NL MPs Ordered to Support Budget Implementation Bill

Well folks, it looks like Liberal Leader, Michael Ignatieff, has decided to whip his MPs back into toeing the party line and selling out their Province. I guess Ignatieff, and likely the NL MPs, figure that since the publicity has died down a little since the budget vote on tuesday nobody will notice that they are planning to turn their backs on their Province this Friday.

Get ready folks, it looks like this Friday they'll all fall in line and sell us out again.

The following is from the Canadian Press:

OTTAWA — Michael Ignatieff allowed his Newfoundland MPs to register a symbolic protest against the federal budget but he's insisting they now support legislation that will actually implement the measures they find so offensive.

The newly minted Liberal leader gave his six MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador special dispensation to break ranks and vote against a motion Tuesday night which conferred approval in principle on the budget.

...

Having cast their protest vote Tuesday, a spokesperson confirmed that Ignatieff now expects the Newfoundland MPs to support the budget on all subsequent votes, including the budget implementation bill.

Moreover, he's told the MPs they can't attempt to amend the bill, which is to be introduced this week.

...

During a closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday, sources said Ignatieff chided the Newfoundland MPs for speaking out publicly against the budget before consulting with him.

Four of the six had already announced their intention to vote against the budget by the time Ignatieff gave them dispensation to do so.

Moreover, sources said Ignatieff warned caucus he doesn't intend to relax discipline again in future.
"He said it was a one-time thing, alone, period, full stop, and for us not to get our hopes up too high because it would not happen again," said one caucus member.

...Scott Andrews said he has no problem dropping the issue after getting the chance to stand up for his province in Tuesday's vote - the only budget vote that matters, as far as he's concerned.
"To me, this is over now," Andrews said in an interview.

"As far as people back home are concerned, we've made our stand on the budget and I'm moving on . . . We could keep reliving things and reliving things but I don't think that's very productive for anybody."

Here we go again folks, it's up to all of us in this Province "help" NL's MPs understand what that this is not just a "protest".

Here's how they can be reached:

NL MP Andrews - Andrews.S@parl.gc.ca

NL MP Byrne - Byrne.G@parl.gc.ca

NL MP Coady - Coady.S@parl.gc.ca

NL MP Foote - Foote.J@parl.gc.ca

NL MP Russell - Russell.T@parl.gc.ca

NL MP Simms - Simms.S@parl.gc.ca

I don't doubt for a minute that history will repeat itself with these MPs selling out their Province like others before them did (read Hearn, Manning, Efford, et al) but there's always a chance.

There is one thing that I know for sure.

You'd better think again Scott. All of you better think again.