What is it about the new Conservative government that makes it so dysfunctional? We all know the previous Liberal government was little more than a corrupt old boy network but at least they had the excuse of too many years in office and the resulting attitude of entitlement. What excuse can the Conservative government possibly have, after only two months in office, for displaying the combined mental capacity and communication skills of a bunch of dyslexic chimpanzees?
Back in December and January the Harper clan all climbed aboard their pick-up trucks and toured the Country blasting their Liberal predecessors for corruption and calling for the creation a new more accountable government. “Stand up for Canada” they shouted, vowing to create an elected senate and fix the equalization process, all in an effort to address fiscal imbalance. Ahhh, it seems so long ago.
Here it is March and already Conservative platform promises are disappearing faster than a snow bank on a rainy day in June. Since being elected this bunch has already bribed a member of the “corrupt” Liberal party to join their ranks and appointed an unelected, unaccountable crony to the senate and cabinet. Now, in their latest display of mental incapacity, the federal Finance Minister is whining to anyone who will listen that offshore oil revenue deals inked between the Liberals, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have made a mess of equalization calculations. I guess that’s the Conservative equivalent of a chimp throwing feces around. Hell its like starving your dog for weeks and then blaming him because he started rooting through the garbage can.
My first thought is, “Has this guy even read the platform statements he was elected on?”
The Minister Jim Flaherty has been busy over the past week stirring up animosity between the provinces over the perceived inequity of those so called “side deals”. He’s been instrumental in reminding Saskatchewan that it didn’t get the same deal, in stirring the pot of dissatisfaction that already exists in Ontario and he’s been making it look like the two Atlantic Provinces involved are the main reason the equalization process isn’t working. I guess in Conservative circles that’s a productive week. At least these guys haven’t yet managed to start World War III or bring down a plague of locusts around the globe. At least I don’t think they did but I haven’t had a chance to see what the Foreign Affairs office has been up to lately.
The truth is that the deal signed with Nova Scotia as well as Newfoundland and Labrador excludes all revenues from offshore oil when calculating equalization payments, nothing more and nothing less. Is that different than the calculation for other Provinces? Yes I guess it is, and the Minister is right that it creates two separate methods of calculation, but why is that a problem? If Mr. Flaherty simply took a few minutes from his hectic media babbling sessions to read his party’s platform, or even speak with someone inside the party, he might see the solution right in front of his face.
During the election the Conservatives proudly promised to remove all non-renewable natural resource revenues from the calculation of Provincial equalization payments. All the Minister has to do is make good on that promise and the problem goes away. Why this person would instead choose to stir the media pot about a non issue is beyond me. Is it because the intention of the new government is to break this election promise? Is it because the Minister is like one of those guys who hangs out in the local bar starting fights for no reason, or is it simply because the Prime Minister Bonzo has made another brilliant strategic move by naming the dumbest chimp in the pack to the finance portfolio? What’s next, an international trade deal with Honduras? I can read the headlines now, “Canada trades Technology for Bananas.”
If nothing else the Harper government is making great strides in their plant to build a stronger Canadian Armed Forces. The way I see it, if these guys continue running things the way they are now, they may have accidentally stumbled on a way for Canada to create the biggest volunteer army in the world. Hell, by the time the House of Commons actually opens, most Canadians may be just too happy to get shipped off to Afghanistan or Haiti. At least those Countries are working to improve their democratic systems and stabilize their governments. Here at home we don’t have a clue what our government is trying to do, but that’s not the scariest part, what’s really scary is that they don’t have a clue either.
Between the Liberal corruption and apparent Conservative ineptitude, independence may be within our reach after all...
ReplyDelete"The cracks appear, the frame starts to distort, it's ready to explode... CANADA!!!"
(You'll have to be a Judas priest fan to get that, haha! ;-) )
I too am to dumbfounded to even comment on these latest comments by Flaherty.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned one of the key planks in the CPC platform was the removal of Non-Renewable resourse revenues from the equalization formula.
The only reason I can think for this posturing and mud slinging is to drum up support from the other provinces to move forward with this platform plank. Seeing as this is a minority govt they need as much support from all corners to get anything through.
I'm adopting the wait and see policy for now but I will be watching this unfold carefully with all guns loaded and ready to go a blazing.
The election may be over but public support and pressure on both sides will still make things happen outside party lines.
Just look at the ongoing campaign right now to make the Senate and Liberals go along with the CPC plan for child care 1200$ per child under 6 and 10,000$ start up money for any corporation business to start up a childcare.
http://www.brentcolbert.com/childcare/
Non issue Myles? You are kidding right? Let me say that in AB, NWT, BC, and SASK just to name a few, it is definitely an issue. The equalization formula, as it is today, is not working. If it was I guess I wouldn't be writing this from my hotel in Prince George BC.
ReplyDeleteNothing can be accomplished within govt. until there is a political will to do so. The CPC wants to change the way equalization is delivered, yes they want to change it. The word "change" is the hold up for many people. In this case change doesn't mean taking something away from NL or NL getting less than it currently does. You mentioned the election platform and the fact that the non-renewable resources are to be taken out of the formula. Can the CPC just do this? No, they have a minority and not a majority. The Liberals in the last session acted like they had a majority and we know how that turned out. Harper needs the help of the other parties as well as the provinces for changes to the Equalization program to occur.
