If anyone was naïve enough to think that the new Conservative government would depart from the confederation-old mantra of subsidies to Atlantic Canada, reality should have hit home this week. The PM and New Brunswick premier announced federal-funding deals for upgrading provincial highways and cleaning-up Saint John harbour. Of course it wouldn’t have anything to do with the CPC’s ambition to win a few more seats in the Maritimes when this minority government inevitably collapses.
Ontarians, as usual, are left to wonder why provincial highways in Atlantic Canada are vital parts of the national transportation system but Ontario highways serve a purely provincial function and are never eligible for federal subsidies. While the CPC also needs more Ontario support if it hopes to form a strong majority government at some future date, covert Ontario bashing is still de rigeur.
