Mario Dumont and the right of centre Action Democratique du Quebec surging from 5 to 41 seats to become the Official Opposition in the Quebec National Assembly will buoy the federal Conservatives' hopes of forming a majority in the next federal election. Stephen's already riding high above Stephane and the Liberals by 4-6%.
The Parti Quebecois is kinda in tatters which doesnt bode well for the Bloc in Ottawa. This could very well be a preview of the next federal election. If the Bloc leaves Ottawa (remember that they were elected, en masse, in 1993 to get sovereignty for Quebec), that would mean Quebec would once again be a battleground for the Liberals and the Conservatives. Stephen Harper's made lots of overtures to Quebec in the last two years and Mario Dumont's win can partly be attributed to Harper. If Quebecers will vote for the ADQ, they'll vote for Stephen and the Conservatives federally. Quebec's no longer the domain of the separatists and the federalist Liberals. Maybe this is the last phase of the Quiet Revolution which doesnt lead to separation and sovereignty but to a very decentralized Canadian federalism.
The Canadian political landscape definitely changed when the Reform Party finally killed the traditional Progressive Conservatives to come up with one federal Conservative party. Like I said this time last year, Stephen's played his cards well, very well. He's governed to give the impression of moderation and level headedness. He's stayed away from hot button issues like abortion, putting to rest gay marriage while, like any good demagogue, scaring the public and making them think theyre unsafe by always talking about public safety with his party's focus on "safe communities" and sending Canadian troops to Afghanistan as a sign Canada is a real player in world affairs.
He's quickly fixed missteps like shuffling Rona Ambrose out of the environment portfolio and adopting a green platform youd think he was a vegan who made his own tahini. And he declared Quebec a nation (sure, albeit within Canada but a nation nonetheless). His politics has perfectly balanced the desire of Albertan and Quebec separatists. Theyre like two big immature kids. There's tall and lumbering and socially awkward Alberta with its fascination of guns and a big wad of cash because he's got oil sands money. He doesnt need an allowance from Ottawa so he wants to be able to do anything he wants. Then there's Quebec who's got his headphones on all the time, reading Nietzche or Sartre or sumin like that who's sad cause no one understands him, no one really gets him. Both want to be left alone in their own room. Neither province seem to understand what it means to be members of a nation.
Steve must be patting Jimmy Flaherty on the Hill this morning: "Good job with fixing that equalization payment imbalance! Good job." This is probably followed by the two of them shooting a deer and calling George Bush over for dinner.
Poor Andre. Even if he prolly will be remembered as the man who killed the PQ, hopefully he can take comfort in the fact he's better looking than either Charest or Dumont.
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