Flaherty is only stating the obvious, that there are too many side deals and trying to keep track of them is an accounting nightmare. Every penny of spending will be highly scrutinized by the Lib/NDP neo-socialist coalition and Flaherty knows he will be put to task for it. Remember the 41 billion$ health care initiative to change health care for a generation? How about all the daycare deals signed on with each province standing alone, with no strings attached for money and for differing terms? Flaherty is doing what we in our free society spectacle pay our politicians to do, engage us in a debate that benefits our society while at the same time kicking their political opponents in the teeth. Surely you don't expect the Tory’s not to be politicians.
Now that we have a month to talk about this (before session begins) and to educate the voters at what is at stake, do you think there will be many who would refuse the provinces this power once the public is aware of this knowledge, especially those outside of the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor? Only those who believe that your needs can be best served by someone in Ottawa representing you hold such a belief.
Remember how the Liberals would 'LEAK' a program or announcement out to the public so that the original angst and grumblings would subside and by the time the official announcement would come, it was old news? Flaherty is just "leaking" the idea of a smaller, central, not-so-all-knowing, federal government. He is putting the blame for any screw-ups they may occur into the lap of the Liberals for their previous slutty behaviour and at the same time pushing forward with the CPC agenda, smaller federal govt. with more accountability. Do you think someone sitting in the House of Assembly can best represent the views of NL's or some hack (Bill Matthews?) sitting in the Commons? Give the power equally back to all provinces and they will be more accountable to their residents needs.
By the way, I didn't see your article on Dalton McGuinty's assertion that Ontario was more important because of a larger population base and should have a comparable voice in the running of the country. Probably too easy a target though.
Glenn
Hi Glenn in GP. I believe you are a new commentor so welcome aboard. New views are always appreciated. I can see where you are coming from but I do believe the specific points raised are somewhat a non-issue.
ReplyDeleteThe Conservatives were elected on a platform that included removing non-renewable resources from equalization calcs and I doubt they need to build a great deal of support for that. I believe any politician who were to stand against that would have a difficult time getting re-elected in his or her home province since this is a move that leaves more money with the Provinces.
You also mentioned all of the side deals made in the past by the Liberals. Again true and true that all of the deals over the years are what has led to such a mess in equalization but is that a reason to single out the one specific deal with NL and NS that has already been argued to death publicly? You go on to say:
"...once the public is aware of this knowledge, especially those outside of the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor?"
I assume you are talking about making those folks aware of the deal itself. I don't see that as a valid arguement since if there is any deal that is already well known across Canada it is the revenue deal mentioned. After the flag flap, media blitz across the country, debate after debate in the Commons and the other provincial premier lining up to ask for a similar deal it should be well enough known by now.
Just my thoughts. Once again, welcome aboard.
Myles,
ReplyDeleteI am talking about informing the public about the benefits of de-centralization. People out here are glad NL and NS got their deal. The 'power' corridor mentioned is the one that holds all the decision making power in this country and they will not relinguish that power easily. Only when they are shamed into it, ie the flag flap, can we get back to running our own lives without the interference of the Liberal minded social engineering policies. SASK has tried the so-called high road approach, raise a flag, and look where that got them even when the finance minister was from there.
You seem to be upset that he mentioned the NL deal more than anything. I believe he said it because people across the country are aware of it, since it is the most recent and most feel every other province deserves the same.
One thing I have learned, after watching Harper the past 24 months, is that everything he does is deliberate. I stopped second guessing him about 6 months ago. Everyone I have talked too and everything he has said publicly leads me to believe that he believes in a strong Atlantic region.
As for the quality of MP's in the Tory caucus, remember not long ago, 18 months?, when Conservatives were scary and extremists, yada yada yada. There weren't alot of "quality" people tendering their name for candidates under the Tory banner, afterall, who wants to have a label attached to them that was being attached to the Conservatives. The Liberals were able to attract better candidates because they were the natural governing power. We see the opposite now occurring in the Liberal party. Over the past 12 years the Chretianites and Martinites have pissed in their well so many times that the water is poisoned and not fit to drink. Notice the rush to be the next leader of the party.
Also, while I agree with most of your commentary, albeit for different reasons, this issue smacks of thinned skin sensitivity, a DNA component of most NL's, meself included. Thanks for the opportunity to post here. I have been looking for NL forums to discuss ideas with other NL's and outside of VOCM's question of the day, always good for a couple of laughs, this site provides a much needed avenue for such discussion. Thank-you.
Thanks once again for the comments Glenn in GP. Welcome aboard and I'm glad to hear you enjoy the site. Come back often and feel free to speak up on any topic.
ReplyDeleteGarth, I don't understand what you mean by "But as for Alberta! Not so much." Could you please explain what you meant by that statement?
ReplyDeleteIf you think Alberta needs help hanging onto more of its resource revenue, it doesn't. AB already gets 100% of its resource revenue and is advocating the same thing for NL and the other provinces. It behooves AB for all provinces to be successful and to be "have" provinces. Why? Cause then the extra 10 billion$ and growing per year that is going to Ottawa for equalization programs from the Alberta treasury stays in AB instead. Equalization as it is structured right now penalizes provinces that improve their bottom lines. For every $1 extra generated a $1.20 is clawed back from transfers. Such math can only be found in Ottawa.
But what the hell, maybe you are one of the many who like the current Nanny State set-up since you apparently have reservations about Republics. If so, no need to answer my original question.
Cheers,
Glenn