The Envelope Please

January 9th, 2006 | Tags:

Solberg, who has asked for an official probe by the federal ethics commissioner into the income-trust matter, says the Conservatives don’t want to reveal their fiscal plan until they have unveiled all their unreleased platform planks.
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The Liberals are after the Tories on the cost of the Harper promises. Now you cannot help but admire the gall of a party which slips on the fiscal hairshirt after a pre-election spending spree of around 25 billion dollars.

But why is Monte being coy?

It is barely possible that Canadians have finally woken up to the fact that politicians of all stripes spend much of a campaign coming up with clever spending ideas which, as there is no other source of funds, will come out of those voter pockets. Playing the dance of the seven veils leaves a rather bad taste in the mouths of voters.

When it comes down to it, the taxpayer has at least some right to know how his or her pocket will be picked. Keeping the cost projections a deep dark secret leaves the Tories open to this sort of shot,

NDP finance critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis says neither the Tory nor Liberal numbers can be trusted.

“It’s pretty clear that Stephen Harper didn’t cost out his plan,” she said in a statement.

“And it’s pretty rich for the Liberals to criticize them — given that they’ve been wrong with their numbers for years.”
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We’ve come to expect this from the Liberals, Solberg is bright enough to know that keeping obvious stuff a secret simply annoys voters. The CPC has the opportunity to do things a little differently beginning with hard costs on their promises. Pity they seem to be avoiding that opportunity.

  1. January 9th, 2006 at 20:25
    Reply | Quote | #1

    Frikking Torbranos. It’s like they are lying to us, too.

  2. January 10th, 2006 at 05:38
    Reply | Quote | #2

    I appreciate this point. It appears not that many people have picked up on it, and it’s always a pleasure to read some fresh news.
    My guess is that the CPC is having success grabbing headlines nationwide each time they unveil a new plank, and so the intention is to keep up that momentum by keeping mum on what’s yet to come. After all, the newspapers won’t discuss things that aren’t news. This sort of method of disclosure means that they won’t just dominate the news for a day, and then be off the front pages.
    cheers,
    lecentre from centrerion.blogspot.com

  3. annextraitor
    January 10th, 2006 at 12:36
    Reply | Quote | #3

    Repeal the NWC eh?

    Jay, your prediction is looking more and more accurate. CPC definitely will be reduced to 50 seats.

    In Toronto!

    OK well actually in Ontario as a whole (there aren’t quite 50 seats in 416, though there are in GTA). Combine 43% Ekos with NWC repeal, and things are looking rather good!

  4. jay
    January 10th, 2006 at 14:20
    Reply | Quote | #4

    Wobble

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