But honestly, given the exquisite irony of this Globe story, how can I, in good conscience, not break out that cliche?
But honestly, given the exquisite irony of this Globe story, how can I, in good conscience, not break out that cliche?
Bloc part of secret coalition plot in 2000 with Canadian Alliance
A document obtained by The Globe and Mail shows that the scheme would have propelled then Alliance leader Stockwell Day to power in the coalition. A lawyer who was described then as being close to Day, says he didn’t discuss the matter with the MPs
OTTAWA — The separatist Bloc Québécois was part of secret plotting in 2000 to join a formal coalition with the two parties that now make up Stephen Harper’s government, according to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail.
The scheme, designed to propel current Conservative minister Stockwell Day to power, undermines the Harper government’s line this week that it would never sign a deal like the current one between the Liberal Party, the NDP and the Bloc.
Bloc officials said that well-known Calgary lawyer Gerry Chipeur sent a written offer before the votes were counted on election day on Nov. 27, 2000.
According to prominent sovereigntist lawyer Eric Bédard, who received the proposal, Mr. Chipeur identified himself as being close to Mr. Day, the leader of the Canadian Alliance at the time. […]
(Read a pdf of the proposed agreement here.)
For the record, I don’t see anything particularly sinister about the idea of opposition parties coming up with contingency plans in the event of a minority government – even plans that involve doing deals with dastardly separatists. I just think it’s amusingly karmic, given the current Conservative talking point. Also — at least one Canadian Alliance organizer actually thought they had a shot at holding Chretien to a minority? Wow.