Those facts are no longer operative

It seems like only last week that John McCallum, the federal Revenue minister, was denouncing the government of Ontario for endangering national unity with its bogus "$23-billion gap" campaign. Not only that, but McCallum, formerly chief economist for the Royal Bank, tore into the methodology behind the claim, calling it "analytically meaningless." No, wait a minute, it was last week. It seemed back then that McCallum spoke for the government, and not only because he was allowed to make his speech unchaperoned. The Finance department, McCallum noted, had just issued a study debunking Ontario's numbers. Sure enough, when I checked the Finance website some days later, there it was. Why, it seems like only yesterday... No, wait a minute, it was yesterday. Yet when I checked back again today, it was gone. Gone, I tell you. You don't suppose it had anything to do with this, do you?

The Martin government is offering an additional $3-billion a year for at least the next three years to the Ontario government in response to its demands to close the so-called $23-billion gap in taxes and federal spending, a senior Ontario aide says. The aide said the $3-billion-a-year offer is being viewed as "an opening offer" as Premier Dalton McGuinty enters into talks this afternoon with Prime Minister Paul Martin on Parliament Hill.

A $3-billion-a-year "opening offer"? It's unconfirmed but... you don't suppose the Prime Minister is about to get rolled again, do you? That he's about to change tack again? That he's about to sell out the national interest again? That he's about to hang a colleague out to dry, yet again? UPDATE: Yes, apparently:

Ontario and Ottawa have reached a deal that will see billions of dollars directed into immigration, skills training and post-secondary education, CTV News has learned.

MORE:

OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin promised Ontario $5.75 billion in additional federal financial support over the next five years after a marathon nine-hour meeting with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty on Saturday. The deal includes a new immigration agreement under which Ottawa will provide additional resources for settlement services and enhanced language training in Ontario for new immigrants. There is also a new labour market development agreement that will be included within 30 days as well as help for students and universities.