Our Money, Their Plans, The Verdicts are in!

Federal Budgets invariably end up as basically being a vehicle to bribe us with our own money. But with the new era of fiscal accountability in Ottawa these days, it seems rather churlish to suggest that the Martin Government has nothing but our best interests at heart. Surely even the coldest hearted cynic would adopt a wait and see stance, as the Liberals scramble to recoup some sense of repute. At least this time around we’re not having our pocket picked, while they smile and look us in the eye.

Tuesday’s budget, delivered by Ralph Goodale is simply the pre-amble to an expected election campaign, the themes of fiscal prudence and accountability the tonic for a weary population (and electorate). Many of whom may have given up any hope that Ottawa will ever resemble a place where ethics and honesty reside.

Ralph Goodale is no doubt fully aware, that the distancing of his stewardship of finance, away from the assorted boondoggles of the old Chretien team is a necessity for his credibility. The real trick will be to make sure that his Boss gets credit for the good deeds, while absolved of any involvement in those of the bad ones.

The budget delivered today provides the usual salutations to the hard work of Canadians, which of course is a required staple for any budget, for without the hard work, there will be no taxes to collect and then spend. Canadians can look forward to promises of Goodale making our lives better in the fields of learning, innovation, health and communities. It even promises us money coming in, with the sale of Petro Canada stock to the tune of 3 billion dollars, a windfall for the Gov’t more along the lines of winning the lottery you designed. But hey, 3 billion dollars flowing the other way for a change is nothing to sneeze at.

But it wouldn’t be politics if there wasn’t a chorus from the opposition, and smelling a stale government, despite the new wrapping, they are ready to pounce.

With an eye to the past transgressions of the Liberal’s, newly pressed Conservative leader Stephen Harper found the ode to fiscal propriety a little hard to swallow. He gave us a glimpse of the Conservative blue print to a fashion, of good fiscal sense coupled with lower taxation. His cutting remarks “Frankly on the side of management they can’t win an election”. Scandal, Scandal, Scandal, it would seem that will be the constant reminder from the Tories.

Jack Layton took the path of combining gut wrenching scenarios to criticize the Goodale/Martin agenda. He said the government’s vision of debt reduction to the tune of 200 billion dollars over ten years was not what Canadians were clamoring for. Layton feels that the plan is akin to “paying down your mortgage while your grandmother is sick, your kid is in university and your roof is leaking”. Expect a spike in NDP numbers sick grannies, studying kids and home supply managers everywhere. God help Layton if he needs a loan on his house though! His comments on the inevitability of a two tiered health system, will no doubt be the approach for any NDP campaign.

The best Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe could come up with was to call it a heartless budget. But then, he’s probably more interested in the scuttling of the Unity fund, a slush fund created by Jean Chretien. If anyone should be scuttling something called Unity, you would think Gilles would want to be there.

There will be debate this week in the House, as the budget document becomes the talking point of positioning. One document, four different interpretations, but there is only one important verdict. As Paul Martin ponders when to drop the writ, he must be aware that shiny paper and pretty bows, won’t disguise a dirty old boot.

If the opposition can paint his budget as just a shell game, one where the old pea is hidden and then moved around before our very eyes, then a Federal election may be a ways off yet. If however, the Liberals find that a cynical public is starting to believe that the culture of greed is on the wane, we may then be going to the polls sooner than later.

The Prime Minister anxious to claim a legitimacy of the vote for his government, will be wondering which is the better path, a quick hit after a positive budget, or a long meandering road as the various Chretien era troubles play their way out. Expect to see candidates knocking on your door before the summer hits. The quick hit, most likely his best shot at forming a government of his own, cleansed of the baggage of his predecessor.