Last week I was invited (along with a list of others in both media and the blogosphere) to make my predictions about what issue might emerge in the upcoming parliamentary session. Susan Allan (of the Ottawa Citizen) sent the text of the article by email earlier today, and it’s reprinted in the extended entry. (If someone finds a link, let me know).
So here’s your chance! After reading ours, the comments are open for yours. Remember to be brief and to the point, please.
WORTH WATCHING: We asked blogging pundits and political junkies what – beyond the environment – will drive the House in the days to come
Compiled by Citizen staff
Kevin Newman Anchor and Executive Editor of Global National
The Harper government will have to battle the impression this session that it has accomplished most of what it was elected to do, that it has run out of steam. Canadians are unlikely to give the Tories a blank cheque mandate next time, so the party needs to start articulating a vigorous new agenda that is voter friendly. The question is: Can this highly centralized government empower anyone other than the PMO to come up with new ideas? Discipline only takes you so far.
Warren Kinsella Lawyer Liberal and blogger www.warrenkinsella.com
The war in Afghanistan will dominate. For weeks, we have all been told the Taliban are marshalling their forces, and to steel ourselves for an assault in the spring. The conduct of the Iraq war is already the dominant issue in the United States presidential race. No one should be surprised when Afghanistan comes to dominate our own national political debate in 2007.
Carolyn Gardner Conservative blogger theblondeconservative.blogspot.com
After the environment, the agenda – thanks to the opposition – will include but not be limited to health care (specifically the government’s promise for guaranteed wait times) and taxes (the underlying theme that somehow the government is neglecting the little guy). Finally, the situation in Quebec will rear its ugly head.
Akaash Maharaj Liberal blogger at www.maharaj.org
Looming provincial elections in Ontario and Quebec are waking the issue of “fiscal federalism” with a vengeance. Ontarians will be hectored by provincial candidates complaining ceaselessly that their province is overtaxed by Ottawa. Simultaneously, Quebecers will find their MNAs trying to outdo one another’s cries of “fiscal imbalance.” However, the demands of provincial politicians from these two provinces are fundamentally irreconcilable: Ottawa simply can not reduce federal taxes taken out of donor provinces and simultaneously increase federal funds transferred to recipient provinces. Having recklessly promised all the provinces a new deal, Harper will be under relentless pressure to deliver the impossible.
Don Newman Senior Parliamentary Editor for CBC NewsHost of CBC Newsworld’s Politics
I will be watching the manoeuvring up to and the presentation of the budget. Will the Conservatives want a budget at least the NDP and perhaps more of the opposition parties will support, in an effort to prolong Parliament? Or will they present a budget they know will be defeated and trigger an election?On the other side, can any of the opposition parties really remain credible supporting a Conservative budget? Particularily since this budget will be the one that ends funding for public daycare spaces. It is the budget that will determine whether there is an election this year. That is what I will be watching.
Kate McMillan http://www.smalldeadanimals.com
While it is politically difficult to defend royalty and tax breaks for large oil companies, in the real world these are the people with the expertise, and who take the risk – and their investers are extremely sensitive to pressures that threaten profitability. At current prices, oil sands production is at around a break-even point. This could create an opening for the four parties on the left to exploit the ignorance of an Ontario/Quebec electorate (whose knowledge of the industry ends at the gas nozzle) to pinch the so-called “Western based” Conservative government between the optics of “being in the pockets of big oil” and politically popular – but economically damaging – energy taxation policies. Should crude prices continue to drop, this political dynamic could move the issue past the environment (which is largely media driven) and squarely into the realm of national unity.
Mike Duffy Host of Mike Duffy Live on CTV
This session we’ll see Liberals and Tories grappling with each other, like two wrestlers looking for an issue on which to pin the other, and go to the electorate with a winning issue. Jack Layton and the NDP will offer to support the Conservatives in exchange for a package that will help them fend off Elizabeth May and the Green Party. John Baird, a skilled Parliamentary wrestler (he learned the game in the circus atmosphere of Queen’s Park), will try to blunt criticism of the government’s record on the environment, by reminding Canadians of Stéphane Dion’s record as Environment Minister. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will bring down a budget with more tax cuts, more targeted tax breaks for families with young children and a long-awaited plan for the parents of autistic children.
