In Harper’s Canada … A Budget Bill Isn’t Just A Budget
Pay close attention to Harper's "omnibus" bills. Those contain the bulk of his agenda. They're so big that he's hoping you don't even look. These bills are so multi-dimensional that…
Budget 2014
The Hand They Will Play
Its a good hand. A surplus for the election year. Taxes to cut, and money to wave in front of people. Not unbeatable, however: some creative policy, an economy that…
Another (budget) day, another dollar (cut): Canada’s slow-motion austerity
Yesterday’s federal budget was a non-event. Indeed, the no-surprises budget was itself no surprise: the Conservatives have long done their fiscal policy dirty work in omnibus bills and other dark…
Jimbo Flaherty and the Con Snake Oil Salesmen
I like to think that Jim Flaherty's recent illness has made him a better human being, because I'm a firm believer in the power of redemption.And he has come a…
In Harper’s World, Everything Is Partisan
Harper has turned everything into ‘partisan advantage’ in Ottawa. When Flaherty “asked” the opposition for “input” into the next budget, the letter was designed as less of a sincere request…