Harper's Complaint

The onslaught has begun. The Conservative Party will be flooding the airwaves in an avalanche of paid ads, right wing talk shows, and an unprecedented barrage of propaganda.

"A coup". Wrong. A change of government brought about because Mr Flaherty's economic statement - to borrow a phrase "the longest suicide note in history" - attacked the foundations of fiscal transparency, collective bargaining, women's rights, and the rights of political parties, and failed to address the central concern of Canadians, the economy.

"An agenda of Separatists and Socialists" - Wrong. A minimum programme on the economy and governing more openly shared by three political parties who disagree on important issues but who have agreed to set those differences aside to deal with a common challenge - a troubled economy and a stalemated parliament that need new leadership.

"An undemocratic process". Wrong. Parliament loses confidence in a government, the opposition decides to co-operate to avoid a second election in two months. It has happened before. It will happen again.

"Gives the Bloc a Veto Over Canada". Wrong - the Bloc has no more or less a veto than its fifty seats have always given it. It has agreed to let the government govern for eighteen months, and will vote confidence in the government. In return, the government agrees to focus on the economy and helping workers. No other concessions. Period.

"The Liberal Party has gone left". Wrong. The programme of the government is a Liberal programme. Jobs, help for people. Tax cuts will continue.

The Liberal led coalition will be governing in difficult times. It will need the goodwill of Canadians. It is clear that its very existence will be fiercely resisted by a Conservative Party that is lashing out, unable to admit that all this gnashing of teeth and snarling at the world could have been avoided. The most painful wounds are the ones that are self inflicted.