OTTAWA – There is a strong possibility Canadians will be heading for a national election this fall.
There are signs the minority Conservative government is getting ready for this.
Last week, I received a call in Montreal from the Tories asking for support for a fall election.
Although Prime Minister Stephen Harper is accusing the Opposition of pushing election, he is desperately yearning for a majority which has so far eluded him.
Even if the Liberals, the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois do not do not gang up to topple the minority government, Harper will come up with a convincing reason to send Canadians to the poll.
Harper fully realizes any further delay will simply make things more difficult for his party.
A couple of recent national polls indicate the Conservatives are now in a virtual tie with the Liberals.
One poll even suggested the Tories are slightly ahead of the Liberals.
The prime minister’s mini cabinet shuffle is a clear sign he is preparing for political warfare.
He has named one of this trusted minister’s to be the new House leader.
John Baird, the Ottawa-area MP, has now replaced Jay hill as the House leader.
Hill has already said he will not run in the next election.
Harper quickly handed over the House leader’s big role and responsibility to Baird.
Only days after this, Baird was busy announcing the federal government’s “stimulus” program of infrastructure spending.
While in Cornwall, he announced construction of a new low-bridge estimated to cost $75-million will go ahead in the Tory held riding of Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry currently held by the popular member Guy Lauzon.
Lauzon said this project will help stimulus local economy and put more money into the pockets of local people.
We will be hearing a lot more announcements like this in the coming weeks.
Baird has also made it clear the federal government will not target public servants as it digs out from under the largest budget deficit in Canadian history.
“We won’t wee the massive cuts to the public service that happened under the last Liberal government,” said Baird, the newly-minted government House leader. “I don’t envisage anything like that.”
Though the Harper government is often perceived as hostile to the public service, Baird said it plays “an incredibly important role, not just for Canadians, but for our government.”
The minority government also announced changes to the 2011 census in a bid to ensure its controversial plan to scrap the long form census questionnaire will not violate official language laws.
Industry Minister Tony Clement made the announcement hours after a federal court sided with a francophone group that challenged the government over its decision to replace the mandatory long form census questionnaire with a voluntary survey, alleging it violated the Official Languages Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Clement also confirmed the Conservatives will introduce legislation in the fall seeking to drop jail time as a possibly penalty for Canadians who refuse to answer mandatory questionnaire administered by the government.
Canadians will still be subject to a fine of as much as $500 if they don’t complete the census form or other mandatory surveys, such as the Census of Agriculture.
Prime Minister Harper last week highlighted a list of recent accomplishments, including decisions made at the economic summits as well as the passage of the government’s budget legislation in the Senate, describing them as successful.
He said government policies and decisions were designed to strengthen Canada at a time when the global economy remains fragile.
Harper stressed Canadians want them to continue to focus on governing and especially to focus on the economy.
“This is what we will continue to do,” he said. “Under our leadership, Canada is emerging from this recession in a strong position and whether it is financial regulation, economic stimulus or deficit reduction, Canadian solutions are leading the way globally.”
In order to force an election, all three Opposition parties will have to vote against the government on a money bill.
The Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff has been working hard to get his troops ready for whatever happens.
“My job is to prepare that alternative, get all the policies ready,” Ignatieff said. “We are not seeking an election, but we are ready for one if it comes.”
The Liberal leader wants his battered and divided party to get ready for an election.
Ignatieff is very cautious these days.
He kept saying he was ready to topple the Conservatives but then backed down.
Ignatieff has been touring the country to get acquainted with Canadians.
In recent years, the Liberal leadership has been passed from Jean Chretien to Paul Martin and then to Stephane Dion and Ignatieff.
It is not going to be easy for the Liberals to pull the plug.
The Liberals have a lot of work ahead of them.
They have to build re-build the party from grassroots.
It won’t be easy to convince the New Democratic Party and Bloc Quebecois to support the Liberals in toppling the Harper government after the frantic coalition scheme failed miserably.
