Ignatieff went after the Prime Minister’s absence from both the House and the public scene when it comes to the economy and the value of the economic stimulus contained in the budget. I watched Obama’s press conference last night and found it refreshing to see a politician speaking very frankly about the state of the economy and how he wanted to see it dealt with.

Yes, I know, he was trying to sell a stimulus package which is receiving largely partisan opposition. It was refreshing to hear that opposition being framed not just as partisan game playing but asking the questions and laying out guidelines for what he sees as necessary for the good of the people and the economy and where there is room for bipartisan cooperation and what wont gain traction with him.

The major difference between the leadership of the two countries is that in the US, the leaders recognized and faced the fact that the economy was sliding towards and over the edge while in Canada, the Opposition parties were sounding the alarm while the government was busy telling us that if a recession was going to happen, it would have already taken place.

The job losses in the last few months have accelerated in the last few months but have actually been going on for at least 2 – 3 years. The government has barely acknowledged them other than Flaherty making his speech last spring which in effect warned business not to invest in Ontario due to what he decreed was high taxes. Not only was it inappropriate for a federal finance minister, he was putting the shaft to the province he comes from.

While the election campaign was on, the markets were crashing hard prompting Harper to suggest that there was some great buying opportunities being created. There probably was, for those who still had jobs and money to buy with. In November, mere days after the opening of Parliament, Flaherty and Harper once again proved how inept and blind to reality they were. The economic update statement not only failed to introduce a stimulus, it contained partisan attacks which became the fuel that almost brought the government down just weeks after an election.

Harper, as we know, ran off to the Governor-General and secured her permission to prorogue Parliament rather than face the music through a confidence vote. The benefit for the Canadian people was we didn’t end up with a Dion led coalition which would have led to more political fighting instead of getting something done for the economy.

In order to stay in power after Parliament reopened, it was necessary for Flaherty to bring in a budget that actually addressed the economy and the needs of Canadians. For the Conservatives, they brought one in that was surprisingly Liberal. That would be because they needed the Liberals to support their budget.

Ignatieff, now the Liberal leader, has provided that support on condition that the Conservatives actually spend the money they have pledged. The budget didn’t go as far as it could have to help Canadians and definitely carried the usual political pandering for middle class votes when low income earners and seniors really needed more targetted help but it is better than what we would have had if not for the threat of being kicked from power.

Now, we need a Prime Minister who actually earns the power he craves and leads the country with the honesty and transparency he claimed he would engage in. Stop hiding in your office and behind your subordinates Harper.

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