And Now?

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has brought down his latest budget. Prior to that the newspapers were full of some of the items that would appear in the budget that would have popular approval among the electorate. Logically, because some of these items were specifically ones that NDP leader Jack Layton expressed favour toward in his pre-budget conference with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the thought was that the Conservative-led minority government would not be brought down by an opposition lack-of-confidence vote.

Among the items of interest was an extension of government subsidies for home renovations geared to cut energy costs. Along with forgiveness of student loans up to $40,000 for graduating doctors, and $20,000 for nurses prepared to practise rurally. And another one that increased financial assistance to the elderly who live under the poverty line. A few of the more costly items that Jack Layton envisioned the Conservatives committing to in favour of NDP support of the federal budget were not seen to be fiscally prudent.

Before the presentation of the budget, Mr. Layton gave the impression that there would be a likelihood that his party would support the budget, and thus help to avert bringing down the government. Other items such as assistance in job opportunities to Canadian Forces veterans in transition to civilian life, new research funding, and aid to families whose children are enrolled in music programs, speak of a modest but progressive budget.

There are quiet negotiations ongoing between the Quebec government and the federal government on an agreement to transfer $2.2-billion to the province to pay for the HST initiative that Quebec has long been expecting and the Bloc Quebecois demanding to see in the budget. Although Gilles Duceppe has declared that if he does not see the $2.2-billion transfer reflected in the budget he will vote it down, he may yet reasonably modify his stance and help avert a spring election.

Which, as matters stand now, since a bloody-minded Jack Layton has decided that he and his party cannot in good conscience support a budget that the Finance Minister declined to stuff with all of the NDP's demands, looks as though a May election may be imminent. Given the current standing of the Conservative-led government in the minds of the electorate which chose it handily over the opposition in recent polls for its superior handling of the economy and for trustworthiness, public opinion will not celebrate an election the public has no wish for.

And the one party that worked the hardest to bring down the government by shrill demands that it live up to the expectations of the opposition, by hysterical denunciations of its unwillingness to provide it with all the details and figures of costing initiatives for the prison program, for the purchase of new fighter jets, will gain not one iota from the process. Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party, so eager to attain the seat of government, has not enthused the voting public.

His awkward attempts at ingratiating himself with the electorate, his impassioned declarations of love for Canada, his impatient and negligent performances in Parliament, forever accosting and accusing the government of under-handed, inefficient and inappropriate conduct will only come back to haunt him, so sublimely descriptive as they are of his own performance.