Conservatives: Honeymoon Over

SES Research, Canada’s most accurate national pollster over the course of the last election, announced today [PDF] that the Liberal party had recovered some public support (34%) and was now statistically tied with the Conservative party (at 33%).

Polling indicates that the Conservative government’s honeymoon was short-lived… We can expect a period of voter volatility as Canadians assess the new Harper-led federal government,”

The Conservatives raised the bar on ethics and accountability very high and I think people are waiting to see them deliver on that. SES President Nik Nanos

So much for the honeymoon. Of course it didn’t have to be this way; history may judge Mr. Harper as providing leadership in appointing Emerson and Fortier to cabinet, but its more likely that the weight of judgement will lean to the negative. Either way, Stephen Harper made the matrimonial bed, and our party will eventually see what offspring come of it.

Tim Armstrong, former Ontario Deputy Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade under a Tory government in Ontario recently weighed in :

But Emerson’s position is surely untenable, especially in light of his highly critical campaign against the Conservative platform during the election.

If, as has been suggested, he is seen to be indispensable in negotiating a softwood lumber settlement with the United States, he could resign and be retained by the government to perform this task. There are plenty of precedents for retaining outside negotiators for tasks of this sort.

My sentiments exactly.