And today I got a reply from Jack Layton. Despite it being another form letter, I really have no issues with its content. It's open about what the NDP has done and what they plan on doing.

Dear Friend,

Thank you for informing me of your concerns regarding a possible spring/summer election.

Let me assure you that the NDP wants to make this minority parliament work. I promised to listen to Canadians and I have. As a result, we have succeeded in getting things done and making this parliament work for all Canadians.

The recent budget agreement will enable families to pay less for their kids' education and workers will get better training. Pollution levels will be reduced, affordable housing built and there will be money to protect workers' pensions. I am especially pleased there is funding for a national child care program and the gas tax revenue going to municipalities. And, this is a balanced budget that is fiscally responsible yet gives a much needed tax relief to small and medium sized businesses.

This agreement represents a victory for Canadian people. We know minority Parliaments can work - the NDP created medicare, affordable housing, and pensions during previous minority governments. The bottom line is the NDP is about people and not about games or corruption. We came to Ottawa to work and will continue to do so.

I appreciate the time you took to share your views as they have been helpful in our efforts to make parliament work.

Sincerely,

Jack Layton, MP for Toronto-Danforth
Leader, Canada's New Democrats

To catch up on recent news and issues, please visit http://www.ndp.ca or subscribe to our e-mail bulletin, e-NDP, at subscribe@ndp.ca.

Hi Jack,

Thank you for your reply. I am glad to know that the NDP stands (possibly alone, sadly) for the will of the Canadian people and not for its own advancement in Ottawa as a party. I appreciate the work you have done with Mr. Martin and the Liberal party in passing a federal budget that works to address the needs of our population. I hope that you are as committed to working with the minority government beyond passing the budget as your email implies, and I look forward to supporting your party in a post-Gomery election.

Please note also that I have been keeping a record of responses received from my open letter, along with some comments by visitors of my site. They are linked to at http://staticred.net/archives/cat_politics.html if you are at all interested (at the point of writing, I have received responses from your office and the office of Rahim Jaffer, MP Edmonton-Strathcona (Conservative).

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darren james harkness
web guru | http://staticred.net/

"Success is not final and failure is not fatal.
It is the courage to continue that counts."
- Winston Churchill