Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW
He also offers his thoughtful perspective of Stephen Harper’s last 10 years in his recent eBook, The Harper Decade.

Categories: Capital Read, Inkless Wells

"Equally unhelpful would be to repeat the lines in today's Globe and Mail"

by Paul Wells on Friday, November 27, 2009 10:27am - 67 Comments

That thing about boxing the Liberals in by making them decide federal tax policy? Never mind. Here, via the Inkless emailbox, are today’s Conservative talking points, which repeal yesterday’s Conservative talking points. So it’s flip-flop week for the government! I greatly fear Stephen Harper will cancel his Copenhagen trip, hike the GST, declare the Québécois an “un-nation” and introduce a carbon tax before sundown.

Subject: Provincial tax-choice and the Liberals / Le choix fiscal des provinces et les libéraux

Dear Caucus Members:

A front-page story in the Globe and Mail gives an unfortunate and inaccurate impression of our tax-harmonization framework policy.

The Government will introduce a tax-harmonization framework in order to respect provincial decision-making and to honour commitments made to Premiers McGuinty and Campbell.

Contrary to what the story implies, we are not proceeding in this manner to embarrass, box in or gain an advantage over the federal Liberals. Indeed, the Finance Minister and the House Leader have already reached out to the Liberal Caucus in an effort to address the legislation in a fair and reasonable way. Similarly, the PMO and the BC and Ontario premiers’ offices have been cooperating on how to move forward in a reasonable and constructive manner.

We have too much respect for provincial rights to treat this issue as a political football. Our goal is to secure Official Opposition support for the provincial-choice framework, not to score cheap points.

To this end, Caucus members are urged to say nothing — to national or local media — about the Liberal position on the framework or about the implications for the Liberal Party. Equally unhelpful would be to repeat the lines in today’s Globe and Mail article. Please give the House Leader and Finance Minister the space they need to work with MPs across the aisle.

A housekeeping note: This week Inkless Wells has been happy to bring you talking points from the NDP, Liberals and Conservatives in that order. We eagerly await something fun from the Bloc. So far it has been a 19-year wait.

Tags: hst, open mouth to switch feet, Stephen Harper, whoopsie

More by Paul Wells

http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

The good news is you probably won't have to wait another 19 years. One way or another, I would expect the Bloc to be long gone by then. My guess is that it will be like the Ralliement créditistes; they will simply fade away to be replaced by a new fad, but who knows?

Anon Liberal

BQ election results:

1993 – 54 seats
1997 – 44 seats
2000 – 38 seats
2004 – 54 seats
2006 – 51 seats
2008 – 49 seats

http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

So? I did say anything would happen overnight…

Dan

"My personal view is that the Bloc Quebecois as we know it will not exist at the end of this Parliament." Stephen Harper. January 5th, 1994
http://coyne kc

Harper’s the New Jersey Devils of politics. His strategic goal is of course to win. There are a number of ways you can do this, but they all result in scoring more goals than the other guy. Harper’s chosen method seems to be do everything possible to shut down the other guys and hope one bounces in off the water bottle…eventually. And it really doeasn’t matter how long this takes; It doesn’t matter than a lot of people who love the game would rather hit themselves over the head with a hammer than be forced to watch another period; just make sure you clog up the middle and wear everyone else down. Of course many of us think the point of the game [ and govt] is to concentrate on working harder than the other guy, make fewer mistakes “and” score more goals [ try to get good policy implemented] Not, simply clog up the middle, make the game [politics] so boring we all stay home, [ don't vote and or threaten to vote green] and take our puck home if things aren’t going our way, [ prorougue parliament] bribe the ref, and generally pretend the object of the game is keep away. [ deny liberals] Get out there and score some goals PM… if you can. And be a man, except you wins and defeats with equal grace – it’s called leadership – rather then make a vote for you merely the least worst option out of choices you’ve had no small part in helping to bring about.

Ahem…i was of course always an oilers fan, and my antipathy for Harper stems from his connections with Calgary…nothing else…how Canadian is that?

burlivespipe

Just wondering why Harper wasn't so keen on supporting the province's agreement on Kelowna…

http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

I am confused. Are Cons just trying to change their HST spin or is this an actual change in their plans to 'introduce tax-harmonization framework'.

Is legislation still happening next week or not?
Richard

We have too much respect for provincial rights…
For consistency's sake, they should, therefore, acquiesce to Dexter's plan to raise the HST in Nova Scotia, right?
Anon

Seems like some tortuous logic going on at Langevin. Either that, or the person who wrote the G&M reported memo, is in line for some Talibanesque torture. If you spot a Tory MP or staffer on crutches or sporting a cast, you'll know who it was.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Blamo Blamo

To Conservative MPs:
"Comrades!
The G&M has pointed out that this policy looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck. Do not be fooled! THIS IS NOT A DUCK.
We are of course a much too principled party to ever decend to such cheap, sully politics.
Carry on."
catherine

We should stick to today's memo and forget about yesterday's "briefing memo"? Perhaps we should wait for tomorrow's.

