Steady Seas; Why Change The Oarsman?

There is no compelling reason for Canadians to go to the polls again. Were we to do so, it would represent a first-time event in our history; four federal elections in five years. We're stuck in a rut of minority governments. With opposition parties unwilling to compromise with a Conservative government that has governed every bit as well - in some instances in a far superior manner - as that of its more recent predecessors, the Liberals - who simply cannot get it through their skulls that they are not the 'natural governing party' of this country.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, for all his vaunted intellectual brilliance, has demonstrated scant little of it in the public arena as a politician, claiming to represent the best interests of the country. It appears clear that he has a strong desire to replace Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as though Mr. Harper is the wrong person, at the wrong time, to govern the country. And Mr. Ignatieff is obviously the right person, having whipped his white steed to a froth, to reach Canada from his latterly-international abode.

It seems in his eagerness to ascend to the highest political office of the land he overlooks the inanity of his demands and accusations at this singular time. He is not a stupid man, so why would he mouth accusations that are clearly incorrect about the state of Canada's economy at the present time, for one thing? Mr. Harper was once accused of being aloof, elitist and opportunistic, but at this point it would appear that he is downright cozy in comparison to Mr. Ignatieff who has demonstrated all of those qualities, and more.

The prime minister and his cabinet are not, as the official opposition claims, responsible for the current state of the Canadian economy. They might not have seen the global economic collapse coming, but then neither did any other country, until they were hit - and then the financial collapse glanced off Canada. We have been the envy of the G-7 in the stoutness of our financial system. We suffered job losses primarily in our resource sectors, and manufacturing. We are dependent on international trade, and no one was buying.

And we appear to be pulling well ahead of the downturn impact, into a steadily-emerging growth pattern. Our financial institutions report high earnings, many employers are slowly beginning to hire again, and consumer confidence is beginning to be restored, while residential housing starts are booming, and home re-sales are picking up steam. Our unemployment rate, though high, is yet lower than that of the U.S., another first for Canada.

It is a nasty business when politicians turn on one another, rather than set aside partisan bickering at such crucial times. Worse yet, when they go into campaign mode and resurrect old accusations and dig up new scandals about one another. It is unfortunate that the Liberals take umbrage at the Conservative election ads depicting their leader as a visitor, who may or may not decide to remain on Canadian soil.

The Conservatives are said to be using questionable tactics in attempting to stir the interest of the voting public. But what, precisely, do the Liberals feel they are delivering as a message to voters when they disseminate a flyer depicting a tattered Canadian flag on a backpack with the legend: "We used to wear it with pride"? The last two Ipsos-Reid polls commissioned for CanWest place support for the Conservatives close to majority status.

The Liberals complain that infrastructure funding has gone out disproportionately to areas in the country represented by Conservative Members of Parliament, particularly Cabinet MPs. As though the Conservatives invented this kind of electoral patronage, and this represents nothing that the Liberals would ever stoop to indulge in. It's not that their own memories can't dredge up the truth, just that airing this grievance as a new reality may offend some voters with short memories.

The New Democratic Party which such a short time ago insisted it would not, under any circumstances, support a Conservative government budget, suddenly sees merit in doing so, with the ghastly reality that, in a new election they stand to lose some of their support, likely to the Liberals. The Bloc Quebecois which always assiduously searches out 'what is good for Quebec' may now, with the NDP, recognize the new provisions for EI useful.

And the Liberal Party of Canada, without a governing slate of their own; in fact, sharing many of the ideas and goalposts of the Conservatives, flails about with half the party unwilling to commit to bringing down the government, the other half determined to, pulling themselves into disarray and disorder; the natural governing party, insisting they 'can do better'. Than whom?