Paul Wells Maclean’s columnist http://weblogs.macleans.ca/paulwells/
It pains me to say it, but Canadian politicians will be once again gripped by a debate over fiscal federalism. The Martin government made such a hash of cash arrangements with the provinces that the Harper government can’t reimpose any order without putting a lot of premiers’ noses out of joint. The billions of dollars in the transfer system are a huge issue in Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan, just for starters.
Dan Arnold Alberta Liberal and blogger calgarygrit.blogspot.com
After making news for all the wrong reasons as Environment Minister, Rona Ambrose could be in the spotlight this spring as Harper’s third Intergovernmental Affairs Minister. With a new equalization formula in the works, talk of preferential treatment for some provinces in a Boeing contract and Harper’s pledge to fix the “fiscal imbalance” all coming to a head, there’s sure to be a lot of bickering between the provinces and Ottawa. Toss in a high stakes Quebec election and it becomes clear national unity and provincial relations will be the big issue of the spring session.
Damian Penny Lawyer and blogger in Corner Brook, Nfld www.damianpenny.com
I think the mission in Afghanistan will remain one of the dominant issues, with Canadians growing increasingly wary of what they consider “George Bush’s war.” The Harper government has shown some admirable backbone on foreign policy issues, especially the Israeli-Arab conflict, but they will have to do a much better job in explaining why Afghanistan is important for Canadian national security.
Susan Riley Citizen columnist
The environment. After the environment, it will be the environment. There will be skirmishes, one-day-wonder dustups over how to cut taxes for deserving Canadians – income splitting or more GST relief, or both, or neither? There will be repetitious exchanges over Afghanistan: everyone wants to change course, no one knows how. But the environment is so big and sprawling (as an issue) that it will dominate: tough caps on industry, curtailing auto exhaust, nuclear or not, to Kyoto or not-to-Kyoto? There’s tons (tonnes) to fight over.
Darryl Raymaker Calgarian, longtime Liberal activist, lawyer and blogger http://darrylraymaker.blogspot.com/
Watch for National Defence. Minister O’Connor, by reason of his apparent Dr. Strangelove zeal for blood is an easy mark. The opposition will be all over him. Bush’s pal Steve Harper will be trying to deflect attacks every day in the Commons because of his over-cordial relationship with the Churchill wannabe dunce from the White House. He will also be constantly reminded of his chest beating initial vigour supporting the war in Iraq and his shameless extension of the Canadian commitment to the doomed NATO initiative in Afghanistan. Then there is the matter of billions of dollars worth of untendered Defence contracts that O’Connor is going to have to defend.
Jason Cherniak Liberal and blogger at http://jasoncherniak.com
I suspect that during the next session, the Liberals will return to a focus on child care and the Conservative decision to cut funding for the 10 provincial agreements negotiated and implemented by Ken Dryden and the Martin government. This overall decrease in funding to the provinces will be highlighted by Liberals as evidence that the Conservative claim to have fixed the so-called “fiscal imbalance” is nothing but hot air. Meanwhile, it will highlight the social justice pillar of the Dion Liberal platform.
Erin Sikora NDP blogger in Victoria dipperchick.blogspot.com
There is no doubt the environment will carry the day in the upcoming session. But while Harper is busy trying to inoculate himself against attacks on his government’s handling of the environment, the opposition parties would be smart to call attention to the inherent unfairness of almost all of the government’s other policies. While banks, corporations and the wealthy keep getting richer, ordinary Canadian families are getting squeezed. Mortgages are getting bigger, student debt is growing and personal debt is at an all-time high, while big Canadian banks are bringing in record profits. As Canadians start to realize the GST cut isn’t giving them much and the $100 for child care a month doesn’t help them find a child care space that doesn’t exist, the opposition would be wise to ask “Who benefits from Canada’s New Government? Who wins and who loses?”
