-- National Post, March 13.

We're back! Thanks Orin, that was really smokin'. What do you call that? Something you boys been working on?

"Funk You Very Much." Yeah, it's just a thing, you know.

Yeah, well, funk you! (Audience: Laughs, fitfully.) My next guest has been a fixture on the Ontario political scene for many years. You got to know her first as the province's minister of social services, later as minister of education. More recently, she's been appearing as the Minister of Finance, where they tell me she's been testing off the charts.

Give it up, please, Janet Ecker! For Janet Ecker! I meant, give it up for Janet Ecker! (Audience: Applauds, bewildered. Band plays "The Lady in Red.") Thank you! Hi! Great to see you!

First off, I wanna say thank you for being on our show. This is a first, I believe. And my bookers didn't even have to call you.

Well, we wanted to try something new, something a little different, a little "edgy." And when I saw Carolyn Parrish's appearance, I don't know, a little light clicked on.

She's a feisty chick.

Yeah, I mean I didn't actually watch or anything, but I heard she rocked.

Orin, what do you say? Did she rock?

Yeah, Mike. She rocked. (Audience: Nervous laughter.)

Now, you're not just here to shoot the breeze, are you? Anything you want to plug while you're here?

Actually, now that you mention it ... (Audience: Scattered laughs,

applause.)

I had to ask.

I'm bringing down ... a new budget! (Audience: Applauds, reflexively.)

Whoa. That's great, that's really great. Do we have a clip? Do you want to set this up for us?

I don't know, I'm not really sure which one it is. Anyway, I play the part of a frustrated Red Tory, whose ambitions are finally liberated by the arrival of a caring new premier, played by Ernie Eves. Hey, good to see he's working again. Now, before we show the clip, I understand this budget is going to be premiering on ... another network.

That's right. Ha, ha.

A bit unusual, isn't it?

How's that?

Aren't these things usually read out in the provincial legislature?

Oh, Mike, that is, like, so old media! I mean, the legislature hasn't sat in, what, four months? I wouldn't even know where to stand.

Well, like they say, where you stand depends on where you sit.

(Audience: Silence.)

... Anyway. We want to present the budget directly to the people in a new way -- a direct conversation with the people of Ontario. We'll have about 200 hand-picked "average Ontarians" in the studio, a cross- section of racial and sexual diversity, every one of them, and not in any way affiliated with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario!

(Audience: Cheers.) And we'll be carrying it live via interactive satellite and the Internet, so people can ask questions via e-mail and debate in the chat room.

Some would say that was the responsibility of elected legislators.

I just told you, the House isn't sitting.

Well, why not?

Because we're bringing down a budget.

But how can you have a budget without a legislature to debate and pass it?

Mike, Mike, there'll be plenty of time for that after the House reconvenes.

And when will that be?

Well, there's a Throne Speech scheduled for April 30. Unless ...

Unless what?

No, no. I've said too much already. Let's just put it this way: Four years is a long time between elections.

But this makes a mockery of the whole parliamentary system! You've turned the budget into an infomercial! I mean, if you can bypass the House for a budget, the single most important item on the legislative calendar, then, well, what's the point? Why have debates -- When was the last time you saw a real debate in the House, Mike?

-- or votes -- They're all whipped anyway.

-- or legislation? Why not just rule by fiat? We can't have a system where you can just stay on year after year, talking to a roomful of sycophants, no matter how unpopular you are or how stale your ideas have become, but solely because a handful of powerful people have decided that's how it's going to be.

I don't know, it works for you ...