June?????

I just can't see it but if necessary, we'll be ready... .

Liberals split on election question

JANE TABER From Monday's Globe and Mail

VANCOUVER — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has emerged from this weekend's convention with a ringing endorsement of his leadership and some money in the party's coffers, but he also leaves Vancouver with a caucus split on one crucial question: when to call an election. One veteran MP said Sunday the caucus is divided on when to go to the polls. Those who want an election very soon – as early as June – believe it could be their last opportunity until after the 2010 Olympics.

One of the most hawkish members, the MP said, is Bob Rae, who nominated Mr. Ignatieff on Saturday and holds a lot of sway in the caucus.

Says another senior Liberal MP:

"This government could last a lot longer than expected. I mean 2010 and possibly 2011. There are people that want to go as early as June. They are not factoring in the [Bloc Québécois'] and NDP's lack of desire to have an election."

All three opposition parties have to join forces to bring down the government, and the Bloc and NDP have lost interest in going quickly to the polls.

Mr. Ignatieff told a press conference Sunday that Canadians don't want an election and he is still trying to make Parliament work, but he is preparing for an election just in case.

He is laying the groundwork with his statements, including strong language in his acceptance speech Saturday in which he accused Stephen Harper of dividing the country: pitting "province against province, group against group, region against region, individual against individual."

"You have failed to understand that a prime minister has only one job: to unite Canadians," Mr. Ignatieff declared. At Sunday's press conference, he said he has asked his senior team to have a election platform, complete with full costs, ready for June.
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