Adam Daifallah Author, journalist, and Conservative blogger at http://www.daifallah.com/blog.htm
Barring a flare-up in Afghanistan and more Canadian casualties there, the next biggest issue after the environment will probably be the budget. It’s make it-or-break-it time for this Parliament. If the budget is defeated, we’ll be in an election in April. The Liberals keep teetering back and forth, but now look likely to oppose it. That puts the ball in Jack Layton’s court. Does he want to prop up the Tories or go into an election, risking losing votes to the Greens and also to the Liberals, when Canadians who want to stop Harper switch their vote?
Ken Rockburn Host of Talk Politics on CPAC
It’s a mug’s game to try and guess a single issue beyond the environment that will stay in the spotlight for more than one Question Period. Jim Flaherty’s budget will keep things hopping for a few days, as budgets always do. Afghanistan will continue to provide the background noise in the Commons. It’s an issue that the Opposition will keep hammering at right up to an election (which will only happen in the fall, if then). The truly fascinating scenario will be watching how Jack Layton walks the tightrope between angering the public by forcing an election and angering his political base by propping up the government. All the while the Greens are nipping at his heels and the Dion Liberals are stealing his thunder. He will have to develop an alter ego, the side-show contortionist “Jack the Pretzel.”
Paula Todd Host of TVO’s Person 2 Person
“What won’t we see? A Conservatives-only plan for governing. Instead, Harper’s strategy will continue to evolve as a poll-driven hybrid of policies plucked, in part, from the other parties, as we just saw with Stéphane Dion’s green theme. As Mr. Harper works to neutralize the environment as the wedge issue, he’ll also want to change the “topic” of the next election, and the budget will be the place to do it. Look for tax cuts, incentives (including environmental and corporate) and lots of protections for families, including an RSP-type plan for the disabled. The Conservatives will aim for hard-to-defeat tax measures that double as their re-election platform, daring the opposition to vote against tax cuts and kids.
This will be a particularly “receptive” period for voters and lobbyists – not to mention for Ontario and Quebec, which hold so many electoral cards. Harper will have to address Premier Dalton McGuinty’s concerns about the “fiscal imbalance.” Justice, too, is always a hot election theme and Harper is poised to show some muscle there, although look for a slightly more liberal approach to rehabilitation. In his relationship with the U.S., we’ll see a stronger “Canadian” identity emerge, including the push to exonerate Maher Arar.
Harper is going to be dismantling an infrastructure and network that has been built and nursed for decades. ie. CWB, CBC, TVO the list goes on and on.
The Liberals will screeching at every turn much of this will get exorcised through the budget.
So I figure the Liberals will try to intially head it off with the enviroment but will be bouncing around all over the place attempting to plug holes and save that infrastructure that has kept them in power for so long.
The gravy train is threatened for lots of folks here.
The subject will depend on what Harper intends to trim from the government in the budget.
Primarily Taxes.
People may think it is other issues, but it always comes down to economy. The economy will be the main issue this session, as it is every session.
The OAG’s audit of the Canadian Wheat Board.
Stephane Dion will have his ass handed to him by a girl.
Try this link:
http://tinyurl.com/2dh7av
(I’m not certain if it will work without subscription as I was logged in to the Citizen earlier today.)
First a question: How did this Raymaker fellow get included in this. Cerainly comes off as no better than a dipper moonbat exremist.
Tough question. Harper is a moving target, always a step ahead. When he does get blindsided, he is quick to recover his wits and regain the advantage.
Since I am leaning towards there being and election in the near future (budget time in March), I think it will be the environment as the key issue, largley because the Libs have invested so much political capital in it. (Media has played along nicely as well for them) I don’t think that Dion and the Libs will be able to reinvent themselves between now and then and frankly cannot see an issue that would gain them much traction.
Much as the media wishes it, I think the Conservatives actually have the edge on the file, so they will be happy to keep talking as long as the opposition wants. The fact they are now actively talking above the medias heads and getting their message out bodes will for them on the environment issue as well.
