Prorogue He Wanted and a Prorogue He Got

We are now on day one of a 58-day political journey. Where to, is now the question of the day.

Prime Minister Harper promises to consult with many in the preparation of a budget now scheduled for January 27, 2009. His survival is dependent on his skill in building a budget and selling it to the public and to his disgruntled political opponents.

The Coalition prime minister in-waiting, Stephane Dion, has left very little, but some, room for Harper to convince him and the Liberal party to support the Conservative budget.

However, comments by NDP leader Jack Layton and BQ leader Gilles Duceppe have made no room for conciliation. They, as well as Bob Rae, a contender for the Liberal leadership, present their position on co-operation with Harper on any subject as; Not now … Not later.

From my perspective, the viability and survival of the Coalition through the 58 day waiting period, requires the three opposition parties to resolve this small but basic difference.

The two documents that link the threesome together are:-

1. An Accord on a Cooperative Government to Address the Present Economic Crisis. This three-page document delineates the political rules under which the Liberal and NDP parties will operate until June 20, 2011. It was signed Dec 1/08. It  also defines how their cabinet structure will be divided up. A most important aspect is that the two parties will retain an individual caucus.

2. A Policy Accord to Address the Present Economic Crisis.  It is in effect the ground rules between the Coalition duo and the Bloc Quebecois. Dion, Layton and Duceppe signed it on Dec 1 /08. It describes both the rules of participation as well as proposed stimulus packages but no costs or proposed revenue streams to pay for them.

Whether you agree with the coalition or not, there seems little doubt these are the rules of the game at least until January 28th, when Harper and his budget will have either survived a vote of confidence or not. From that point on is a mystery, except for a change in Dion being leader of the Liberals and perhaps even of the Coalition.

Listening to the rhetoric already on the airwaves, there is likely to be a promised give-away unrivalled in the run up to any election.

Comments

[casual observer]

I think I have to admit I was wrong Bruce, you did have a microscope and the the hairline crack in the eggs before I did...but I think you didn't quiet pinpoint the crack. It's really now suprise the cracks are the Liberals...the Bloc and NDP remain solid...partly because they have a stronger leaders than Dion...but mainly because the Grits really have no underlying principals...Harper is a neo-con, the New Democrats are more or less social democrats (not socialist) and the Bloc are advocates for Quebec...but what are grits...watch the coaliton fall apart on their backs