Canada's democracy and economy in peril

by Werner Patels

In these economically troubled times, Canada's economy was the last remaining beacon of hope, shining a bright light into the global darkness. Every single international organization specializing in economic and financial issues, such as the OECD, has attested to Canada's relatively clean bill of health. Yet, that was never good enough for the opposition Liberals and NDP. During this fall's election campaign, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion was praying for an economic disaster, while talking down his country's fairly good economic performance, in the hope of gaining power. Canadians did not believe him and rejected him on election day – 74% (in words: seventy-four percent) of voters felt that Mr. Dion was thoroughly unqualified and too incompetent to become prime minister.

Now, barely a month and a half later, Canadians are trying hard to come to terms with the distinct possibility that the very man, whom they have rightly classified as one of the most inept politicians ever to stand for public office in this country, may now become prime minister after all. As if this horrific scenario were not enough to send hundreds of thousands of Canadians to U.S. embassies to apply for a fast-tracked exodus, the "coalition government" headed by Mr. Dion would also include the NDP and depend on the support of Québec's separatists. Yes, that is right: a party that ran no candidates in any other province except Québec would hold immense power over the near-term future of Canada.

This simply cannot be true, Canadians are saying in letters-to-the-editor from coast to coast. Fidel Castro would be proud, writes one, suggesting that he expects the Constitution to be rewritten and further elections denied by those who are set to steal power, because they failed to win voters' approval. It does, indeed, smack of desperation and is nothing short of a putsch or coup d'état by a "coalition of losers" – just the prospect of them running Canada for a few weeks or months has already sent the Toronto stock exchange into a free fall, which dropped 800 points.

Apart from this death blow to democracy, the coalition would represent only the interests of a single city, Toronto, while Western Canada, the only remaining economic driver in Canada now that Ontario has become the nation's poorhouse, would be shut out yet again, thus fuelling a new separatist movement across the West. Western Canadians, particularly those in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, are not prepared to simply stand by as their golden goose is slaughtered by Canada's "triumvirate of dictators". Even Manitoba's premier, Gary Doer, himself of the NDP, has said that the country needs political stability and, therefore, objects to this power grab. Meanwhile, Alberta NDP leader Brian Mason has joined a Facebook group "Stop the Liberal-NDP-Bloc Attempt to Gag Democracy".

There is not all that much support for this overthrow of government even in the ranks of the parties involved in this undemocratic undertaking. Some, centrist, Liberals are against the coalition idea, and even the Liberal blogosphere has some misgivings about the backroom deal. It is, therefore, not far-fetched to assume that some "Blue Liberals" may vote against the deal or even cross the floor to sit with the Conservative government, because to them, this pact represents everything they abhor: Mr. Dion becoming prime minister, something that even a majority of Liberals never wanted to happen; their party getting down and dirty with the NDP and the Québec separatists.

But it is not only Canada's democracy that is being carried to its grave here; the economy is at stake too. The coalition would drive Canada into a deep recession, or even depression, while Ottawa's budget would be saddled with such a major deficit and debt that it would take ages to undo the damage. The Liberals have mismanaged their own party, which is several million dollars in the hole, and they are unable to generate crucial revenue from donations – a clear sign of their lack of support and legitimacy. The NDP wants to slap the business sector with an additional $50 billion in corporate taxes at a time when tax cuts are in order to keep companies and jobs going. In a way, this negates the very pretext for this putsch: both parties have been saying that Stephen Harper has not done enough to prop up the economy and protect jobs. He has not spent enough, they say now after shouting during the election campaign that he had overspent excessively. So, which is it? Too much, too little? Regardless, any stimulus package would be instantly vaporized by the "economic plan" of the coalition, which would increase both taxes and debt and destroy the last functioning economy in the industrialized world.

The coalition has not been upfront with Canadians either. As a taped conference call reveals, this putsch had been in the planning for some time. This is probably why Mr. Dion refused to resign his post immediately, because he was already aware of the opposition's plot to overthrow the government, which, clearly, has nothing to do with Mr. Harper's budget or economic update. The opposition was never going to cooperate with the government to make this parliament work. Instead, they must have hatched this plan even before, or shortly after, the election on October 14. In other words, Mr. Harper could have promised Canadians the sky; it still would not have made any difference, because the opposition parties were already busy planting their powder kegs all around Parliament Hill. As a matter of fact, an article published in an extreme left-wing publication just a day after the election calls for a "Liberal-NDP-Bloc government", providing even more proof that this undemocratic toppling of the government has been the opposition parties' intention from the very start.

In some countries, these plotters would now be facing a firing squad, but in this country, it will be every single Canadian that loses, including those who are cheering on the opposition putschists now. Investors will pull out of Canada, writing it off as a banana republic of the worst order and taking with them Canadians' jobs. Mr. Dion will get his wish, that is, of Canada's economy going down the tubes, but it will be an economic disaster caused by him and his co-conspirators, rather than the global crisis.

Comments

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As remarks made in previous days, a whole rethink now is needed in the West and Alberta on political redefinement within confederation. The short end of the stick is always inevitable out here being in confederation. Venting on media about Quebec being a Nation or having another election is a time wasting exercise and hardly objective to any region. Harper gave them the nation label and it has proved a failure in achieving support there. The simplest process to save the country and notion right now that of federalism being workable is a Grand Coalition (GC)in these economic times with no Bloc. That way it is fair to every region and it will mean in accomodating this that Harper steps down with an interim CP PM. It is the worst compromise of all to some hard liners in all parties but it shows citizens that differences for so many months will be placed aside and the job of governing moves on within an agreed timeframe. As for Quebec interests, there are enough MPs from both parties in the GC that can represent their concerns. Obama is doing it, it has been done for ages in Europe and Asia so I would think behind the scenes what was last week unthinkable is this week a reality. No Stephane and Gilles and Stephen; hard medicine but doable with pragmatic compromise. All it takes is 15 to be safe and save the country a lot of grief as well. For Liberals (Libreals?) who do value ethics even on back benches, they have made a sacrifice that would turn their party fortunes around with many. For CPs, it keeps you governing and corrects the faux pas of last week that you will never forget. You've suggested this Werner in some way. All it takes is 15 heroes to place their country and citizens first with the problem solved. To those who won't contemplate this, expect in later years a different geographical map by your own self serving interests. Now blow off steam reading this and think of any takers in the hall that you know of! Get to work.