The Canadian National Newspaper: Green Party insights: It's the Economy, Stupid

I have never liked that emblematic slogan of the Clinton War Room. I have a visceral dislike for calling anyone "stupid." (No doubt something to do with having a mother who believed in lady-like behaviour.)

That said, those words have been running through my head like the Boston Marathon since 27 November 2008 and the Harper Government's Financial Update. As has been well-canvassed, the statement sent out the wrong message -- austerity, restraint. Batten down the hatches and stay out of the shops all decorated and over-loaded with holiday inventory. It invented a 5-year surplus that nobody believed.

Cooking the books is a popular description of Mr. Flaherty's accounting. In order to get to a tiny surplus, he has counted as money in the bank the sale of unspecified federal assets. In a surprising departure from the Prime Minister's commitments at the recent APEC Summit in Peru, deficits are out and so too is the promised stimulus package. And, as everyone knows, the attempt to disguise as an economic measure the attempt to bankrupt his political opposition was one ruthless tactic too many. The spectacular unravelling of Parliament since that day has disturbing elements that could threaten national stability.

Those elements do not lie in the offer of a Coalition Government being put forward by Opposition Parties. The threats to national unity lie in the Harper Conservatives' response to it. Desperate to hang on to power, the Conservatives risk fanning the flames of Quebec separatism at the very time that the temperature was sufficiently low that the Bloc was prepared to sign a truce with federalists parties. This should be celebrated. Instead, it, and Quebec's aspirations, are being demonized.

Mr. Harper has a remarkably short memory. He seems to have forgotten that he too offered to form a government with Mr. Layton and Mr. Duceppe, rather than go to an election if the Minority Liberal government of Paul Martin were defeated. It has slipped his mind that he relied on Bloc support for his government to survive numerous confidence motions.

Meanwhile, the source of this turmoil, a worsening economic outlook is being trampled underfoot. If there can be a confidence vote, the Governor General can decide, as would be her duty, to allow a coalition government. It could then proceed to put forward a stimulus package. On the other hand, if Mr. Harper succeeds in avoiding a vote he knows he will lose by proroguing the House, the country will be in the grips of an unofficial campaign of Conservative versus Coalition until the House resumes. Action on the economy will be delayed. And the national mood is likely to worsen.

Throughout the Second World War, Winston Churchill attended the House. He never shied away from debate over policy, so deep was his respect for democracy and Parliamentary process. Using prorogation of the House, after a two week session, to avoid losing a vote is not very Churchillian. Nor is it in the interests of the nation.

The Green Party supports the Coalition. Nevertheless, cooler heads need to urge caution on all sides. If Mr. Harper chooses not to resign and not to allow a confidence vote, the Coalition will have to find a way to ensure that their action to protect our economy is not used to further worsen the situation.

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