Over the next several weeks, our Government will be undertaking a cross-country tour, meeting with Canadians as we enter Phase II of Canada’s Economic Action Plan and leading up to the Throne Speech on March 3rd and the federal Budget on March 4th.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and a number of my other Cabinet colleagues, including myself, will be meeting with and hearing from Canadian families, homeowners, workers, business-owners and industries across the country about how best to meet our economic goals.
Paul Wells wrote yesterday about the various means by which Harper's Tories intended to co-opt Liberal strategy, but he doesn't mention Iggy's much derided plan for a "listening tour", so I am thinking this has been cobbled together rather hastily to demonstrate that yes indeed the government is "working for Canadians". Consider this quote from the Tory website (dated January 02,2010), which contrasts Iggy's gallivanting with the steady, stay at home Harper and co.:
As Michael Ignatieff travels the country promising lavish new spending, the result such reckless policies would be higher taxes for everyone.
Our Conservative Government will remain committed to responsible economic leadership by continuing to carry out Canada’s Economic Action Plan. We will always work in the best interest of Canadians, their families and our economy.
But that was then and this is now, right?
Incidentally, last Kady night posted an interesting analysis of the recent EKO poll results. One bit stood out:
Regionally, Atlantic Canadians were more likely to characterize themselves as "strongly opposed" [to prorogation] than denizens of any other province...
Not surprising, when you think of it. This is a region of the country that has long been derided by Western Conservatives (including Mr. Harper himself in an earlier incarnation) for being lazy no-goods, and now you've got a gov. straight outta Calgary that's awarded itself a three month vacation. That's gotta grate. Bums from out West, anyone?
