Only a few short years ago the federal conservatives were on the verge of extinction. After numerous leaders and changes to the parties name the conservatives have come full circle. They are now back to the same party with only a slight change in name and it would seem their internal problems are now over.
Further, they are now back in government with a razor thin minority. Regardless, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is leading as if he had a majority. This is good, but he shouldn’t push it too hard. I am on record stating that Harper is on thin ice and risks losing power if he leads too strongly so as to leave Canadians out of the loop.
Canadians just threw the liberals out of power because they were a government out of control who had lost touch with Canadians. The public needs to feel their government on policy changes is at least informing them and a little consultation would go a long way. There is very little of that right now as Prime Minister Harper charges full speed ahead with his agenda.
That brings us to the budget. It is the best one I have seen in recent years. I can’t remember a better one. Every Canadian gets something out of this balanced budget. Yes, there is the argument that the conservatives are just spending all the taxpayers’ money the liberals banked in over a decade in power. I will argue that the liberals were over taxing Canadians and failed to return anything to Canadians through tax relief.
The Harper conservatives have it right for once. A budget that is balanced, fair to all Canadians, pays down the debt, includes planned reductions in government spending and at the same time invests in Canada through strategic increases in government spending that will be good for Canada in the long term. Is the budget perfect? No, but it’s as right as you can ever hope for from your government.
If the conservatives govern well in an accountable way that shows Canadians tangible results, as this budget does, then I forecast they will win the next three elections and in the process cause the liberals and the NDP to unite in some fashion. They may also force the Bloc into extinction and unite Canada in a way that all Canadians deserve.
Regardless of your political ideology, it is more important to support a party that is doing what is right for you and for your country. The Harper conservatives are doing that right now and deserve your support, but remember the thin ice.
