Thursday, December 2, 2010

Liberals Vow to Kill New Refugee Bill

MIA aka Michael Ignatieff  and the Libs are joining forces with their coalition partners to kill a bill that would make it easier to prosecute human smugglers and hold ship owners to account.
The Liberals claim Bill C-49, which would allow people arriving via any ship designated a human smuggling vessel to be detained for up to one year, violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees against unlawful search and detention.
The usual Liberal supportive Globe and Mail is calling upon the Libs to quit the nonsense, work with the government and support Bill C-49.
The Liberals should not oppose Bill C-49 outright, but work with the government to fine-tune the proposed new legislation aimed at combatting human smuggling.
Michael Ignatieff's get-tough rhetoric is meaningless without a demonstration of his party's willingness to work with the government to thwart the threat of mass arrivals of migrants on ships operated by criminal gangs.
Jane Giggles Taber is speculating whether or not it the government will make it a confidence vote.
Mr. Kenney refused, however, to say whether it would be a confidence matter. This is significant because a defeat on a confidence motion would trigger a federal election.
No date has been set for the bill to come to the Commons for the second-reading vote.
I think they should make Bill C-49 a confidence vote. If the coalition partners defeat the government, so be it.   I believe the opposition parties would have a rude awakening if an election were called over this issue.  The coalition would find the public would be on the government's side and I believe you could very well see voters electing a Conservative majority government to bring common sense to our immigration and refugee policy.

 So Jason Kenny, PM Harper, make Bill C-49 a confidence motion and let the chips fall where they may.
I think most Canadians are sick and tired of being treated like the world's door mat! I know I am. Bring on the election!