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Sweet taste of victory may sour for Tories
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Race
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| Contributor | Monsieur |
| Last Edited | Monsieur Oct 18, 2008 08:35pm |
| Category | Commentary |
| News Date | Oct 16, 2008 08:00pm |
| Description | UNDER THE GUISE of a second minority mandate, Canadians may have handed Conservative Leader Stephen Harper a poisoned chalice.
Over the next few years, it will be his dubious honour to steer the country through the first period of deep economic turmoil of the new century.
In sharp contrast with those of his predecessors who were unlucky enough to govern Canada in hard economic times, Harper will have to do so within the straitjacket of the zero-deficit creed.
Over the past decade, the notion of balancing the books has become an ironclad rule of federal politics. But it has never been tested during a period when the economy is hovering in negative territory.
As if that were not a tall enough order, Harper will have to weather the storm with one eye on an estranged Quebec that could quickly become a hotbed of dissatisfaction with his government.
For the biggest paradox of Tuesday’s victory is that, even as he has secured more seats than in the previous Parliament, Harper’s governing coalition is no more national in scope today than when the election was called.
It is still without representation from Montreal and Toronto, the country’s two biggest cities. Newfoundland and Labrador is also missing in action. |
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