Jack Layton meets with his 28 other New Democrat members this week to see whether they can work with the Conservatives, who were vilified by the NDP leader in the election campaign as completely out of step with basic Canadian values.
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And despite Layton's initial skepticism, he's sounding more conciliatory and ready to deal on a half-dozen issues where left and right appear to intersect.
"I am going to make a legitimate, determined effort to find things where there can be common action," he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
"I believe there are ideas in all of our platforms for the parties to get something done."
In the dying days of the campaign, Layton dismissed any notion of co-operation with the Conservatives, saying it would take a major research project to identify the similarities between the parties.
He steadfastly refused to answer any questions about how he might work with a Stephen Harper administration.
But with the reality of a Conservative minority government on Feb. 6, and with no appetite among Canadians for another election soon, pragmatism is setting in.
Even though the NDP's 29 members are not quite enough to give the Tories the votes for a majority in the Commons, they still could be crucial in building support for key legislation.
The two parties remain irreconcilably at odds over the Tories' $1,200 child-care benefit, the lowering of corporate taxes and the future direction of the military.
But the NDP is likely to put up little resistance to the Tory GST reduction, and Layton will be on board for Harper's anti-corruption agenda.
Fixed election dates, arming border guards, restoring the disbanded Canada Ports Police, compensating soldiers exposed to Agent Orange and an apology to the Chinese community for the so-called head tax are also among the quick and easy things the two parties can agree on.
Both parties are committed to raising the ethical standards of Parliament. Many long-held NDP ideas, such as protection for whistleblowers, are contained in the Conservatives' federal Accountability Act - the first piece of legislation Harper intends to introduce.
The NDP also took a hard line on crime just as the Tories did, calling for tougher mandatory minimum sentences, especially for gun crimes, and for a crackdown on youths who commit violent offences.
As well, Layton said he's open to working with Harper to correct the so-called fiscal imbalance between Ottawa and the provinces. Since the Conservatives have only a vague policy statement on the issue, Layton said elements of his party's platform might form the basis of discussion.
"Our platform could well be a key starting point," he said.
Reaching out to the Tories will require a delicate tightrope act for the NDP leader, who faced a chorus of booing from his supporters election night with the mention of Harper's name.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/2006...f1vaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
ADVERTISEMENT
And despite Layton's initial skepticism, he's sounding more conciliatory and ready to deal on a half-dozen issues where left and right appear to intersect.
"I am going to make a legitimate, determined effort to find things where there can be common action," he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
"I believe there are ideas in all of our platforms for the parties to get something done."
In the dying days of the campaign, Layton dismissed any notion of co-operation with the Conservatives, saying it would take a major research project to identify the similarities between the parties.
He steadfastly refused to answer any questions about how he might work with a Stephen Harper administration.
But with the reality of a Conservative minority government on Feb. 6, and with no appetite among Canadians for another election soon, pragmatism is setting in.
Even though the NDP's 29 members are not quite enough to give the Tories the votes for a majority in the Commons, they still could be crucial in building support for key legislation.
The two parties remain irreconcilably at odds over the Tories' $1,200 child-care benefit, the lowering of corporate taxes and the future direction of the military.
But the NDP is likely to put up little resistance to the Tory GST reduction, and Layton will be on board for Harper's anti-corruption agenda.
Fixed election dates, arming border guards, restoring the disbanded Canada Ports Police, compensating soldiers exposed to Agent Orange and an apology to the Chinese community for the so-called head tax are also among the quick and easy things the two parties can agree on.
Both parties are committed to raising the ethical standards of Parliament. Many long-held NDP ideas, such as protection for whistleblowers, are contained in the Conservatives' federal Accountability Act - the first piece of legislation Harper intends to introduce.
The NDP also took a hard line on crime just as the Tories did, calling for tougher mandatory minimum sentences, especially for gun crimes, and for a crackdown on youths who commit violent offences.
As well, Layton said he's open to working with Harper to correct the so-called fiscal imbalance between Ottawa and the provinces. Since the Conservatives have only a vague policy statement on the issue, Layton said elements of his party's platform might form the basis of discussion.
"Our platform could well be a key starting point," he said.
Reaching out to the Tories will require a delicate tightrope act for the NDP leader, who faced a chorus of booing from his supporters election night with the mention of Harper's name.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/2006...f1vaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
