Reality check: On the HST, Ignatieff`s whip unravels

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff announced that his party’s vote to support the Conservatives’ HST framework would be whipped. Unfortunately for him, many in his caucus don’t seem to care.

What he said:

“We were trying to get the vote in before QP so some of our MPs were still in the lobby, but you’ll see in subsequent votes that the caucus is united.” Michael Ignatieff, in the House of Commons Foyer, 3 December 2009

What they said:

"If we go to the polls before our provincial cousins, unless they explain about (the tax) being revenue-neutral, unless they explain that it's going to bring money into people's pockets and they can prove it, it's going to hurt us." Jim Karygiannis, Toronto Sun, 1 December 2009
When asked whether she'd be there for the next vote on the HST in the Commons, Hedy Fry would only say, "We'll see." Hedy Fry, Toronto Star, 4 December 2009

“I still detest the tax. My constituents detest it.” Ujjal Dosanjh, Globe and Mail, 1 December 2009

“The HST should not be rammed down the throats of the electorate,” Keith Martin, Globe and Mail, 1 December 2009

What they did:

Karygiannis and Fry were joined by 26 other Liberal Caucus members who were all conveniently elsewhere while the vote was taking place at 1:45 pm yesterday.

Funny – 21 of those 26 MPs were present and accounted for during a vote in the House two hours earlier.

"The Liberals are certainly speaking with one voice on the HST," Michael Ignatieff, Toronto Star, 4 December 2009

Sorry Mr. Ignatieff, we`re not so sure about that.