Blue Like You

Archive for June 14th, 2007

McGuinty’s worst fears may soon be realized.

Update: New Atlantic Deal is more than Fair - From the Star!!!!

PM Update: Newfoundland May Back Legal Challenge.

This and other interesting questions come to mind after reading the Post’s report that Liberal Senators may defy Dion and amend the budget or even defeat it. (H/T National Newswatch).

According to Senator Terry Mercer, “the Senate is not considered a confidence chamber and thus, unlike the Commons, it can defeat money bills without provoking an election. He said he’s already warned Dion that he and other Atlantic Canadian senators won’t support the bill, regardless of the leader’s view on the matter.”

So if that happens, will the money be prevented from flowing where it is needed?

According to Liberal Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette, no. She maintains that:

…the Senate will not be rushed and dismissed the Harper government’s contention that more than $4 billion in funding for things like climate change, patient wait times and post-secondary education will be lost if the bill isn’t enacted by the end of the month.

“I’ve been told by others that this is totally false, the money will not be lost,” she said.

So, just who are those “others”?

Is anyone a constitutional expert here?

More at DBT.

Update: It’s interesting too that Dion has a totally different skew on how things work in Ottawa:

The news will have been greeted with some nervousness by Liberal leader Stephane Dion. If the budget is not passed by month’s end, the government says $4-billion intended for program spending will not go out the door as planned and he will get the blame.

Well, either Stephane Dion is misinformed or else the Liberal Senate is. No wonder the ROC is confused.