Layton Demands Emergency Debate

[FiveParadox]

I just hope that the Government of Canada attempts to facilitate some sort of comprehensive discussion and debate on this issue, before the New Democratic Party of Canada attempts to throw a motion onto the floor of the House of Commons in relation to the mission in Afghanistan.

 

[darkbeaver]

RE: Layton Demands Emerge

Mogz the emergency is in Canada not in Afghanistan.
This young neocon north government has had all the chance thier ever going to get, it's past time for being nice to them, I say hang them, burn them, drive them from thier homes into the streets where they can be run over buy the garbage trucks picked up and dumped at landfills, or shipped on cattle trucks back to the United States where there natural spawning grounds are.

 

[cortez]

layton isnt GRANDSTANDING to the media
he is COMUNICATING to them and to us

 

[Sassylassie]

Every time I seen him speak I think of the Vidio Proffessor on TV and I panic thinking I don't want one of your CD's piss off.

 

[cortez]

who is the video professor...

 

[BitWhys]

so much happens in four months its mind boggling, it tell you...

The Prime Minister has chosen to commit our Canadian Forces to take a lead role in the restoration of Afghanistan in the U.S. lead Operation Enduring Freedom. What is disturbing to me is that while our forces readily accept any challenge, the government has not brought this decision before the House for debate. Instead, the government prefers to make announcements outside the chamber and avoid serious examination by members of Parliament.

Given the seriousness of this mission, Canadians should have been afforded an opportunity to hear from the Prime Minister in this very chamber as to what our objectives and exit strategies were with respect to operations in Afghanistan.

- Dave MacKenzie - CPC - now Minister of Public Safety - November 15, 2005

When a government decides to intervene in a failing state there are a number of considerations that must be taken before committing troops. It must be satisfied that the mission supports the goals and objectives of Canada's foreign policy; the mandate is realistic, clear and enforceable; there is a clearly defined concept of operation; it has an effective command and control structure; there are clear rules of engagement; there is sufficient international financial and political support for the mission; it has adequate and properly equipped forces; it can sustain the commitment and engage in other international activities that may arise; there has been an effective consultation between mission partners; there are criteria to measure progress; there is a definition of success; there is an acceptable timeframe for the commitment; and there is a clear exit strategy if the mission is not successful.

I do not have great confidence that the government had satisfactory answers to these considerations before committing our troops to increased involvement in Afghanistan. In particular, I doubt that the government has a clear political and military strategy for Afghanistan or criteria on which to measure progress or a definition of success or an exit strategy. We have had pronouncements from government officials who indicate that our commitment in Afghanistan may be 5 years, 10 years or even as long as 20 years. It is obvious that the government does not have an idea how long the commitment will go on.

- Gordon O'Connor - CPC - now Minister of National Defence

that's back when it was 250 troops and those two were there on the commons floor with bells on. now all of a sudden 2200 troops aren't worth talking about. go figure.

I'm sure they'll be happy to explain what's different now once their response clears the PMO

hi, btw

 

[Jay]

Every time I seen him speak I think of the Vidio Proffessor on TV and I panic thinking I don't want one of your CD's piss off.

:lol:

A cheap CD sales man! good one!

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Jack Layton wants an emergency debate huh? Funny how suddenly he deems this to be an emergency when he didn't bother to show up for the original debate.

What a friggin phoney this guy is.

Anything to get some media attention. Svend Robinson has found a worthy successor.

Jack be Nimble. Jack be quick.
Jack don't ask me where your debate you can stick.

 

[FiveParadox]

Emergency Debate

I don't think this is to get media attention — the Honourable Jack Layton, P.C., M.P., the Member for Toronto—Danforth and Leader of the New Democratic Party, knows that few citizens would tune into an emergency debate on CPAC (however, I would be one of those few, since I enjoy watching the parliamentary proceedings).

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

It really is the main hot button issue Jack has to raise. ANY PRESS IS GOOD PRESS.

 

[Jay]

Re: Emergency Debate

I don't think this is to get media attention — the Honourable Jack Layton, P.C., M.P., the Member for Toronto—Danforth and Leader of the New Democratic Party, knows that few citizens would tune into an emergency debate on CPAC (however, I would be one of those few, since I enjoy watching the parliamentary proceedings).

I don't think the ulterior motive of Jack is to get us all tuned into CPAC.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

LOL

 

[FiveParadox]

Re: Emergency Debate

I don't think the ulterior motive of Jack is to get us all tuned into CPAC.

My apologies, I intended to make no such implication.

However, my point is, how is one to assert that having an emergency debate in the democratic institution of our House of Commons going to negatively affect the mission in Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. I doubt that members of the Canadian Forces abroad are going to be sending urgent requests to the Library of Parliament for copies of the latest Hansard pages.

 

[BitWhys]

Jack Layton wants an emergency debate huh? Funny how suddenly he deems this to be an emergency when he didn't bother to show up for the original debate.

What a friggin phoney this guy is.

Anything to get some media attention. Svend Robinson has found a worthy successor.

Jack be Nimble. Jack be quick.
Jack don't ask me where your debate you can stick.

The Right Honourable Mr. Bill Blaikie, the designated Deputy Leader of the NDP and National Defense critic at the time was certainly there making sure the government of the day knew what was going on when it came to dealing with POWs in the field of operation, something I'd consider more of a concern than O'Conner's stunning (heh) critique of the military's tendering processes (glad to see HIS priorities were in order).

but you're right. a cameo for the press instead of dealing with the upcoming non-confidence vote would probably have payed a few dividends in the long run.

 

[Jay]

Re: Emergency Debate

I don't think the ulterior motive of Jack is to get us all tuned into CPAC.

My apologies, I intended to make no such implication.

However, my point is, how is one to assert that having an emergency debate in the democratic institution of our House of Commons going to negatively affect the mission in Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. I doubt that members of the Canadian Forces abroad are going to be sending urgent requests to the Library of Parliament for copies of the latest Hansard pages.

You don't need to apologize to me, Five....I understand your having a hard time seeing the rights position on this issue, and I sympathize with you. If you were my age though, I would feel differently.

 

[FiveParadox]

Debate in the Commons

:!: Point of Order

It should be noted that, contrary to the post by BitWhys, that the Honourable Bill Blaikie, P.C., M.P., the Member for Elmwood—Transcona and Democratic and Electoral Reform Critic and Labour Critic for the New Democratic Party of Canada, is entitled to the style "The Honourable" for life, as a member of Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada — he is not, however, entitled to the style "The Right Honourable" under any capacity.

:arrow: The Topic at Hand

If the Government of Canada attempts to prevent a debate in the House of Commons, then they may force the New Democratic Party of Canada to use one of their opposition days to put forth a motion to withdraw support for the mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — which once dropped, the Government would be unable to prevent its consideration and passage, if the opposition parties saw appropriate.

 

[Jay]

An ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination. — Voltaire

 

[BitWhys]

Re: Emergency Debate

You don't need to apologize to me, Five....I understand your having a hard time seeing the rights position on this issue, and I sympathize with you. If you were my age though, I would feel differently.

you mean like MacKenzie and O'Conner felt about the debate that was held before the escalation?

 

[BitWhys]

OIC

its a PM thing.

k. thanks.

 

[FiveParadox]

:arrow: Point of Order

BitWhys, the practice of styling a citizen The Right Honourable is exercised for Prime Ministers, Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, and Governors General. However, on certain occasions, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., may choose to style certain influential Canadians as The Right Honourable, for life, for other reasons.