Fury, Foam and Failure
Most never expected the coalition to really get launched anyway, but the violent nature of its demise caused a few of us in Parliament to sit up and take note.
For reasons expressed earlier, Michael Ignatieff made his call and then defended it strongly in the National Press Theatre – he wouldn’t be bringing down the Harper government. The announcement hardly surprised most observers and events moved on to Question Period in the House of Commons three hours later. I was amused when approached by a number of Conservative staffers during the day, expressing their appreciation that they still had their respective jobs because of the Liberal decision to stay the execution.
But it was during Question Period that the day soured considerably. Leader of the NDP, Jack Layton, lashed out at the Liberals, claiming we were now in coalition with the Conservative government. It was unfair, but somewhat common during QP. But then he reserved harsh language for Mr. Ignatieff himself, leaving the House in something of a troubled state.
Watching Jack Layton was a study in conflicting emotions. His anger was palpable, almost foaming at the mouth at the sheer distaste at the final developments that would keep him from assuming a spot in cabinet and providing his party with the kind of governing credibility they deeply desired. In fact, the language was severe enough that it brought back memories of the terrible bashing meted out to Stephane Dion during his worst days.
That was later borne out when the NDP party unleashed a series of radio ads specifically directed at Mr. Ignatieff. When word of this got out, worries were expressed in the Opposition Lobby by some from each opposition party that I spoke with (including NDPs) that we were quickly returning to “over-the-top” partisan attacks of the Harperites only a few short months ago – only this time the fusillades were coming from the leader of the NDP.
For me personally it was just another disillusioning moment. As justified as Jack Layton thought he was, by resorting to such attacks he was pulling Parliament back into a bleak time and practice that the majority of MPs hoped we had left behind as a sad chapter in our conduct. Even the National Post’s John Ivison acknowledged this fledgling trend when he penned: “But for now, at least, most of our MPs seem to be heeding the appeal made by the Governor-General … to engage in ‘dialogue in a spirit of open and non-partisan co-operation. ‘ ”
Jack Layton just sent that hopeful consensus back to the Dark Age, and in doing so failed Parliament. We have to start doing better and rise above our own personal angst. Layton behaving like Harper; Conservatives governing like Liberals – God, what a confusing time!