Budget and Politics - a match made in Parliament

Today was budget day in Canada. Obviously a very important day, with repercussions for each and every Canadian. I spent a lot of time trying to get the gist of the budget through newspapers, internet news sites and TV. The 2009 budget is all the more important because the fate of our Conservative government was hanging in balance. Last December, shamelessly, Harper asked the governor-general to prorogue Parliament so that his government would not be thrown out. He escaped by the skin of his teeth.

The Liberals lost the last October 14 election largely due to their infighting and poor leadership. Stephen Dion could not connect with the common man. His language skills were poor (to be a successful politician in Canada, one of the skills neccessary is fluency in English and French). Further, Dion lacked political appeal. He seemed decent, yet a very distant man, with little or no charisma. The old fashioned spectacles and patronising air didn't help either.

Harper won and we had the Conservatives in power, shamelessly kowtowing to Bush and his cronies at the White House. I remember when Chretien was our (Liberal) PM, he was one of the very few world leaders who refused to drag his country into 'the war on terror'. I felt proud of Liberal policy.

Once we had blue-eyed Harper up at Parliament Hill, we were forced to become friends with the Bush mafia - Donald Rumsfeld et al. Those infamous days are best forgotten.

After the election fiasco last Fall, the Liberals have regrouped under Michael Ignatieff. It remains to be seen how far Iggy wins the hearts of Canadians specially in this climate of economic hardship.

Today, he did his bit for Canadian stability by not pulling out the rug from under Conservative feet. He may have reservations about the budget, but he has proposed amendments (requiring periodic reports on the economic stimulus package advanced by the Tories) - that is certainly a step forward. Completely pig-headed are the likes of Layton (NDP) who choose to oppose this step. So now, the Conservatives have to be accountable, my my! Someone's going to check report cards. In my estimation, the first round goes to Iggy.

PS - Obama's coming to Ottawa on 19th Feb. Will it be too late for Valentine gifts between the two countries?