Tory MP Norm Doyle May Vote Against Own Govt.

The following appeared today in the Nova Scotia paper, The Chronicle Herald. It’s well worth the read.

If the statement from government is accurate, next week they intend to debate the budget implementation bill. The timing couldn’t be better for the big unity rally happening on Confederation Hill at noon tomorrow.

I look forward to seeing as many of you over there as possible to help send a clear message to Ottawa and apply even more pressure on our MPs. It seems they may still need an extra nudge in the right direction.

Cheers,
Patriot

OTTAWA — Newfoundland Tory MP Norm Doyle wouldn’t say Wednesday whether he will vote for his own government’s budget, which suggests he may be heeding pressure from his home province to oppose the federal Tories on the offshore accords.

"No comments on the budget at this time," Mr. Doyle said after question period Wednesday.

"You can do whatever stories you want on it, but I have no comments. If you’re relating it to offshore revenues and that kind of thing and equalization, I’ve got no comment to make right now."

The National Post recently reported that East Coast MPs were threatening to vote against the budget, a reflection of widespread anger in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, where many provincial Tories believe the feds have broken the Atlantic accords.

The other backbench Tories from the two provinces — Bill Casey, Gerald Keddy and Fabian Manning — have said they plan to vote for the budget. The Prime Minister’s Office has told all of them not to discuss the issue with the national media, sources say.

Mr. Doyle has announced he is not planning to run in the next election, which would make it easier for him to defy Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Mr. Doyle’s refusal to comment suggests he’s having a hard time with his own government’s position, which is very unpopular in Newfoundland, Liberal MP Scott Simms said.

"I’m sure he’s frustrated," Mr. Simms said. "At this point, he must be. He’s always been someone who likes to stand up for his province, so I’m sure this must be a troubling time for him."

Last year, Mr. Simms voted with the opposition against his own government when then-prime minister Paul Martin appeared to be dragging his feet in keeping an election promise to negotiate the offshore accords. He said he would like to see Mr. Doyle take a similar stand now.

"I hope that he does vote against it, to send a message," Mr. Simms said. "I think it’s a great message to send."

The Tories seem to have been trying to delay an embarrassing vote on the budget, says Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale.

The government’s budget implementation act disappeared suddenly from the government’s agenda on April 26, Mr. Goodale said Wednesday.

"For all of April, it was the single leading item on the government’s agenda, just day after day, until we got to two weeks ago," he said. "Then all of a sudden, all the financial information just disappeared."

Mr. Goodale, who helped negotiate the offshore accords as Liberal finance minister, says that, historically, governments always debate budget legislation at this time of year.

"You just clear the decks," he said.

A spokesman for government House leader Peter Van Loan said the government will bring forward budget legislation next week.

"Last week was dedicated to criminal justice matters," he said. "This week is dedicated to democratic reform. Next week will be dedicated to strengthening our economy. We’re doing theme weeks. I don’t know what Goodale’s talking about."

Mr. Goodale said the parliamentary schedule shows the Tories are avoiding a showdown on the deal Mr. Martin signed with John Hamm and Danny Williams.

"The subsequent prime minister is doing his damnedest to weasel out and his own Newfoundland MPs are calling him to account," Mr. Goodale said. "That is an interesting phenomenon and it’s probably the primary reason we haven’t seen any budget legislation for the past two weeks."