Jack Layton becomes a principal Conservative Party operative

by Ralph Goodale, Member of Parliament

It's useful to remember that the Liberal Opposition cannot bring down this government all by itself. At least one other party would have to agree. And so far, both the Bloc and the NDP seem content to serve as Mr. Harper's political props whenever necessary.

That's quite appropriate given that it was their partisan conspiracy back in November which caused the defeat of the Martin government and the election of Stephen Harper. So if it comes to somebody having to compromise their principles in order to avoid a premature election, let that be Gilles Duceppe or Jack Layton. It's their responsibility.

Particularly, with respect to the NDP, had it not been for Jack Layton's political sell-out last November to grab a handful of extra seats (but still run a distant fourth), Canada would still have ground-breaking agreements in place in every province - and $5 billion in the budget - to create 600,000 new, high quality, affordable, accessible and developmental child care spaces.

Had it not been for Jack Layton's political sell-out, the federal government would now be investing $4 billion in targeted measures to advance Canadian technology, cut greenhouse gas emissions and battle climate change - to get us 80 percent of the way toward Canada's international obligations.

Had it not been for Jack Layton's sell-out, the historic Kelowna Accords would now be firmly in place with more than $5 billion for better health care, education, housing, water supplies, economic development and governance - to narrow the life-gaps between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians.

Had it not been for Jack Layton, Canada would now be investing a new $2.7 billion to help students surmount financial barriers to higher learning, another $3.5 billion in workplace training, and $2 billion in innovation, science and research.

Had it not been for Jack Layton, personal income taxes in this country would be going down, not up.

In all these fields, Jack Layton abandoned his principles, voted out of sheer self-interest, handed Stephen Harper the chance to do real damage. and he did!

We will never allow the Layton New Democrats to escape their burden of hypocrisy and opportunism.

Make comments about this article in The Canadian Blog.

About the author:

This article was created by excerpting a speech that Ralph Goodale, Member of Parliament for the Federal Riding of Wascana in Saskatchewan made to the Laurier Club in Calgary.