Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis taken to hospital (Canada)

[Minstrel Boy]

Just a little more drama before tomorrow's vote...

Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis taken to hospital

Ontario Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis was taken away by ambulance to hospital after experiencing chest pain during question period on Wednesday.

The news comes one day ahead of a non-confidence motion -- where every vote counts -- that could trigger a federal election.

Karygiannis experienced chest pain during question period in the House of Commons, CTV's Rosemary Thompson reported from Ottawa on Wednesday.

The 50-year-old MP for Scarborough-Agincourt left the floor and fellow Liberal MP and physician Keith Martin went to his aid immediately after the incident. Martin would not tell reporters how Karygiannis was doing.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1116444039340_9/?hub=Canada

[daleo]

1. If he can't make the vote, will Harper offer to pair?

Fat chance, but it will be a good test of character, one way or another. He will probably claim that Belinda Stronach's trip across the aisle somehow changes the fact that a sense of decency is owed to a sick MP.

[Kagemusha]

2. He could say the sick government is owed nothing.

But hey, he's welcome to try. Harper has a knack for doing crude things with a smiling, smug face. He can be my guest.

[Spazito]

3. I bet he does offer the pairing

After making such a BIG deal about how the Liberals deliberately planned the vote when one of their MPs would be unable to attend due to a scheduled operation, he has NO choice but to offer the pairing and his latest poll numbers will give him incentive, he is losing support among Canadians.

[daleo]

8. Well, it will be interesting to see.

As you say, he painted himself into a corner, but this may give him the edge he needs to force an election, so it will be quite the test of his character. Perhaps he doesn't really want an election anymore, though.

[Minstrel Boy]

4. Update: "Heartburn sends Liberal MP to hospital"

:crazy:

Heartburn sends Liberal MP to hospital

OTTAWA — A Liberal MP who was wheeled out of the House of Commons and into an ambulance said later he’s fine.
But until Jim Karygiannis assured The Canadian Press via e-mail that he’s fine, he caused no end of concern on a Parliament Hill made paranoid by a coming confidence vote that’s going to be so close it’s impossible to call.

“Just heartburn,” his e-mail said. “They panicked and called an ambulance.”

Karygiannis fell ill during a House session and was taken to an ambulance where he reportedly received oxygen before being whisked away.

He said he hoped to be back at work later today.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1116411979285&call_pageid=968332188492&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes

[Spazito]

5. Thanks for the update! I am glad it is nothing serious!

*

[Minstrel Boy]

6. Yeah, I guess everybody's pretty jumpy these days.

The numbers are so close now.

Kilgour seems to be leaning to vote against the government, and Cadman, I dunno know. He was visited last night by Dosanjh and Martin. He seems a real constituency guy. If there's an overwhelming support in his riding to vote one way or the other, I expect that's how he'd go.

[Minstrel Boy]

7. Think I have an answer about Cadman:

Cadman hints he'll back Liberals

OTTAWA (CP) -- An Independent MP who could decide the fate of the minority Liberals is strongly hinting he will side with the government in Thursday's confidence votes.

Chuck Cadman said Wednesday that his riding constituents indicated in a poll that they don't want an election -- and that he must listen to them.

"That's what I'm getting from this (poll)," he told The Canadian Press. "It's only one factor. (But) it is a major factor because I have to represent the views of my constituents."

He said a poll of 600 eligible voters in his B.C. Surrey North riding indicated two-thirds of respondents didn't want an election.

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/news/story.html?id=c8a95a42-f1b5-4679-b72e-3f20dee5c980