Dion and Layton: Throwing Canada’s Economy Under the Bus
October 8, 2008 · By Shane Edwards
This constant trumpeting by Dion and Layton that this economic crisis is somehow Harper’s fault, and they need to “act to save Canada” is fomenting panic.
The National Post, in endorsing Stephen Harper for Prime Minister, rightly points out two critical things: first, it is the government’s job to keep stability. As such, all of our leaders gunning for 24 Sussex should be working on positive spin and convincing Canadians that “everything is alright”. The way that Layton and Dion have been willing to trumpet from the rooftops, “The sky is falling! And it’s Harper’s fault!” is resulting in a worsening of the economic situation as Canadians grow more fearful - not of Harper, but of the economic impacts of the growing global financial crisis.
What is really being demonstrated by the other would-be PMs is an appalling lack of consideration for Canadians, in the interests of their own short term, personal gain. In other words, Dion and Layton are willing to throw Canada’s economy under the bus, if it means giving them a chance at unseating Stephen Harper.
The second thing that the National post points out, which should be at the forefront of Canada’s attention going into an election during volatile economic times is this: Stephen Harper is the only candidate for the Prime Minister’s Office who is an economist. Think about that. Dion is a Sociologist. Layton is a Lawyer. When your nation’s biggest trading partner is facing a massive financial crisis and global markets are shaking over the impacts of this, would you rather have a social sciences prof, a lawyer, or a trained economist in charge of the government?
There are lots of other reasons to pick Harper for PM. But to me, this is the biggest.
Update: leave it to the banks, full of economists, to fight the chicken littles:
- RBC via Andrew Coyne, also Rootle’s comments.
I’d rather have someone who encourages open communication. This problem isn’t going to be solved by one economist - it’s only going to be solved by many people communicating openly and honestly, with a clear strategy to resolve the situation. I don’t care if the PM is an economist or not - only that there are many highly-qualified, appropriately trained people working together to deal with it.
So far, I haven’t seen any strategy put forth, but it’s early days yet. This crisis has come on so strongly and quickly that I can understand that it’s taken everyone off-guard. What I don’t see, however, is anything resembling communication within Conservative ranks.
And a platform release is not communication?
I don’t hear solutions from Layton and Dion. I hear panic and blame. I don’t hear how driving business out of Canada (on Layton’s part) will help avoid a recession in Canada. I don’t hear how implementing a carbon tax on industry is going to encourage growth in our economy by Dion.
Another thing the media is conveniently overlooking is that oil is driving our economy right now, since a lot of manufacturing in Ontario was centered around trade with the USA and that has gone in the crapper. Hence, when oil drops, our dollar drops. Yes, a lower dollar makes us more competitive, but think about it: how is it a good idea to kick the crap out of the West with a new NEP when more than ever, your national economy is riding on the backs of the energy producers?
No, a platform release is not a substitute for real communication. If you really think it is, then you hold your government to astonishingly low standards.
Yep, the manufacturing sector in Ontario, driven by the export of gas-guzzling SUVs for Americans, is toast. Commodity prices are also heading for the toilet - I doubt we can rely on oil to pull us out of this one.
This is no NEP. Not even close. Get over it.
Shane,
I see nothing in that article that convinces me that things are fine and dandy.
Two things:
1) Layton and Dion are deceiving the public by recommending government intervention
2) any harm created by lowly voters panicking is not going to make a difference in a panic situation
My sympatico home page is making me ill with their campaign of slandering the Conservatives and puffing up the liberals, in fact, they are stepping up the pace more than usual these days as we get closer to the election. Too bad they don’t allow an open forum on the assinine articles they put up.
Likewise, my local newspaper, which is wanting for letters to the editor, refuse to publish letters unfavourable to the liberals. On the rare times that they allow one to sneak through, THEY CHANGE THE WORDING OF THE LETTERS. The media’s bias is beyond the pale at the best of times, during an election it is unbearable.
[...] up on Shane’s recent post - clearly Layton and Dion want the economy to falter, so they can rub Harper’s nose in it. [...]
Layton and Dion want a bad economy because it makes people dependent on government. If the economy is doing too well while socialists like them are in power, they will simply raise taxes for redistribution and broader dependence. Why don’t all the little people appreciate these great men?