If you stay on the right-wing blog merry-go-round long enough you see talk on the future of conservatism in Canada and what is the long-term goal. There are (at least) three versions. The first is to become a viable alternative to the Liberals and when the country grows tired of them the Conservative Party can step in. This liberal-lite position gets you in power occasionally but it is power for powers sake. Since you have not gained power on a conservative platform you cannot govern as you would actually want to. Your main concern is what you can get away with and still get elected (another reason you can call it Liberal-lite).
The second is to promote conservative platforms and move public opinion to the right in Canada. Even if you do not win the other parties are forced to the right and will adopt your agenda to get re-elected.
Finally, through long-term advocacy you tilt public opinion far enough to the right that you are elected on a strong conservative platform, with a mandate driven majority.
Recently it appears that the Conservatives have adopted policy number 1 hoping that the electorate tires of the laziness and cronyism of the Liberals. According to Jane Taber, (hat-tip Norman's Spectator) the Liberals are about to call the Conservatives bluff on this.
...Senior officials are plotting a long-term strategy that will see Paul Martin's government focus on a narrow agenda over the next year, deliver a tax-cut budget in the spring of 2006 and then call an election on it.
The Prime Minister will attempt to concentrate on governing in just three major areas -- the economy, the environment and global issues, according to a senior government source.
...Liberals believe Finance Minister Ralph Goodale's budget, and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's support of it, have bought them a full year of governing.
This would give them time to craft a tax-cut budget that could help them win a majority at the polls in the spring of 2006, according to a senior Liberal.
Classic, what does it take to get elected politics. Are tax-cuts good for the economy? Of course. But that is not why they will be done, it will be done to out-flank the Conservatives in an attempt to win a majority. Power for powers sake.
To do so it appears that PM Martin wants to reposition the Liberal brand as fiscally conservative and socially liberal. In theory it is a strong position to be in. What I suggest to the Conservatives is to then go even further to the right on fiscal issues. Modest tax cuts are one thing (and more than required) but growth in government must be halted as well. Since the days of "come hell or high water" deficit cutting days our government has grown by leaps and bounds and it is unsustainable. Move further to right and force the Liberals to follow along if they want to play this game.
Here is the best reason to do this. NDP Jack Layton has been practically red in the face over the federal budget. By presenting a "Tory-budget" (scare quotes because if that budget is conservative we are doomed) MP Layton feels that once again the Liberals have sold out the "progressive" voter (scare quotes because there is nothing progressive about socialism stolen from the pages of Karl Marx) by scaring them to vote Liberal. If the Liberals can be forced far enough right then the tenuous alliance of progressives and blue-liberals begins to fracture and the Liberals will lose support on their left flank.
So I say, go-ahead, play this game and let's see where it leads.
