Now, about that poison pill.
Last week, there was plenty of speculation that the conservatives may try to introduce legislation early that would bring about the harmonized sales tax as a way of securing themselves an election. And, it was speculated that if revealed he was actually trying to do so, it would probably end up blowing up in Stephen Harper’s face. I questioned it, pointing out that at the moment, at least, it’s the provincial liberals that are being beaten up on about it–largely because Harper left it up to them to announce it. And, pretty much, decide how it’s going to be implemented. It also didn’t help that a very public–and probably incriminating–flip-flop by one Michael Ignatieff regarding whether or not he was in support of it landed him in the unenviable position of actually announcing he would do so were his government to win an election after that legislation passes.
HST legislation may not end up actually doing a whole lot to the conservatives at all, if timed right, according to the Globe and Mail. Ignatieff’s decision to support the agreement entered into with BC and Ontario by Harper’s conservatives could put him in a tight spot if legislation to that effect was introduced next week. And, if the liberals don’t bite, Harper still has the option–although I cringe at the prospect–of tapping the Blocke Quebecois on the shoulder. With the recent upsurge in popularity in that province, they might not be so hot under the collar to chance going to the polls if it can be at all avoided. Granted, with the liberals also losing ground to the conservatives in Quebec, Ignatieff’s uncomfortable position if HST legislation does surface might just make him reconsider his lack of confidence in the government.
Sure’ there’s still the matter of the maybe or maybe not deficit–the one Canada might or might not have had were it not in the midst of a recession. And the additional shortfall of having been in the midst of a recession. The liberals tried arguing that once. Well, okay, a few times. It didn’t work out very well for them. Mostly because of the fact they helped push him into overspendulous territory. Which also puts Ignatieff in the position of having to Tell Canadians if he was elected, he’d have to either raise taxes or cut spending to cut through the deficit. But he didn’t. Instead, he and Stephen Harper both said they wouldn’t be raising taxes. And now, that thin line he’s walking between making parliament work and not having confidence in the government may disappear entirely. If the legislation ends up being introduced in the next couple weeks, while the conservatives still have a comfortable lead in the polls, Michael Ignatieff may just have to decide whether to fish or cut bate. And the liberal party may have to decide whether or not to cut Michael Ignatieff loose.
