Layton makes conciliatory noises; Harper history pro on minority cooperation

Saturday, Deptember 12, 2009, The Globe and Mail: Layton makes conciliatory noises amid looming showdown

Harper:

“I think that everybody involved would want to see us co-operate in the House of Commons and get some results for people — especially those that are struggling right now: the unemployed and people being left behind,” Mr. Layton said as he inched away from reporters at an archway opening in Toronto.

“So that’s going to remain our preoccupation.”

The New Democrats hold 36 seats in the 308-seat House, more than enough to keep Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative government alive through the autumn if they can find common cause on an issue such as Employment Insurance reform. The Tories are likely to unveil EI proposals this week.

“That’s all I have to say about elections,” added the NDP leader.

Harper on minority co-operation:

“What the government has to do if it wants to govern for any length of time, is it must appeal primarily to the third parties in the House of Commons to get them to support it,” Mr. Harper said in a CBC interview in 2005.