Tories and NDPers Laugh Off Garth Turner

And not for the first time!

Liberal MP Garth Turner floats a conspiracy theory in the Hill Times today that the Liberals will burst into popularity this summer, forcing the Tories to prorogue Parliament in the fall in order to stave off an election until 2009.

The response from other Parliamentarians?

"Why didn't I think of that? I don't know anything about what you are talking about," said Chief Government Whip Jay Hill (Prince George-Peace River, B.C.).

Conservative MP Rob Merrifield (Yellowhead, Alta.) also offered a similar reaction."They [Liberals] know more than I do, that's interesting. If the opposition wants an election, take us down on a budget bill."

NDP MP Joe Comartin (Windsor-Tecumseh, Ont.) said that there's some merit to Mr. Turner's theory, adding that it's being discussed within Parliament Hill circles. At the same time, Mr. Comartin said it could also be described as "speculation," and disagreed with Mr. Turner that the Liberals could gain momentum in the coming months and as result of Mr. Dion's national tour.

"The Liberals are suffering from some significant hopeful delusions in that analysis. The Liberals are not going to be in any kind of an ascendancy by the fall. They're in such terrible shape organizationally in Quebec that it will take longer than three or four months to rebuild," said Mr. Comartin.