Yesterday's memo seemed pretty clear, but probably Harper wanted the press to make it appear that Ignatieff just happened to land on the hot seat somehow while Harper was busy making Parliament work.
Ted

I'm guessing that a certain Premier Campbell and a certain Premier McGuinty might have had a telephone call last night with the person claiming to be our Prime Minister about his gamemanship.

Too clever by half? Perhaps?

With over half the Canadian population affected by this legislation, you would think that Harper would have learned to stop playing games and that he, despite all his efforts to make us think the opposite, is the Prime Minister, not Michael Ignatieff. At least not yet.
Holly Stick

So Harper doesn't watch Canadian news on TV, but he reads Canadian newspapers?

TedTylerEzro

To be fair, that's probably a good decision.

Michael

Looks like this week is "Debasing the term Flip Flop Week"

* Harper says he's not going unless ALL major leaders go. Obama's announcement reaches that pre-condition.

* Gov't commits to Ont/BC a vote on the HST deal. The gov't announced they won't box in the Liberals by making it a confidence vote. The Globe figures they've boxed the Liberals in by NOT making it a confidence vote.

Next week can we return to rational use of the term?

Ted

I agree with Michael here.

Going to Copenhagen after saying he wouldn't is less a flip flop than a lack of leadership, showing him to be a follower, and even further blowing up his campaign promise of a "made in Canada" environmental plan that did not involve international deals.

And his decision to introduce unnecessarily legislation and play political games with a tax that will have a significant impact on over half the population is not a flip flop at all but standard fare. Harper consistently prefers to make governance about Ignatieff instead of Canadians. The difference here is he'd be backstabbing two provinces with whom he pushed hard for HST and with whom he committed to get this implemented.

So, I agree with Michael. These are more like broken promises and failed leadership than true flip flops.

Michael

Non-agreeing agreement? Definitely an improvement over hyper-ventilating, Ted.

Looking for failed leadership, try East Anglia.

As for broken promises. You really think Campbell or McGuinty asked for a non-confidence vote and a federal election over this???

Greg

We have always been at war with Eurasia.
Mulletaur

I feel a spring election coming on …

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

You always feel an election coming on. ;-)

wilson

It's a minority Parliament. And like the Afghan mission, the HST issue should go to the HoC for a vote even if not required.
There was a time when the opps demanded Harper not govern like he had a majority.

If Liberals want to avoid responsibility for making critical decision,
then why do they want to win government?

Ted

If Harper wants to avoid responsibility for making critical decisions, then why does he want to stay in government?

The "framework" legislation was already passed for this. Why would Harper try to pass it again except to avoid taking responsibility?

kathryn c

He doesn't want to go to an election wearing the Harper Sales Tax.

http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

Perhaps the opp parties should all abstain from voting and let Harper wear it.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

My impression is that the NDP will vote against it, no matter what.

http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

"They parlayed anger on the HST to a byelection victory in British Columbia. Now, the federal NDP wants to take that tax protest across the country. Over the next 15 weeks, NDP politicians plan to infiltrate the minds of shoppers as they prepare for the holidays. They’ll be reminding them that unless they take action, their bills will be higher a year from now because of the harmonized sales tax.

And after Christmas, New Democrats will be going door to door, especially in weak Tory ridings, to make their case." Canadian Press, Nov 25

I think that's safe assumption.

Michael

Cuz we all know that the Liberals abstaining increases their support level.

Ont/BC and the feds agreed this would go to the Commons. If 3 parties oppose it won't pass. This is more tic-tac-tac than chess folks. Carry on with the crazy talk if you must.

Ted

Where did they agree it would go to the Commons?

The Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act seems to make that unnecessary.

Michael

Twister Knickers redux: Not so long ago (Oct 14) ITQ was telling folks to chill out the crazy talk about Harper boxing up the Liberals by making the promised vote non-confidence:

"at least he can provide tea and sympathy to the current minister should the prime minister go ahead with what the NDP’s Nathan Cullen keeps insisting is his secret plan to induce an election by bringing in legislation to formalize the HST deal with British Columbia before the end of the year. (Seriously, does that make any sense to anyone at all? Because from the perspective of the government — or, really, any party other than the NDP, ITQ can’t think of a worse way to go down.) "

If the Liberals see con AND non-con as boxing them up, maybe they just like living in a box.
oppoguy

Harper is trying to keep any more of his MPs from shooting their mouths off against his HST.

Conservaitves are feeling the heat from constituents who are saying they will vote New Democrat next time.

The Conservative response is pure politics: Forge full-steam ahead with the unpopular HST, but try to make the Liberals wear it. But this one is a sweater made for two.
Michael

WELLS, Which of the following complete set of quotes from the Globe article do you imagine the gov't is repudiating? You do know they're advising MP's not to step into the lather Ibbitson worked up around those sane quotes?

