Prime Minister Stephen Harper said today that he has “no regrets” about posting a deficit, arguing it was the best move under the circumstances, and noted that several measures the government has taken will benefit the economy in the longer term.
This is the current M.O. the government is taking, and it’s an interesting bit of historical revisionism to be sure. While most governments have “regretted” posting deficits owing to the tough “economic circumstances”, this one seems to revel in it’s fiscal insolvency. It’s strategy now seems to be less about focusing on the necessary evil of stimulus spending, and more about getting down to the brass tacks of shameless party self-promotion while handing out gigantic novelty cheques.
And truly, little has been more dubious as to the economic stimulus benefits as ice hockey arenas in Conservative ridings. What’s particularly distasteful about using the concept of Keynesian economics to hand out recreational centres is outlined in an article in the Financial Post, which argues that continuing to stimulate as we exit the recession will be destabilizing rather than stabilizing.
The whole stimulus extravaganza has led to some chilling similarities between the Conservatives, and the former Chretien Liberals, as observed by Macleans Aaron Wherry. John Baird rose in Parliament recently to defend the Conservative blurring of the lines between government and party by saying:
“Here is what the Prime Minister said,” the Minister continued. “‘Listen. We are the government. I don’t see why we can’t try to get credit for what we do. I hope we do so. There is nothing to be ashamed in that.’ Do members know who said that? It was Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.”
Unwittingly, Mr.Baird made a rather serious gaffe. By trying to explain the rank hypocrisy of the Liberals for complaining about the Conservatives doing precisely what they had done before this government, the two are forever entwined in a kind of corrupt matrimony. The party that gained the votes of Canadians like myself by promising to be nothing like the Chretien Liberals, have come full circle by “wrapping himself in ideals of a man who represented everything the Prime Minister once despised.”
The fallout from wrapping the Conservative party in great big socialist ideals is now bearing Liberal fruit. And as though there wasn’t enough heat on Senator Leo Housakos, he passed the buck onto some anonymous colleague he described as “somebody in my own caucus,” and added, “I’m going to take care of him soon.” What is this, the Sopranos?
Meanwhile you’ve got the Prime Minister continuing to tell us that all of this was beyond his control, refusing to be regretful about anything, singing the praises of stimulus, and saying that the “focus has to continue to be on stimulating the economy.”
“I actually do think we are in a rare period … where deficits are not only necessary but actually advisable,” said Harper.
We’ve passed through the looking glass, Alice, and I really don’t like what I see on the other side.
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