also expressed confidence that fundraising events meet the spirit of his own guidelines. His comments today appeared to run counter to guidance offered by Christina Topp, interim national director of the Liberal Party of Canada, in a letter to all ministers and parliamentary secretaries on Nov. 4, 2016. "Any individual who wishes to initiate a policy discussion is immediately redirected to instead make an appointment with the relevant office. As you know, fundraising events are partisan functions where we do not discuss government business," she wrote. (Source: CBC)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/p

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday December 14, 2016

Justin Trudeau insists fundraiser attendees hold no special sway on policy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says business people bend his ear at Liberal Party fundraisers, but he insists they do not hold any sway on government policy.

Answering questions on the so-called “cash-for-access” controversy, Trudeau insisted he will answer questions or listen to anyone who wants to speak with him about issues that are important to them.

“The fact is, my approach continues to be to listen broadly through every possible opportunity I get and make the right decisions based on what’s best for Canada,” he said during a year-end news conference in Ottawa. “I can say that in various Liberal Party events, I listen to people as I will in any given situation, but the decisions I make in government are ones based on what is right for Canadians, not on what an individual at a fundraiser might say.”

Trudeau said he and his cabinet ministers are “extremely available” through a number of public and private venues, including town halls, news conferences, or closed-door meetings with municipal leaders and first responders.

“This is a government that is extraordinarily open to multiple perspectives, as we always have. At no point does attending a fundraiser give particular or special access on policy to anyone,” he said.

Trudeau also expressed confidence that fundraising events meet the spirit of his own guidelines.

His comments today appeared to run counter to guidance offered by Christina Topp, interim national director of the Liberal Party of Canada, in a letter to all ministers and parliamentary secretaries on Nov. 4, 2016.

“Any individual who wishes to initiate a policy discussion is immediately redirected to instead make an appointment with the relevant office. As you know, fundraising events are partisan functions where we do not discuss government business,” she wrote. (Source: CBC)