Neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives – not to mention Canadian voters – want an election. The budget has a lot of good things in it that would make it popular in an election campaign; voters love lower taxes even if they are bad for the country, long-term. There are also some glaring deficiencies in the budget, including the failure to address problems with Employment Insurance.
Michael Ignatieff has to show he is not Stephen Harper redux. Expect him to propose some amendment(s) to the budget. But how far to push Harper, a stubborn and arrogant man. Harper will cling to power desperately but there must be a limit to how far he and Conservatives will let themselves to be pushed. They can’t let it appear Ignatieff is dictating the budget or they will lose what little credibility they retain and will be doomed when an election is forced over another issue in a few months.
If Ignatieff pushes too hard and another election results, he will face the wrath of Canadians. It wouldn’t be a good starting position to present himself to voters as the better alternative. Or Harper could go to the Governor General, advise her too invite Ignatieff to try and do better and the Liberals would be left to fix the mess Harper got us into.
If it were a poker game, and we were merely spectators, it would be exciting. But it’s our country, our daily lives, our assets, our pensions that are at stake. Let’s hope it doesn't go from poker to Russian roulette. High drama on The Hill.
