Angry in the Great White North
The Liberals give us a reason to keep them in power for twenty years
Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 11:03 PM

Read other posts by Steve Janke published by the National Post
Leader

A successful industry? (click to enlarge)

The Liberal game plan of showing us the benefits of long-term and uninterrupted Liberal government that are put at risk by "politics" is in full swing.

That's always the way with institutional ruling parties. They need time and minimal distractions. And if the voters cut short their time, or distract them with elections and inquiries and such, then they are hurting themselves.

This isn't an election promise. It's electoral extortion.

In this case, it is a threat that unless the Liberals are elected, and maintain power for the next two decades, Quebec's opportunities to enjoy the maximum benefit from aerospace and defence spending will be threatened by the Conservatives and their ally, the free market.


Main Story

Here is the grand idea that will make us vote for the big "L" for the next twenty years:

The federal Liberals say they want to introduce a 20-year framework to help Canada's aerospace and defence industries.

Transport Minister Jean Lapierre says the plan is aimed at helping leaders identify where and how the industries can be globally competitive.

Yet another example of the Liberal government stepping in to do a job being done by someone else. In this case, that "someone else" is the free market. The free market identifies where and how the industries are competitive.

But then the free market is something that the Conservative Party constantly points at as the cure for all our ills. Liberals know better.

So what sort of successful industries can the Liberal government pick?

In defence, presumably we can expect the Liberals to pick companies that make fire extinguishers for submarines that burst into flame when submerged in water to do well.

Aerospace? Well, the graphic shows why a plan like this is absurd. Flying cars? Those were a given! Back in 1957, we knew it was just a matter of time.

Mr. Lapierre said Friday that it is important for the government to support industries that make real and lasting contributions to communities and regions across the country.

Completely backwards. Government doesn't support industry. The marketplace supports industry. Government supports the market with a rational, market-friendly tax structure. The end result is that communities and regions across the country benefit.

But then the government can't control exactly which regions, and the Liberals need that control:

The Liberals will be hoping the plan gives them a boost in Quebec, which has a significant presence in the aerospace industry.

Several companies, including Bombardier Inc. and Pratt & Whitney, are major employers in the province.

And so we're back to the real reason. Lapierre and the Liberals couldn't care less that a solid Conservative riding in Alberta enjoys lasting contributions from aerospace and defence. But Quebec, well...Quebec matters.

So voters in Quebec are being offered a promise of a twenty year plan to be implemented and paid for by the federal government, using tax money from every part of the country, to make sure their aerospace and defence industries are successful.

For successful, read subsidized.

And all they have to do is keep the Liberals in power for another twenty years.

Search for more opinions from Canadian bloggers on these related keywords