Ignatieff appears to soften tone against Tories
Last Updated: Friday, October 9, 2009 | 11:53 PM ET
CBC News
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's is suggesting his party may not try to bring down the government and trigger an election at the next opportunity. (Adrian Wyld, Canadian Press)Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's tone toward the Harper government appears to be softening, suggesting his party may not try to bring down the government and trigger an election at the next opportunity.
In a campaign-style address to supporters in Sudbury, Ont., last month, Ignatieff said his party would try to trigger the defeat of Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government at the earliest possible date. He warned the prime minister, "Your time is up.”
Earlier this month, the Liberals introduced a no-confidence motion that was defeated after the NDP decided to abstain.
In an interview with CBC’s Evan Solomon for an upcoming edition of The House, however, Ignatieff said that doesn’t mean his party could not work with the government on some issues.
“What I said was we lost confidence in the government. I didn’t say we’re going to move more motions of non confidence. We did that, we stood up, we took a position of principle,” Ignatieff said.
“What I’ve said consistently for a month is in those cases where the government brings forth legislation we can support or approve or amend, we’ll do so. My strategy is not to make parliamentary government impossible.”
Ignatieff would not say whether his party would try to topple the government the next time there’s an opposition day or a bill that’s a motion of confidence.
“I'm not going to discuss what we're going to do moving forward," he said. "It's very important for me to keep the capacity to make decisions as they arise."
Ignatieff’s comments come as recent polls have shown the party falling behind the Conservatives.
