A Deal With The Devil

That's what Stephen Harper is calling the agreement on the Federal Budget between the Liberals and the NDP.

What Harper expected when he withdrew any practical support for the budget last week, I don't know. Martin had exactly three options at that point:

a) Do nothing, and let the government collapse on the budget vote.
b) Approach the NDP to make a deal that might allow the government to win the budget vote.
c) Approach the Bloc to make a deal.

The odds of reaching a credible deal with Duceppe are approximately zero, and any such deal would be sure to alienate Liberal MPs from Ontario. (If not Ontario voters themselves - it's not as though Duceppe's line plays very well outside of Quebec)

While Harper is whining about a "deal with the devil", I wonder about Mr. Harper's own alliances. On the surface, it appears that the Conservatives have made some kind of arrangement with the Bloc - certainly Duceppe and Harper have been sounding suspiciously similar lately. If I were to look at accusations of "Deals with the Devil", I would have to wonder about the Conservatives getting all cuddly with the very party whose sole purpose in existing is to destroy this nation.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes in the Conservative Party ranks, one has to wonder what factions are running around busily reinforcing their positions. Ever since Harper was elected leader, various groups have been acting as though he owes them some kind of debt.

No matter how much the Conservatives and the Bloc are salivating over the prospect of a spring election, now is not the time for it. Yes the polls are showing the Liberals bruised and battered, and I doubt that Justice Gomery's report in a few month's time will be particularly flattering. However, Canadians have been to the polls two, and even three times in the last twelve months. Even those who actually find politics and national affairs interesting are beginning to suffer from fatigue-induced apathy.

I for one am among those who really isn't interested in another 4-6 weeks of campaigning going on this spring. Frankly, I'd much rather dig in my garden and paint my house rather than deal with all of the mass stupidity that is an election campaign.

Just because people are upset with the Liberals doesn't automatically mean that Harper will reap the benefits in an election. There are other parties out there - the NDP, the Green Party and others who will be looking for their "share" of the Liberal carcass. I'm disgusted with the whole Sponsorship Scandal, but I'm also disgusted with the arrogance of my Conservative MP, and equally unimpressed with Harper's performance so far. The Conservatives might just find that there is a cranky, uneasy electorate out there - especially in Ontario where the undercurrents in the Conservative party leave many feeling a bit queasy.