Libs and media will not be able to take environment off the table now even if they want to.
March budget will likely be defeated as the Conservatives will “engineer” their defeat by delivering a budget that delivers healthy tax cuts to average Canadians. Strategy here I think will be to make the budget so middle class freindly that the Libs and NDP will have to reject it or face the wrath of their own supporters.
Other than a few bumps it will be the same steady leadership we have come used to from Harper.
1. Afghanistan. upsets our traditional peacekeeper role. We can’t be truly multicultural if we go around shooting brown people. Lots of interesting places to have dinner will disappear from Toronto if we let that continue.
2. China. Libranos just have to have this file. Because Uncle Mo says so.
3. OilSands. Izzy money to pump our wealth to America. We should pump it to China instead.
4. Daycare. Libranos count on young urban female voters in GTA. Can’t buy a house unless both work. Can’t have a family unless you offload the care to the state. Freebies for one and all. In exchange for your vote.
5. Environment. If we don’t send all of our money to China, the polar bears will drown. And they’re white and furry like the baby seals. Sniff.
*
Jack Layton will be murdered by Olivia Chow
in their marital bed… because he won’t stop
bugging her about a certain parliamentary
aide and maybe trying things out a “third way.”
*
yeah, yeah… flame away…
*
I read your opinion, Kate, in the Citizen. there will certainly be a lot of that but I think the Liberal establishment will revert to the “Scary Conservative” attack – “Dare you allow this man a majority?”.
Yeah, that Raymaker fellow came off as a classy piece of work, didn’t he?
An interesting set of comments. I’m going to suggest that something else is going on in Ottawa that is perhaps not articulated openly, (and I’m not sure I can do so)..but that is acting as the ‘deep structure’ of all opinion-making and decison-making in the House. Let me try to explain. There are two areas, economic and political.
1) I think that Canada is undergoing a ‘seismic shift’ in its economic structure. The decisions of the House are going to have to acknowledge this shift – or, fail.
The demographic and economic infrastructure of Canada has shifted to the West.
Twenty, forty, fifty years ago, the economy of Canada was based around Ontario and Quebec. Their populations were equivalent at about 4 million each; the rest of the Canadian population was almost irrelevant. Our constitution, Charter and government was based around this centralist system. More and more, decisions about everything, including provincial mandates of health, education, business, were made out of Ottawa. For the benefit of Quebec and Ontario.
This was Centralism. This was the era of the central control of the dominant Federal Government. That’s over. But do all the governing systems, such as the civil service, the public corporations, the Senate and even the political pundits – recognize this?
Demographically and economically, the locus of power has shifted West. It’s Alberta and BC, which now together equal the population of Quebec. Their economy is booming. A recent study, for instance (the Provincial Investment Climate Index) shows that it’s Alberta and BC where our economy rests.
Now- the decisions made in the House are going to have to acknowledge this vital, seismic shift.
This means that government must move out of its central dominance and decentralize. More power to the provinces.
It also means that the Quebec-Ontario coupling must end. The West has to be acknowledged.
2) There’s possibly, just possibly, also a political seismic shift. I’m speculating, but..
As a conservative, I blithly lump the Liberals, the NDP, the Bloc, all together. But that’s incorrect. When you check out the NDP blog, Rabble, you’ll find their greatest hostility is not to the conservatives but to the Liberals.
What has happened in the past decade, and I think a great deal of this has to do with the emergence of the Bloc as a left party, but confined to one province and taking votes away from any federal left in that province – and from the conservatives, because the Bloc is now the ‘default party of Quebec..
What has happened is that this loss of federal seat power in Quebec, with the emergence of the Bloc, means that Canada’s governance is more and more operating only as a minority. A minority mode of government will move automatically into a cautious ‘don’t rock the boat’ attitude. The parties come to ressemble each other. No risks will be taken.
That’s actually quite disastrous for hard decisions can’t be made, long term decisions whose short term effects might be unpleasant can’t be made. But..that’s what has happened..
