If the GST cut is coming tomorrow, does that mean the Stephane Dion's clever trap has worked?
Jim Flaherty is supposed to be delivering his economic update tomorrow. We'll find out if the much-anticipated GST cut is going to be announced tomorrow. If this tax cut is in the update, does that mean Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion's clever trap has caught Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government?
From CKNW news via email:
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says he will issue fall economic statement tomorrow.
Will this be the GST cut? Despite months of staking out the position that a GST cut would hurt Canada' poor, Stephane Dion has already said that he would not bring down the government over a GST cut promised by the Conservatives.
So the Conservatives have to think that creating a situation in which Stephane Dion has to allow a government action to pass that he opposes in order to avoid an election will sow even more discontent within the Liberal Party.
But what if it is a trap? Why would Stephane Dion have conceded the GST-cut vote even before any legislation was actually presented? Is it to entice the Conservatives to offer up a cut, and then bring the Tories down?
I'm bored with Stephane Dion being described as an ineffectual leader. For a break from our regular programming, I'm going to hold to the theory that inasmuch as the GST cut is concerned, Stephane Dion has been cleverly playing the Conservatives for fools. We'll see tomorrow if Jim Flaherty has fallen for it.
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Comments
Personally, I'm delighted at the prospect of a GST cut. Anything Jeffrey Simpson is opposed to, I support.
Posted by: Frank Hilliard at October 29, 2007 04:02 PM
Ha, re: Angry's last post, I wonder if JefFy Simpleton is going to resign as a member of the Liberal party in a huffy Globe article soon.
Posted by: Greg at October 29, 2007 04:15 PM
I'm absolutely in favor of the GST cut, and if Dion has suddenly developed Chretien-like political savvy, let's go to the polls!
Posted by: dmorris at October 29, 2007 06:57 PM
Voting against any tax cut and taking it to an election is not too smart no matter what the game plan. It's a sure loser. Sure wouldn't put Jeffy Simpson in any winning circle.
Dion's "clever trap"? Isn't that a bit of an oxymoronic statement given his dismal handling of things so far?
The Liberals are not in any position to go to an election and certainly nothing they've been doing has given us any indication they'd be capable of setting any clever traps.
As the song goes, "fools rush in where wise men fear to tread", so if they wish to play the fools so be it, they'll find out they aren't dealing with fools in the Harper led Conservatives.
Posted by: Libby at October 29, 2007 07:35 PM
So, let me get this straight: you're hypothesizing that Dion and the Libs are intending to bring on a federal election due to their opposition to a (marginal) tax cut? After the leader pledged not to oppose the same (marginal) tax cut? O-Kay...
So, in view of the Commons party standings, are any of the other parties going to help them? The Libs can't defeat the gov't alone, so...which other party is in with them on this horrible 'trap' to lure the Conservatives into fighting an election over their plan for tax cuts?
Posted by: Lorne at October 29, 2007 08:11 PM
Reducing the GST was one of the main planks of the Tory's platform last election. I don't see how Dion can benifit from Harper doing exactly what he promised in this regard. As far as I'm concerned, there is not much Dion can do to remedy his pathetic leaderhsip situation as he has already been defined, and with good reason. I know its boring to hear it, but its the truth.
I can appreciate you playing devil's advocate though. ;)
Posted by: Kai Wolf at October 29, 2007 09:33 PM
so where are those personal tax cuts?
what about the double tax on gas?
what about the rest of 20 billion surplus?
how long govn't will steal my money by taxing me to death?
Posted by: george at October 30, 2007 12:15 AM
George, bang on! When in opposition, Harper harped on many of those things you list. Sure, I'm in favour of a GST cut but it has to be accompanied by BROAD-based tax relief and no more of the niche, boutique type cuts like we've seen.
Continue to fiddle while Rome burns and it'll keep burning, ie declining productivity. Put the fire out, ie reduce the tax load, and we'll see a Rome rise up unlike anything we could ever have imagined.
Posted by: Phil in Ottawa at October 30, 2007 06:46 AM
I'd rather an income tax rate cut but better than a kick in the head.
Posted by: DrWright at October 30, 2007 01:07 PM
*
yeah... let's all scarf down some peyote and celebrate
the genius of stephane dion.
*
Posted by: neo at October 30, 2007 06:29 PM
Mr. Flaherty's devious smile in picture posted on National Post.
Instead of trying to engage Liberals and NDP in ideological war over; property rights, gun control, death penalty, abortion, law and order and host of other conservative themes Harper decided to go for kneecaps of any future Liberal government and cut taxes.
This is nightmare come true for Liberals who used to buy votes with taxpayer's money. Harper obviously can afford such move as conservative supporters vote with their wallets as much as they vote with their feet. Harper can easily expect that reduction in Personal Income Taxes will translate into increased donations to CPC. With new caps on political donations Liberal found the hard way that even if they were able to buy votes with taxpayer's money they are unable to convince people who voted for them to donate to their cause.
Whole Red Liberal Machine was built on being the middleman and taking from Dave to pay Paul and donations to a political cause was never a part of Liberal vocabulary.
This latest Harper's move is scaring Liberals to a point that they lose all common sense if they ever had any.
One just have to read today's Toronto Star (The Red Star Canadian Edition) and their Editorial "Tax cuts carry too high a price" to come to such conclusions.
Cheers.
Posted by: Karol Karolak at October 30, 2007 10:17 PM
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