Some excerpts from a press conference held by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, yesterday, at the National Press Theatre. I have lightly edited the remarks, usually for clarity (The PM tends to use the word 'obviously' a lot, for example, in the same way some speakers us 'uh' as they pause in their speech.):
Brian Laghi, The Globe and Mail: Prime Minister, I just would like to ask you about some of the demands that have been made by the various opposition parties with respect to the Throne Speech. Mr. Duceppe has said that a number of these demands aren’t negotiable. He mentioned the elimination of the spending power for example . . . and I’m wondering if these are negotiable items for you?
Harper: Well, let me just say that I think it has been an unusual couple of weeks in Canadian politics. We had the by-election results in Quebec. I know I’m not supposed to be an analyst but as an analyst, I wouldn’t have predicted that the results of those by-elections would be a message to Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Dion to make non-negotiable demands and otherwise demand a general election. That would not have been my interpretation of the by-elections, but, you know, Mr. Duceppe is responsible for his own political party, his own interpretation of the results and that is his decision.
The opposition has made a number of suggestions ranging from suggestions to demands — all three parties. We always listen very carefully to what the opposition says and we will attempt, as far as the Throne Speech can, to address head-on the issues that they have raised. We may not be giving them the policy they want, but we will try and address the issues and we will be seeking a mandate to govern and that is, I think, what a Throne Speech is all about.
I know the opposition has all kinds of demands. I respect that they have the right to make demands. At the same time, let me just say that the government has some things it wants to get done in this Throne Speech in this upcoming session of parliament.
We want to continue to raise Canada’s place in the world, defend our sovereignty. We want to deal with the question of extension of the Afghan mission in a responsible way — look at the options, make sure they are fully considered, take a responsible decision.
We have important initiatives on the economy, on the environment and on crime.
I think our positions are well understood. They have been developed over the past year, in some cases in response to some opposition criticism, maybe not exactly what the opposition would like, but we have tried to adjust and come up with realistic and responsible policies, and we will be asking Parliament to give us a green light to proceed with our — with our initiatives in those areas.
That is what we will be asking from Parliament and we will be asking for a clear mandate from Parliament to do that. That is what a Throne Speech is supposed to be all about and you know, I think you have to remember, there is one other subject matter that is among the government’s priorities and that is strengthening the Canadian federation. We all know that Mr. Duceppe fundamentally disagrees with that objective. So you know, I think it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that we will not be fully satisfying the demands of the Bloc Québécois but we will do our best to address the subject matter that they have put before us.Susan Lunn, CBC Radio: Mr. Harper, I’m wondering after 19 months in government, what challenges do you see ahead for your government and your party and for yourself personally as you look ahead?
Harper: My preferred course of action will be to lay forward a Throne Speech and to govern on that Throne Speech and, as I think I have just said, the Throne Speech will lay out our priorities in the key areas: strengthening the federation, strengthening our position in the world including dealing with the Afghanistan next steps, crime, economy, environment. We are going to ask Parliament for a mandate. Once we have that mandate, we are going to consider that that basically gives us the right to consider those matters confidence going forward and to get results and get things done.
What we want to do in the next year is keep governing and keep implementing our platform, modified as I think it has been, to respond to opposition concerns and to public demands. Beyond that, obviously if we don’t get approval, the opposition will force an election. It is not my preferred course of action, but you know, if they force that, we will be ready for that.Tonda MacCharles, The Toronto Star Prime Minister, you are talking about your Throne Speech as a mandate to govern. You consider all these matters henceforth confidence matters, but why wouldn’t you take advantage of the disarray on the left, your opponents, and go into an election? What is holding you back?
Harper: Well, first of all, we have been very clear from the beginning that we want this Parliament to work and we want to govern. We have passed a law — Bill C-16 to establish fixed election dates. We have set an election for October 2009. That may be optimistic.
I think the Canadian people want us to govern and I believe the things we are bringing forward are either popular or, with full information, entirely defensible to the Canadian public.
I think we are acting on what they want us to act on. So it seems to me we should get on with governing. That is what they want us to do.
At the same time, from our narrow partisan interests, I continue to believe that the longer the government governs, the more it gets done, the more it has to run on in terms of re-election, the better that is for the country and for us.