“Parliament's decision on the framework legislation will be certain and final”

“This legislation will have the support of the Official Opposition or it will not. If it does, we expect the bill to win approval before the Christmas recess"

“If the framework legislation is rejected before Christmas, we will not revisit the issue. Not next year. Not after the next election.”

“This is not a complicated issue… Either Parliament supports the right of provinces to choose a harmonized value-added tax or it does not.”

“this legislative change does not affect federal revenue or spending and is therefore not a confidence measure”

http://intensedebate.com/people/Inkless Inkless

I have it on the highest authority that you're being unhelpful by repeating those lines.

Michael

Good thing they weren't counting on YOU grasping that warning about Ibbitson's lines.

Ted

Federal Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Part III.1 Sales Tax Harmonization Agreement

8.3 (1) The Minister, with the approval of the Governor in Council, may on behalf of the Government of Canada enter into an agreement or arrangement with the government of a province respecting sales taxes.

8.4 Where the Government of Canada has entered into a sales tax harmonization agreement with the government of a province, the federal Minister who, pursuant to the agreement, is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the system of taxation contemplated under the agreement may pay to a province out of amounts received in a fiscal year under Part IX of the Excise Tax Act (a) amounts determined in accordance with the agreement as provided, and at such times as are specified, in the agreement; and (b) subject to the regulations, advances in respect of the amounts referred to in paragraph (a).

8.6. Notwithstanding any other Act, the payments paid under a sales tax harmonization agreement under the authority of section 8.4 or 8.5 may be made without any other or further appropriation or authority.

Style

Kris in KW says it's an amendment to the Excise Tax Act. Yesterday's Globe said it was to clarify provincial powers.

Ted

Either way, it is not necessary.

Harper is passing the buck

http://intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

I think they're going to give provinces the power to decide what products or services are exempt from the provincial portion of the HST. Call it a hunch.

Mike514

Somebody should show today's Tory email to the CBC. They're obviously a day late in reporting the events.

Their news website recently put up the headline "Tories set to introduce HST bill."
Style

You're half an hour late in your reporting, apparently. The Tories have scheduled an HST bill. It's not clear how they are working with the opposition to have it passed.
Chuck vs. Macleans

The Bloc will support the government on the HST..

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&a…
http://intensedebate.com/people/Blamo Blamo

"Contrary to what it looks like, we are not doing what it appears we are doing. The fact what we say this makes it so. Now carry on as normal."
Dot

That was almost too slow.

Andre

"McLeans', bringing you Flip-Flop news on the hour!"

http://intensedebate.com/people/psiclone psiclone

You gotta give credit where credit is due – when it comes to running circles around his opponents harper is a true master : just read some of these posts and the ones at TGM – ROFL!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Blamo Blamo

Yeah, if the future of the country and livlihoods of tens of millions of people weren't at stake, then this would be a good thing.
Governing is grown-up activity. If Harper is not up to it, then he should retire to the chess circuit and leave governing up to people who are serious about it.

Mike514

The future of the country relies on passing the HST in Ontario and BC?

The livelihood of tens of millions relies on the HST?

Where are you getting your facts?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Blamo Blamo

Taxes reduce the amount of money people have to spend and thus to maintain their livelihoods. Tens of millions of people live in Ontario and BC.
The future of the country has less to do with this particular issue than others, but with Harper and Co, it doesn't matter.It's all games all the time.
Ted

Maybe livelihood goes a bit far, but it was Harper and Flaherty who claimed that HST was crucial to the properity of Ontarians and BCers.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Blamo Blamo

Harper is a master strategist, but it ends there. He's the guy who should be in the room to provide strategic advice to the leader. That's his gig -strategy.
But the leader should be able to temper myopic Harper-syle advice with more balanced views on policy repercussions of a decision, and the longer term and broader effects decisions can have on the country. Harper himself cannot see things beyond their immediate tactical repercussions, to the greater damnation of us all, and his all-politics-all-the-time frequently makes for piss-poor policy.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

You must have the cleanest floors in Weyburn

Greg

Newspeak. Doublethink.
Michael

Sorry about those twisted knickers.

November 14. "Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s aides say he will attend a key climate change summit in Copenhagen next month, but only if it appears that other world leaders plan to show up"

Full Hansard quote from the 25th:

"Mr. Speaker, I have always been clear. If there is a meeting of all major leaders involving climate change, I will of course attend. I would just note that President Obama has NOT confirmed his attendance at the leaders' meeting in Copenhagen. In fact, I have discussed the matter with him directly".

Translation: As soon as I hear it officially I'm in as well.

Holly Stick

It just took a while for Harper to get his orders from Washington.

http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

As soon as I hear there's a photo-op with Obama I'll be there.

Ted

That's the "made in Canada" environmental plan Harper promised.
Michael

Sure. And when Clyde Wells said he wan't going to get dragged into Meech until Manitoba passed it he was just taking orders from Winnipeg.