The Conservatives have moved more to the middle. The Liberals have moved more to the left..the domain of the NDP.
At any rate, what has happened is that the Liberals and NDP are each, fighting for survival and control of the left.
Traditionally, the Liberals were actually dominant in Big Business, Finance Land, wealthy suburbs and the Centre. The Conservatives were dominant in small business, the ordinary Jack and Jane, rural, etc. The NDP were dominant in the cafes, academia and libraries and health food stores.
With the loss of seats and the redesignation of almost all governments to a minority, with everyone moving into the centre – the big fight will be for sheer survival of the Liberals vs the NDP.
Predictions.
The stuff about the environment, etc are surface. it’s the deeper shifts that are being played out within this verbiage that is important.
1. The House will have to acknowledge the seismic shift in power and the emergence of the West, and the demise therefore, of centralist control.
This will include a requirement for decentralization and more powers to the provinces. But also Senate Reform. And a reduction of federal ‘make-work’ projects. And a focus on ‘people-power’ by tax cuts and incentives for Canadians to invest (capital gains tax cuts).
It will also include a requirement for Quebec to move out of its permanent welfare-cocoon and ‘grow up’. I think, just think, that this is slowly starting to happen in Quebec. The Bouchard manifesto asking for such a maturation of 2005 is no longer hidden, and more groups are starting to realize that Quebec’s socialist lifestyle can’t be sustained by itself – and the ROC is no longer willing to support it.
2. I am wondering, wondering, which party of the Left will survive. The Liberals who used to be the party of Big Gov’t and Big Money? Or the NDP who used to be the Union Guys?
Stephane Dion is definitely part of the Old Liberals – centralist govt, utopian social engineering ‘big schemes’. But, that’s over.
The Liberals can’t continue on, like King George III, claiming that The West (USA) is “ours, to use as we wish”…because the West has made it clear, that it ‘Holds these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’…and not subject to the grasping hands of Quebec/King George and Ontario.
The NDP are moving themselves away from the unions (who have embraced the Liberals anyway) and more into the realm of Jack and Jill Ordinary, the realm of the Conservatives.
I’m going to go out on a crazy limb. I think that the NDP are going to creep up and slowly, sap the blood from the Liberals. At one time, I thought the opposite but, with Dion as Leader, I think the Liberals are Dead Ducks.
The new “attack” ads confirm it: Harper is itching for an election before the Liberals have a chance to acknowledge their Grande Erreur and force Celine out. Dion is a disaster, and the Conservatives know it. Plus, as one of the entrants noted, the Cons have been floundering around since they completed their big five priorities. Harper will figure out a way to end this Parliament this spring, so he can get a new mandate and possibly a majority.
“I’m going to go out on a crazy limb. I think that the NDP are going to creep up and slowly, sap the blood from the Liberals. At one time, I thought the opposite but, with Dion as Leader, I think the Liberals are Dead Ducks.”
Good points ET although I’m not sure if the left is ready to vote for gassy jack en masse.
Agree, multirec, but with the option only of King Dion the Incomprehensible – maybe they might.
I don’t think there’ll be an election this spring or even this fall. The Liberals and NDP can’t afford one. Layton is moving himself, cautiously, closer to the Conservatives – careful not to disturb his socialist brethren, but he is able to do so because the Conservatives are vouching for The Little Man. Remember the Conservative election ads which were filmed in the local diner, showing ordinary people.
The Liberals, with Dion the Elder, are still trapped in the Big Government, Big Money politics of two decades ago. And I think they have a major problem with Dion as leader.
I suggest that Harper’s agenda is to reduce the federal gov’t’s involvement in provincial matters, in line with the BNA act. So less financial subsidization and offer more tax points, at the same time juggling the changes to the Senate which the provinces will fight as it undercuts their influence on the Federal gov’t.
Raymaker the lawyer said: “Dr. Strangelove zeal for blood is an easy mark. The opposition will be all over him. Bush’s pal Steve Harper”
I too thought this guy was way off base in his remarks. Talk about being intemperate and emotional. Would you really want him defending you in a court of law, when he’s so careless in the court of public opinion?
