Why, I wonder, are people - especially Conservative people - so surprised that Stephen Harper (with Jimmy Flaherty's assistance, see: Fiscal Update 2008) has brought the Conservative Party to the brink of destruction just weeks after winning an enhanced majority?
One can forgive the average Canadian for a lack of awareness of the internal party machinations, but Conservative members ought to be a little more clued in as should political reporters. It will not surprise me to learn that some Conservative MPs have been, and are, privately worried about their Leader's new offensive.
During last week's Fiscal Update I thought the mood especially sombre on the government side. Macleans' Aaron Wherry quotes Glen Pearson, a Liberal MP, who was at the scene:
To be sure, certain portions of the update had been leaked a day earlier, but the sheer scope of the Prime Minister’s statement suddenly laid bare everything that we had all feared might dwell beneath the veneer of the government’s civility. In that moment at least, we stared into a kind of abyss and didn’t like its depth. What fascinated me were the faces of the Conservative MPs during the reading of the statement itself. They appeared on edge, worried, and more than a little apprehensive, as if they knew danger was ahead.
No sooner was the speech ended than the Prime Minister and his Finance Minister left the House, along with half of the Conservative caucus. The faces on those that remained told the story in vivid detail. Listening to the response from the three opposition parties, you could tell from their countenance some kind of line had been crossed.
In the Opposition Lobby, I saw things I had never witnessed in my two years here. Bloc members were “high-fiving” NDP caucus members, and some women from the Bloc were embracing their counterparts in the Liberal caucus. It was incredible to watch. Glen Pearson, MP (Liberal)
I recall the tone and expressions of the government members during Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's "fiscal update" presentation to the House. Indeed they were more reserved and subdued in their response. Perfunctory applause dotted some points of Flaherty's speech, not the usual Borg-like raucous approval the government side is known for. They knew they were pushing the opposition parties to the brink and they did not know at that time who would blink first.
I tuned out the update after a while, refusing to allow flailing Flaherty to intrude further on my work day.
Take away all the spin circling what is happening and one plain truth emerges: what Harper and his minions have done - attacking the opposition, singling out public sector unions removing their right to strike and pushing back progress on pay equity - while doing effectively nothing about the pressing economic issues of the day - was unnecessary for the proper operation of the Canadian government.
Each time Stephen Harper wins a battle he emerges as a more arrogant leader than before. Emboldened by a strengthened majority, his arrogance has led him to believe that he could up the ante and increase the level of contempt with which he treats the rest of the House of Commons.
It is in the interests of all Canadians that we see healthy government and opposition side parties. Stephen "hidden agenda" Harper will have none of this for effective opposition would limit his ability to reshape Canada into something most of us will not recognize nor approve of.
Therefore I'm delighted to see the opposition flex its muscles, provided that they have thought this through carefully. One misstep will hand Harper the opening he needs to destroy the opposition, making this truly a high stakes game indeed, the outcome of which will profoundly affect our country.
