I guess they’re off probation…and onto life support:

SUDBURY — Michael Ignatieff says the Harper government is on “life support” – and he sounds like he may be ready to pull the plug.

The Liberal leader kicked off a summer caucus retreat Monday on a hawkish note, suggesting he’s keener to force a fall election than some of his strategists.

“We’ve kept this government on life support for 10 months,” Ignatieff said, noting that Liberals supported last January’s recession budget despite deep reservations.

“But in June I made it clear that in a whole number of areas, the government’s performance was letting Canada down and it hasn’t got better over the summer.”

If anyone in the OLO are looking for fresh metaphor ideas, may I suggest some possible Michael Ignatieff sound bytes:

“I am the lone vote on Stephen Harper’s death panel”

“I am the Simon Cowell of Canadian politics, and I am not impressed”

“This government has been governing impaired – in October, I will be the breathalyzer Stephen Harper blows”

“The Harper Conservatives are like a piece of corn on the cob stuck in your teeth…in this metaphor, I am the floss”

“This government has grown more stale than the communion wafer that has sat in Stephen Harper’s pocket for the past month”