Democracy is about choice. It’s about the right to look at differing visions of the country and make a choice about which you think is best. Some people say the more political parties there are, the more varied the choice and, thus, the stronger the democracy. Is this true? When different political parties take similar stances, is that still a choice?

It has become painfully obvious that the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party no longer represent distinctive options to the Canadian electorate. Stephen Harper has proven time and again that he is willing to compromise his beliefs in search of his majority government (to see how far Harper has come, look up some old Reform Party platforms; the Conservatives are pushing for none of it). The Conservative Party is now far more centrist than it was intended to be, the most glaring proof being the acceptance of deficit economics. Meanwhile, Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals are suffering an identity crisis. Harper’s strategic move to the centre has taken a large piece of the electorate away from the Liberals. Stephane Dion’s response was to propose a radical environmental policy that was intended to win over all progressive voters. The left-of-centre vote never unified behind Dion (remaining split between the Liberals, NDP and the Greens) and drove more traditional Liberal supporters into the arms of the Conservatives. With that strategy deemed a failure, Ignatieff has been forced to subtly acknowledge that his version of the Liberal Party wouldn’t do things very differently than the Conservatives (see Ignatieff’s support of the budget). The Liberals are being squeezed out of the political picture, and since they can no longer offer anything distinctive in terms of policy, they are left hoping Canadians will think Ignatieff is the more capable leader.
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Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff Will Support the Federal Budget With Conditions

As we’re all probably aware of by now, (since NOTHING else has really happened in Canadian politics for the past month…yawn) Michael Ignatieff has decided to support the Conservative budget that was unveiled 2 days ago. But not without an interesting twist:

The Liberal party will only support the minority Conservative government’s federal budget if Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to an amendment calling for a “clear marker” of regular updates to Parliament on the impact of economic stimulus projects, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Wednesday.

By supporting the budget, Michael Ignatieff is passing on an opportunity to take down the Conservative government and in doing so, trigger an election or enter into a coalition with the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois. Many Liberals are obviously not happy. The last thing they wanted was for their leader to abandon the coalition. But it’s all part of Ignatieff’s long-term agenda to seize power.

So what’s really behind Ignatieff’s demand that Harper provide regular updates to Parliament? An interesting Liberal strategy – I call it the Waiting Game.
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Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff announced today that he would support the Conservative Party’s budget only if they agreed to certain Liberal-proposed amendments. Ignatieff said he wanted regular budget updates (Mar, June, Dec 2009) that would determine whether or not the Conservatives are successfully implementing a budget that is helping Canada and its citizens. At each update, a confidence vote would be held so that if the opposition parties are not happy with the Conservatives’ progress, they could take down the government.
This “probation” that Ignatieff is proposing has been met with mixed feelings.
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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty Presents Government Budget

Today, the federal government revealed its highly anticipated budget and stimulus plan for pulling our sagging economy out of recession. To sum up in one sentence, the Tories are going to spend tens of billions of dollars to try and pump money into the economy, and Canada will have to weather large deficits along the way. Whatever it takes to keep our economy moving was the message from Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

A deficit of $33.7 billion for the 2009-10 fiscal year and $29.8 billion the following year is predicted. For 2011-12, the red ink would diminish to $13 billion, followed by a deficit of $7.3 billion for 2012-13. Keeping the Conservatives’ track record regarding their forecasts of budget deficits/surpluses in mind, it seems like these numbers could turn out to be much, much larger. Just months ago, Harper was predicting small surpluses for the coming years, then altered his forecast to small deficits, and now massive ones. That leads me to believe these deficits could turn out to be much larger that we think. If the economy worsens beyond what is expected, this would certainly be true. “If they get worse, we will do more,” said Flaherty, speaking about economic conditions in Canada.

The budget dealt with many different aspects of the economy and Canada, but here is an overview of the major categories:
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So what was the big news of the day? “Canadians face a difficult year — perhaps several difficult years,” declared Governor General Michaëlle Jean in today’s throne speech from Parliament Hill.

Are you kidding me?!!?! I would have never thought. Although, now that I think about it, there have been some warning signs.

#5. The downturn in housing markets is still unfolding here in Canada, with reduced credit supply likely adding to pressures.

#4. The auto sector and forestry industry can barely stay above water.
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Today's Speech From the Throne

There’s no doubt the last few weeks in Canadian politics have been fairly boring and uneventful, especially relative to the recent coalition fiasco. But things sure look like they’ll be picking up again, fast.

Today’s Speech From the Throne paved the way for what is sure to be an exciting week in Canadian politics. Although today’s speech was only 4 pages long compared to the controversial November 19th speech 16 pages in length, it was jam-packed and heavily focused on our sagging economy. The exact details of the stimulus plan will be announced tomorrow, but according to today’s speech, massive efforts will take place to boost the economy through deficit spending.

Here’s what we do know about the stimulus plan to be announced tomorrow thanks to leaks from the Conservatives:
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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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Harper is the Cause of the Forecasted Budget Deficit

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff lashed out at Harper for the upcoming deficit that is expected as a result of the new budget. Speaking to fellow caucus members this morning, Ignatieff lashed out at Prime Minister Stephen Harper stating that “this deficit is squarely Mr. Harper’s responsibility. He spent us down to the red line in the good times and so we face the hard times as citizens of a great country with the cupboard bare.”

After the Liberals’ decade of surplus budgets, it seems Ignatieff is very angry that Harper and his Conservative government have led us into a recession with nothing to spare. Does the infamous coalition live on?
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Can Harper save the economy with his budget?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced some preliminary information on the upcoming budget today. Spending on infrastructure, tax cuts, and revamping the employment insurance program were all discussed as potential methods to revive our economy. As well, a discussion on how the money will be raised, in order to meet these goals, took place. Harper has definitely come an awful long way since denying there were any economic issues just a few months ago.

Will the budget stand its ground against the opposition parties? Based on this announcement, it seems like it can, as long as Harper genuinely intends to include said measures. Harper will also need to think of some creative way to procure the billions of dollars that are needed to see this plan come to fruition.
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Harper and Flaherty are set to end the coalition for good with their new budget.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Friday January 9th, that the new budget will be big, it will be comprehensive, and it will be actionable over the next 3 – 5 years. In what is said to be the largest budget Canadians have seen in a long time, it will cover a large scope of economic challenges and opportunities that are forecasted for Canada. With the announcement of over 34,000 jobs lost in December alone, this budget better be a hell of a lot better than their last budget that nearly toppled the Conservative Government.

Now that Harper is no longer wavering on whether or not he thinks the economy is undergoing a crisis, this new budget is expected to not only provide measures that will ease the burden of 2009’s predicted recession but to also determine whether or not he will stay in power. If the budget is seen to not provide the necessary solutions for the citizens of Canada, will the coalition come back to life by the opposition parties voting “no” on the budget?
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