All eyes will be on Parliament Hill over the next month as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and New Democrat leader Jack Layton begin a game of let's make a deal to see if a spring election is in the cards.
Both the Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois seem intent to vote against the federal budget, expected to be tabled by the Conservatives in March. If that happens, then it appears the only thing saving Canadians from going to the polls is if Layton and Harper can find some common ground on the budget and the NDP supports the budget bill.
In recent days, both leaders have been meeting and discussing their options. The fact that Layton is talking with Harper could be an indication that the NDP wants no part of an election and knows that if they do head to the polls, it's not going to be a good move for their party.
But we think that could be said for all four parties. Do Canadians really want another election? Recent polls would suggest Canadians are not feeling an election is necessary. And if, following the budget debate, one was called for early May, polls suggest that we would see another minority Tory government. A few seats would be shifted around and we may see a few new faces in Parliament, but essentially we would be left with exactly what we have now. So why spend millions of unnecessary dollars for a supposed change that will just stay the same? It doesn't make any sense.
And do the Conservatives want an election? Depending on who you ask, they can't seem to make up their minds. On one hand, both the Conservatives and Liberals have been going back and forth the past few months with vicious attack ads, suggesting that the parties are both, in fact, preparing for an election. Yet if you ask our member of Parliament John Weston, the Conservatives don't want an election and are prepared to govern and move Canada forward.
Harper himself, this week during a stop in B.C., said he didn't want an election either and wants to make Parliament work. So if that is, in fact, the case, why all the attack ads in the first place? Let's face it - trying to figure out Parliament these days is not an easy task. Our politicians are flip-flopping all over the place in their quest for power.
We would suggest that they all stop that quest and do what they were all elected to do in the first place - make Parliament work and get down to work to make this country better. Stop all the election talk and get down to business.
