Thibeault ‘prepared’ for election

NDP Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault says he’s ready for a fall election.

“If the Liberals are ... wanting us to put the fight out in September, I’m prepared for that,” Thibeault said, adding that he has grown accustomed to having the Liberals call for an election.

“It happened in March, and then again it happened in April.

“Then it happened in June, and now we’re hearing it again from Mr. Ignatieff. Now there’s a little more determination.”

A few hours after Thibeault’s comment, Ignatieff addressed Liberals at a rally in the Caruso Club and said the Liberal party will be calling a non-confidence vote.

Thibeault agreed with Ignatieff that Harper’s government hasn’t been doing its job
“People are tired of Harper treating this government like a majority, like he can do whatever he wants. He has to work with the opposition parties.”

Thibeault added the “super seven” — the seven NDP MPs elected in northern Ontario — are “ready” for an election if it comes.

Thibeault said the reality of being an MP in a minority government is knowing an election could be called at any time.

During the Liberal caucus’s summer retreat held in Sudbury this week, Thibeault took the opportunity to poke around the proceedings.

One person, possibly a Liberal communications officer, even followed him around, listening to his interviews and texting frantically on what appeared to be a Blackberry.

Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, member for Papineau, Que., said minutes before Thibeault’s arrival that people of northern Ontario made a “well meaning, but ultimately rebellious vote” when they voted NDP into power.