Peace in our time
Even in Quebec, to whom the rest of the country has the honour of forking over $4-billion more a year in hopes of persuading it not to kill us -- a transparent bribe that no one on either side of the transaction seems to have the slightest shame about -- political leaders of all stripes will say only that it's a good start, a "major step", a "temporary fix," but clearly not enough. Each argued it was proof of the necessity of voting Bloc/Liberal/PQ/ADQ/Conservative, on the basis of who was best at sucking money out of the feds. But it has not settled their demands, it has not satiated their appetites, because nothing ever can.
Meanwhile Ontario, as I predicted, is aggrieved that it will only be getting $xx billion in new transfers, and not the $yy-billion it would be getting if all of its demands were met. (It's a "good start," "real progress" etc, but "justice delayed is justice denied" and all that) But when those demands are met, it will not be long in thinking up new ones. Because that is what it has been taught to do. If it has been late in learning, it is now every inch the match of every other province in painting itself the victim of Confederation.
B.C. is upset because it loses equalization payments. Newfoundland and Nova Scotia are upset because they are not gaining any, or might not gain any, depending on which equalization option they choose (but we shouldn't have to choose! We should get both!). Saskatchewan is upset because, although it is getting $200 million more in equalization, it was promised $800 million more.
New Brunswick is peeved. Alberta can't figure out whether it's upset or not: it depends on whether you talk to the premier or the Finance minister. We haven't heard from Manitoba or PEI, but give 'em time. Give 'em time.
3/21/2007
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Andrew Potter has a similarly titled post over on his blog-- I believe he refers to Neville Flaherty as our Finance Min.
The one thing you have to remember AC is that this is a minority gov't. You only barely seem to acknowledge that. I'm not a Conservative supporter and my suspicion is that this is all fun and games in an attempt to win a majority, and once Harper has that majority you'll get what you've been asking for (EI, CPP reform, saying no to the Premiers etc etc). Brazen, craven, old style, call it what you like but Harper is playing the long game here.
Flaherty should tell the Provincial Finance Ministers that once all the Provinces have produced two consecutive balanced budgets, he'd be willing to have a meeting with them. That should take care of the next five years.
Will the last premier leaving the Royal Canadian Mint please turn off the lights...
I used to hang on every word regarding the budget. Now in my advanced years I am just happy to get a refund when I fill out my tax return. Past experience taught me to set my expectations pretty low and thank our lucky starts that we live in Canada and not in Africa or the Middle East.
Equalization-If I was the PM, I would get rid of the damn thing. Nothing makes the premiers happy, nothing at all. But what to do to make sure everyone is treated equal? Well if I knew that ......blah, blah, blah.
Just to end, I hate, dispise, destest, rage against the term Have/Have not province. All that term does is allow a provincial government and its population to become a: annoying about how great they are (Alberta/BC) or b: annoying about woe is me I'm soo poor, please feel sorry for me because I am too stupid or lazy to do the things required to get my province out of a downward spiral.
DMM - you are dead right about that have/have not thing. As long as provinces are measured relative to one another, at least half of the country will always be "have not". It's a ridiculous frame of reference in a federation like ours.