Wall slams Ignatieff over post-election musings
After pledging to take a low profile during the federal election, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is taking another run at Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.
On Wednesday, Wall released a written response to comments Ignatieff made in an interview the night before with the CBC's Peter Mansbridge about the possibility of leading a Liberal government after the election even if Conservative Leader Stephen Harper wins more seats.
"I am deeply troubled by Mr. Ignatieff’s assertion that he may choose to overturn the democratic result of the federal election," Wall said in the statement.
In the Tuesday interview, the Liberal leader had said he would be willing to form a government at the request of Gov. Gen David Johnston if Harper wins the most seats in the election but fails to win the confidence of Parliament.
"If the Governor General wants to call on other parties, or myself, for example, to try and form a government, then we try to form a government," Ignatieff told Mansbridge.
"That's exactly how the rules work and what I'm trying to say to Canadians is, I understand the rules, I respect the rules, I will follow them to the letter and I'm not going to form a coalition."
Wall said while he understands that such a scenario would be within the conventions of parliamentary tradition, he's worried about the "instability" that could result from a constitutional dispute over who should be the government.
"The notion that Mr. Ignatieff may choose to not recognize the democratic result of the election and may try to seize power with the support of the other parties, including a party dedicated to the breakup of Canada, is offensive to me and I believe, to most fair-minded Canadians," Wall said.
It's the second time Wall has raised concerns about the Liberals since the election writ was dropped.
Earlier in the month, he raised concerns about the Liberal's plans for a cap-and-trade plan to control carbon emissions, suggesting it could be bad for Saskatchewan.
Those comments came a few days after Wall told reporters he planned to spend a less active role in the federal election campaign than he did in 2008.
Thirteen of Saskatchewan's 14 seats were won by Conservatives in 2008. The 14th seat was won by a Liberal, Wascana's Ralph Goodale.
