When they don't know where to
stand, some fight over where to sit.
Like some Toronto city councillors. Canada's largest city has
countless economic, ecological and social problems, but its city
councillors haven't been able to come to an agreement on a seating plan
for their official photograph. I mean, if they don't agree on where to
sit, how can you expect an agreement on where they stand?
They failed to reach an agreement last month and it looks like they
are going to try again in a few weeks with the help of a hired
consultant who's a kindergarten teacher and has experience with childish
fights.
On Parliament Hill, some Liberal MPs are upset because the new
Conservative-turned-Liberal, Garth Turner, has been assigned a better
place in the House of Commons than many longstanding Liberal MPs.
There are Liberal MPs were elected in the last century who are
still sitting as 'props' in the Commons nosebleed section, while Turner
is sitting a few seats down and behind the party's leaders.
However, it appears Turner doesn't make a lot out of it; in fact,
he is more concerned about his new office on the Hill than his seat in
the House. As a Liberal, his office seems to be less prestigious than
the one he was enjoying when he was Conservative. Well, enough about
Turner.
In fact, the most important debate raging on the Hill involves
Liberal Party deputy leader Michael Ignatieff, known within his caucus
as, 'The Count.' In fact, this is a bit different. Liberal MPs don't
care any longer where he stands, but 'when' he sits.
First, it seems he likes to stand only when everybody sits (and
applauds).
Otherwise, he likes to sit, especially when everybody stands to applaud
the co-leader Stéphane Dion. Some Liberal MPs confirmed that this is not
just happening in Question Period but also during caucus meetings.
Sometimes the meetings are long and many MPs seize every
opportunity to stretch their legs. So, they stand up every time Dion
talks, especially if they spot a TV camera, and they start a big round
of applause forcing him to stop talking. 'Count' Iggy, however, endures
the pain and remains seated, hoping that the leader keeps talking,
especially in front of the cameras.
This co-leadership 'thing' is upsetting many Liberal MPs who were
convinced that 'we had defeated Ignatieff in Montreal last December but
now it looks like he is coming back from the back door,' said one
Liberal MP last week, who did not want to be identified.
They were also taken aback by a memo from Liberal Whip Karen
Redman's office a few days ago urging to be in the House Chamber during
an opposition day debate, 'to show support' during Mr. Ignatieff's
intervention. "I didn't receive the same memo asking for support for Mr.
Dion!' said an MP.
Said a Grit strategist: "Basically the leadership of Mr. Dion
starts with the lead question at Question Period and finishes right
after. From that point on, Iggy takes over the show." Increasing the
frustration of Liberals who thought they defeated 'Earl' Iggy in
Montreal, is what appears to be the new strategy of Prime Minister
Stephen Harper. The Prime Minister usually answers questions asked by
opposition party leaders and leaves it up to his Cabinet ministers to
answer questions from opposition MPs.
Lately, however, Harper has also been answering Ignatieff's
questions which is increasing confusion among Canadians and Liberal MPs
on the question of who the real leader is.
There is probably nothing strategic behind Harper's decision to
answer questions from Ignatieff. It may be that it takes two Liberals to
make a clear point with the government.
But the "conspiracy theory" is vengefully backed in the Liberal Party.
If the grassroots Liberals believed that the divisions emerged
during the Martin-Chrétien era were gone, well, they might be wrong. The
difference is that before, positions were clear: Martin's troops versus
Chrétien's troops.
Now it's a free-for-all and an appointment at Hy's is not a dinner,
it's a plot, again.
The Liberal Party seems to be prisoner of the law of conservation of
mass and matter by French scientist Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier: in
chemistry nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, it only transforms.
