Coalition controversy surfaces at local debate

Scot Kyle doesn’t see a problem with a coalition government in Ottawa.

Caught in the middle of a debate between Liberal, NDP and Conservative candidates with opposing views on whether a federal election was necessary at this time, and who is responsible for Canadians heading to the polls on May 2, the Green Party candidate said it’s all about democracy.

Kyle took issue with the words of Moe Comuzzi-Stehman, the Conservative candidate in Thunder Bay-Rainy River, who said a coalition would lead to nationwide instability.
 
“Since when is a public debate and discussion about democracy considered to be instability?” Kyle asked, speaking at an event put on by the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board.

“I embrace this opportunity and this election to get some real issues out, to create a new and positive tomorrow today. It’s all about democracy.”

Though the Green Party has not been included in the coalition discussions, with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper instead preferring to target the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois, Kyle said he’d welcome one if none of the big three parties managed to form a majority this time around.

“I’m not afraid of a coalition. I don’t understand all of the ramifications for it, honestly, but it sounds kind of like co-operation and democracy to me. So I don’t really have a problem with that. I have a problem with things like strategic voting, and vote sharing and that kind of thing.”
 
Earlier this week, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, expected in Thunder Bay on Monday, stoked the coalition fires when he told CBC’s Peter Mansbridge that if the Conservatives won a minority, their budget was defeated and he was asked by the governor general to form a government, it’s something he’d consider.
 
Ignatieff has spent much of the campaign denying he’ll seek a coalition, but Comuzzi-Stehmann isn’t buying it.

That’s exactly why the country is in election mode for the fourth time in six years, she said, adding that it’s time to stay the course with a leader Canadians know and trust.

“Now is not the time for instability or for reckless, opportunistic experiments or entering into the reality of an unstable coalition with the NDP, Liberals and Bloc Quebecois. When you go to vote this time, you think about that because it is a reality ladies and gentleman.”

Incumbent NDP candidate Bruce Hyer laid the blame at Conservative Leader Stephen Harper’s majority-seeking feet.

Hyer said his door-to-door campaign has shown plenty of voter frustration, and that many believe the $300-million election cost won’t change a thing.

That’s not quite true, he said, finding his own personal silver lining in the cloud blanketing the national political landscape.

“I’ll tell you, if we get another Conservative minority government, some things would change. We won’t have Iggy and we won’t have Harper. Harper has his marching orders from his own party, and if he doesn’t get his majority, then he’s gone. So there will be a change,” Hyer said, adding the NDP did try to seek compromise on the Tory budget, which was never voted on after the contempt charges hit the House of Commons floor.

“We were told quite bluntly they weren’t going to change a word. It was take it or leave it, our way or the highway.”

Liberal candidate Yves Fricot called the election an important one.
 
“It frames the choices that we need to make going forward as a country, both in terms of the kind of government we’re going to have, as a country that has incredibly great economic potential, the kind of economy we’re going to have and where our money’s going to get focused,” said Fricot, a first-time candidate in Thunder Bay-Superior North.
 
The country can’t handle a future with Stephen Harper at the reins, he said, comparing the Conservatives to the Republicans south of the border.

That’s not a good thing, he said.

“This government has been the most secretive, the most negative and the most arrogant government that we’ve had in Canada in a long, long time. It’s the first government in the history of our confederation – in fact it’s the first government in the history of the Commonwealth – that’s ever been found in contempt of Parliament.”

Thunder Bay Television will be airing its election debates on April 27 and 28.