The Debatable Land

Message from Ottawa

Andrew Coyne defends Stephen Harper from his critics. Or at least, from some of them:

While this laissez-faire, do-nothing government contents itself with spending more than any government in the history of Canada — 25% more, after inflation and population growth, than at the start of the decade — and pumping tens of billions of dollars into the banking system, what Canadians demand is “stimulus.” And stimulus, we all know, in a sophisticated, 21st century economy, can be delivered in only one way: by hiring large numbers of unionized men to dig holes in the ground (see “infrastructure.”) Loosening monetary policy doesn’t count. Tax cuts don’t count. It only counts as “stimulus” if the government spends it.

Or rather, it only counts as stimulus if a Liberal government spends it. The Tories have already promised to deliver billions more in “stimulus” in the next budget. But that’s, like, 58 days from now. We can’t possibly wait until then. We cannot wait to see how the economic situation evolves, or what effect the extraordinary series of measures countries around the world have taken to date will have. We cannot wait to see what the Americans will do. By then the polls might have shifted. By then the crisis might have passed. The government must fall now — so that it can fall again in a month’s time.

Obviously this be Canada and, again, Canada ain't Britain. But there are some similarities here: like their Canadian brethren, tthe Tories need to defend themselves against charges that they'd "do nothing". If only this were so, since doing nothing may often be preferable to doing something that won't or even might not work. And "wait and see" at least has a pleasing modesty about it too. No, better by far to be seen to be doing something right now regardless of any real assessment of this cobbled-together plan's chances of success.

Oh, Canada...

I'd been meaning to blog about the Canadian elections but then realised that, dash it, despite Canada actually being an interesting place stocked with charming, affable people I really didn't have very much to say beyond, "hmm, Canada is having another election". The BBC evidently thought so too since the elections didn't make the 10 o'clock news last night. Poor form, I think. Still, it's curious that Canada receives almost no foreign coverage, even in Britain where there are, after all, plenty of people with Canadian relatives or connections.

Anyway, it seems that Stephen Harper has not quite pulled it off. ie, the Conservatives have improved their position, but are still short of an overall majority. On the other hand, it seems to have been another brutal night for the Liberal party, down to just 76 seats.

One thing to be said for Canada this time: their election was a quick affair unlike the American or, increasingly, the British systems. We've got an 18 month campaign to look forward to before the great El Gordo vs the Boy Dave face-off.

UPDATE: As you might expect, David Frum has some good analysis, making the case that this was, in the circumstances, a very good result for Harper.

Happy Birthday Canada!

To all my Canadian pals - and especially those far from their native heath - here's some video for you to enjoy.