Honourable Iggy thinks our PM is playing games again.  According to Lord Ig, Mr. Harper has no respect for Parliament because he’s letting a few choice budget details slip out beforehand. Before we all get our shorts in a knot, let’s not forget that this budget slippage scenario was I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) started by none other than … Paul Martin.

Mind you, Paul’s strategy was meant to gently stoke the peace loving natives and booming markets of our great Dominion – in times of plenty. Mr. Harper’s may well be designed to divide and conquer them. A measly $1-billion for displaced workers. Buzz Hargrove wanted that for the auto sector alone. Sure enough, he’s turning the air blue on the phone already.  But who is he talking to?  Is it smilin’ Jack and his blinkered bunch of budget busters. Or is it Iggy – Buzz’s future boss when he finally pursues his political career.

Meanwhile here in Quebec, Gilles Duceppe and Pauline Marois watch gleefully as their approval ratings climb – for doing diddly squat. And Premier Charest looks for another way to suck more dough out of the federal coffers to keep his propped up. God only knows where it all goes. Our provincial health care system is abysmal, our taxes outrageous, water pipes are bursting in air and we’re decades behind the R.O.C. on more than one portfolio.
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Could it be true? That the NDP party is going to become redundant in the next federal election. I sure hope so for the sake of a renewed federal Liberal party and a stronger two party system. After all, for a country of 30 million persons, do we really need five “national” political parties?

While the great infrastructure begging contest goes on in earnest, the NDP is sending clear signals that they’ll likely vote against the upcoming federal budget – no matter what it contains. Apparently, they’ve been overcome by the scent of power and would like to chance it on their own coalition terms.

Government cheques for everyone!
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As an English Quebecer via BC and Ontario, I believe I might have a more well rounded view of the Harper Prime Ministership than some regionally biased political junkies. This is not to say that I am fat. Yet.

My recent Christmas visit to the East Coast unearthed an unbridled hate for Mr. Harper who in no particular order is: “taking Canada down the US Republican road,”  “destroying our cultural heritage,” “lacking in vision,” “ EVIL!” “stealing Atlantic Accords from deserving Atlantians” etc. etc. etc. Yet on the other coast, my British Columbia friends are prepared to turf every remaining Liberal west of Winnipeg as a result of coalition agreement signed with the NDP and the BLOC. And yes Jake, Iggy did sign the deal. Meanwhile, my Ontario friends sigh at the long road ahead for the federal Liberal Party. And mes amis en Québec are content to see who will give them the most money in the end.
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