So I’m in no hurry, but as I say, ultimately, I have set the date, October 2009. I’m clear when I want an election. If the opposition wants one earlier, they are going to have to say so, but the choice is not an election or obstruction. The choice is an election or give the government a mandate to govern and I have said what those things are.
We are clear on the economy. I don’t think it is any secret this government is going to want to see some further tax reductions. I think we are clear where we need to go with our international partners on climate change in the environment, on crime.
We ran on some pretty important priorities. We put some of those before Parliament. They have been sitting there for a year. If we get approval of the Throne Speech, we are going to expect those things to be passed. If we are going to be here, we are going to govern and I think Canadians will expect us to get results out of Parliament.Peter Harris, Global: Prime Minister, you say the mandate is to govern. I guess I’m just wondering how much flexibility is in the Throne Speech, because we all know that the Throne Speech involves negotiation behind the scene. Are you open to negotiations and will amendments to the Throne Speech possibly be supported and put through by your government?
Harper: I’m certainly willing to talk to the other parties. I have had chats with Mr. Duceppe, Mr. Layton. I won’t comment on those. They can make their own comments, but they certainly came to see me.
I haven’t had that chat with Mr. Dion, but I do have to remind you that Mr. Dion said in August that in all probability, he would vote against the Throne Speech. He said that in August. What was interesting about the statement is at that point, the government hadn’t even said it was holding a Throne Speech.
So you know, there have to be some point to having discussions, but we know what Mr. Dion’s conditions are as well. He has made those very clear.
I think in this case, opposition has largely chosen to communicate through the media. That is fine, that is their choice. We understand what their positions are.
In terms of the broad parameters, the government will have, as I said, an economic agenda that will involve tax reduction, a significant tax reduction and obviously we are going to be seeking a mandate for that and that is a confidence measure.
The government is determined that, in this second session of Parliament, that the major criminal justice initiatives we take can get passed. They are overwhelmingly supported by the public. The opposition claims to have supported them in the last election and the time for obstruction on those things is over. That is one of the things Parliament is here to do, it is to adopt some effective crime legislation.
On the environment, I think the government has been clear and will continue to be clear.
There will be items that fall on and off the agenda. We all know that, but on the big parameters, the government is looking for a mandate.
In terms of amendments to the Throne Speech, there have been minor amendments in the past, but the amendments have never gone at the core of the government’s agenda.
I can say we can have some flexibility [but] a Throne Speech is a fundamental matter of confidence and the government’s overall plan for the session in kind of broad terms is a matter of confidence.Greg Weston, Sun Newspapers Prime Minister, you say that you are going to be looking for a clear mandate in the Throne Speech. If we take the opposition leaders at their words so far, the Bloc are going to vote against it, the NDP are going to vote against it and at least half the Liberals will vote against it, probably the other half will either abstain or be home with the flu. That doesn’t sound like much of a mandate and if that is what you get, are you willing to go down the road to the Governor General and say, “We don’t have a mandate”?
Harper: The Throne Speech will outline the major priorities of the government. The government’s message to the opposition is clear. We are looking for a mandate to proceed with those priorities. It is not a choice between, 'We obstruct you' or 'We have an election'. The choice is you either force us into election or give us this mandate.
We will be interpreting a positive result, a positive vote on the Speech from the Throne as a mandate to consider the major elements of the Throne Speech and the major elements of the government’s program to be matters of confidence going forward, because we must be able to govern. This is only a reasonable request.
So I think the opposition — it is not a matter of making threats. They have to fish or cut bait. I don’t believe that in politics you make threats unless you mean them. I don’t know whether they mean these threats or not.
I’m very clear: We have to be able to govern.
We are going to put forward a program that I think is not going to surprise a lot of people. I think it is what people would expect from us. I think they are positions that the Canadian public does support or we are confident they will support.
We have tried to listen and tried to adapt our program where it is realistic to do so and where it is responsible to do so, to address the demands of the opposition, but you know, there is a fish or cut bait on this. You can’t pass the Throne Speech one day and the next day say, well we didn’t actually mean to do it or we didn’t actually give you a mandate. We will take it as a mandate and we will take it as an ongoing question of confidence, to get those things done.