Tories 'frantically trying to imitate' Liberals: Dion
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 | 11:22 AM ET
CBC News
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion told his caucus Tuesday that the Conservative government is so panicked it's copying Liberal ideas and policies.
Dion said Prime Minister Stephen Harper made environmental promises last week that are similar to ones the Liberals have long called for.
Harper and the Conservatives promised to spend $1.5 billion on alternative energy technologies, $230 million on clean energy technologies and $300 million on helping Canadians make their homes and businesses more energy-efficient.
"We must have done something right because Mr. Harper is now frantically trying to imitate us," Dion said, in French, at the start of his caucus meeting.
He is meeting with Liberal senators and members of Parliament for two days in Quebec City. The Liberals will discuss the strategies and policies they will adopt when Parliament resumes Monday, after the holiday break.
Dion, who received a standing ovation from his cheering caucus Tuesday, conceded that it is a good thing the Conservatives are taking on some Liberal priorities.
"They are not doing it as well as we did, but at least they are imitating us," he said. "At least they are doing a little bit."
He said what the Conservatives lack is conviction. He accused them of not being as committed to the environment, social justice and economic prosperity as the Liberals are.
"Mr. Harper will never be able to imitate these convictions and Canadians know this," he said.
Julie Van Dusen, a CBC News parliamentary reporter, said with that comment, Dion is trying to suggest the Conservatives are only concerned with staying in power.
"The Liberals feel like they can attack this approach Mr. Harper has, saying it is really just about winning seats," she said.
"The Liberals are saying Mr. Stephen Harper is an impostor on this issue," she added, referring to the environment.
Ties to Quebec
Dion, in his speech, said he wishes the Conservatives, who were elected one year ago Tuesday, were imitating even more Liberal plans and ideas, like the Kelowna Agreement.
The 2005 agreement, made at a conference in the B.C. city of Kelowna, was a five-year, $5-billion plan to improve the lives of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. The deal was forged among Aboriginal leaders, Canada's premiers and Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Aboriginal leaders have since accused the Conservatives of not following through with the agreement.
Van Dusen said Dion picked Quebec City for his meeting because the Conservatives hold seats in the area. Van Dusen said the Liberals want to make strides in the region.
During his speech, Dion stressed his ties to Quebec, which he called a "cradle of civilization" in Canada.
"After a century and a half, the Liberal party finally has a leader who was born and grew up in Quebec City," he said.