Not me.
The major issue this parliamentry session will be the media vs the Tories. The future of the Conservatives depends on how well they handle the current all out propaganda war waged by the MSM.
They must find strategies to get their message out despite the blatant misrepresentations of the little spoiled boys and girls of the media whose feelings are always hurt by Harper. The Tories must also find ways to counteract the way MSM is covering for Dr. Did Little Dion and his continuous stream of gaffs.
The actual issues (environment, health, Afghanistan) are meaningless if the Tories cannot communicate effectively with public. This ad campaign is a good start.
ward asked: “First a question: How did this Raymaker fellow get included in this. Cerainly comes off as no better than a dipper moonbat exremist.”
You have it right, Ward.
…-
Dion’s Endorsement Index:
Darryl Raymaker
Former President of the Liberal Party of Canada (Alberta), Alberta Campaign Chair under Turner and Chretien. Former Bevilacqua supporter.
http://stephanedion.ca/?q=en/Stephane-Buzz-060929raymaker
The results of this election will determine the issue of the next one. National unity, and separation of Alberta. If the libs win, and ont and que ignore our threats, thinking they are blackmail like que has done for year, they are in for a big shock. Touch our economy and canada as we know it is gone. Quebec, will Ont support you all by themselves. I doubt it. Kyoto, carbon tax, money to china (thru strong and liberals) forget it.
I think Harper may be positioning himself for another election sooner rather than later.
ET- I think you’re right that the NDP and the Liberals are headed on a collision course. Canada has too many left wing parties (4) so its no suprise that they’re in more intense competition with each other than the one conservative party in the country.
But I suspect your wrong to think that the NDP will win out over the Liberals. Moderate lefties prefer Dion to Layton. As much as the hard right doesn’t like Dion he’s inching ahead in popularity on the left and he’s gaining traction on the issue of Global Warming.
A lot of Canada’s political future depends on wether or not Global Warming is indeed some grand conspiracy or not. If it is (I suppose stranger things have happened) then it won’t be long before the hoax is revealed and the CPC will reap a political windfall. If it isn’t then the pressure on this issue is just going to ratchet up higher and higher. In that climate playing footsie on controlling emissions and corporate welfare for tar sands isn’t going to be the political turf you want to be occupying.
I suspect Harper realizes this which might be why he’d prefer an election sooner rather than later.
Look for Jack Layton and the ND’s to support Harper in passing the environment legislation now in committee.
Win, win for both. Will choke off the Greens without a hope in hell of electing an MP anyway and bleed dry the Libs from the left who plainly see Dion a total (indecipherable in the English tongue), disaster.
Despite his annoying style Layton will appeal much more to lefty voters than will the Dual citizen leader of the Libs.
Sheila Fraser announces another whopper theft by liberals, largely facilitating or complicit in the crime will be more scummy media people.
Election is called soon after the discovery, and the libs are decimated, Harper gets a majority, and takes a freakin buzz saw to the top third of the Death Trap Nanny State in a glorious one week bureaucratic bloodbath for elitist leftard entitled fatcat cheque cashers.
Three seconds after doubling the staff of the Auditor General and opening the once secret financial records of all the foundations set up by the liberals, it is discovered that the federal Liberals are in fact the mafia.
The floor on the market for ski chalets, fishing camps, private schools, cocaine, purple neck ties, and jewelery in the Ottawa Valley drops out.
Moe Strong is arrested in Hawaii when his personal jet on loan from China is required to make an emergency landing.
The RCMP throws them all in jail and the first conservative judge in Canada since fire, sets bail at a zillion.
We show funny lighthearted gauntlet runs of fat liberal convicts as they try to get in the back of a hot as hell yellow 1948 Bombardier, to be wisked to some ice jail on Hans Island, the whole time being pelted with gum ,fake $100 pizzas, and shitty french wine on what is the CBC’s, “Final Mission Show”.
Taxes are cut to nothing in Canada, just like other natural resources blessed countries like Saudi Arabia and Dubai, once it is discovered that crooked skimming libs were just stealing it all along.
Or
Libs win the next election and Alberta returns Trudope’s salute with earflaps.
Also
Europe gets hit with a dirty bomb.
France surrenders to a little pinknosed bunny.
No, Jose, I don’t agree with your future. There aren’t many ‘hard right’ people in Canada and Dion is not ‘inching ahead in popularity’. He’s slipping rapidly down.
I agree with all of Joe Molnar’s points. I think that the Liberals would have regained some of their electoral base with another leader but Dion is in my view a disaster. The Liberals are going to go ‘all out’ to recover from his selection – and we’ll just have to see. They have to confront not merely the Conservatives but also the NDP. Caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
ET, watch the Libranos circle the MSM wagons around Dion le Disastre. I expect every effort to be made to caast the West as the bad guys, Steven Harper is a US tool, with nonstop spin spin spin in the media. The average 406/905 voter is completely unaware of the Red Star/Librano linkage, and takes it hook, line, and sinker. The MSM/Librano cabal has achieved arrogance, and sureness in its power.
As a counter, I expect to see Senate Reform become the real issue, because, well, frankly, it is. In Senate Reform, I belive, lies or only hope of restoring real democracy in Canada. Harper knows it. There is really no cogent argument to be made against it either. It’s motherhood. The MSM cocoon around Dion le Disastre will try any and every trick to divert attention away form this core issue.
It’s Senate Reform. First, and foremost, as the key enabler.
I agree with Wells, politicians will try to use fiscal federalism as a wedge.
But I think the voters will not bite, and instead they will be consumed by health/daycare/taxes, whichever of these 3 issues makes the biggest difference in their own pocketbooks.
The issue will be Quebec if Boisclair wins the next provincial election.
Otherwise, I agree with Kate. It’s gonna be the ROC vs. Alberta unless oil prices drop to around $35 per barrel.
In that case, it’ll be infrastructure, gridlock in Toronto, or crime (an Eastern Canada urban issue) unless the Tories can set the agenda like they did for the first six months of this year.
Sadly, the federal HoC will never care about Western issues except as using it as a Milch cow…
Corruption of the Chretien and Martin governments.
I believe that there are several real plums waiting in the wings to be brought out (eg: Gun registry, secret foundations, and maybe even some more adscam stuff)
Harper will play his year or two of accomplishments against a return to the bad old days.
A little OT but the comment “Sheila Fraser announces another whopper theft by liberals” made me realize what is happening – the liberals know that AG Fraser will continue to find skeletons in their closet so they are now attempting to discredit her by suggesting that she and Stephen Harper (and GWB if they could) had the enviro auditor canned. The MSM is painting Ms. Fraser as a jealous hag.
Watched Global National tonight with the big report – MSM, liberals and NDP all hushed and grave talking about what a crime it was and who was really behind it (GWB I tell you!!!)
Albertagirl,
I saw that tonite too on (‘don’t ask’, CBC). The report was positively weird.
Discredit Sheila Fraser? Chretien already tried to do that to Gomery. I doubt whether the MSM could pull something like that off…well then again…
hey raymaker, did you forget who sent our troops to Afghanistan? wasn’t it Mr. Dithers? i supported and agreed with Mr. Dithers when he initially ( i can’t recall if there was even a vote in the house) deployed the troops to Afghanistan. Harper is doing the manly thing and living up to our committments….why should Afghanistan become an election issue. i think that the biggest issue is the MSM and the liberals…they have to stop sleeping together. a really good way to thwart this relationship is to elect a Harper majority.
wilfred brimley in ‘absence of malice’:
“Im not leaving until I have somebody’s ass in my briefcase”
Kate, roaring up to parliament hill on her sleek fine tuned motorcycle:
“I’m not leaving until I have borat dion’s ass in my saddlebag”
LOL !!!
you go Kate !!! go for it, go for the godam jugular. oh I see liberal red alright, liberal red *blood* all over the blogosphere and the ballot box.