Let us assume for a moment that all of the testimony that Jean Brault provided at the Gomery Inquiry is true. Let us also assume that the rumours that worse is yet to come are as also true. Finally, let us assume that the analysis that this plays into the hands of Quebec separatists is also correct. What is MP Stephen Harper to do? Exactly what he is doing. Take this slow, find out what indeed is going on and wait for the Canadian public to determine the just result.
The next election could be critical in the history of Canada. You may roll your eyes at this since the last election was supposed to be historic. But think about it. It was. Things were not supposed to be this way for Prime Minister Paul Martin. He rode in on wave of change. The country was tired of uninspired rule from PM Jean Chretien and Paul Martin would provide fresh, bold leadership. It was all working perfectly until Auditor General dropped a little bombshell. No problem, go on a mad-as-hell tour, create an inquiry to prove your bold freshness (or is that fresh boldness), call a snap election, get your majority government and call of the attack dogs.
But history got in the way of his best laid plans. In a minority government shutting down the Gomery Inquiry became political suicide. Alas, so did keeping it going. Now we have a situation where Quebec is lost to the Liberals. Alberta and much of the rest of Western Canada already was lost. We now have a situation where a Liberal collapse will infuse strength into the Quebec separatist movement. However, if the Liberals manage to hold onto Ontario and a minority government a nascent Albertan separatist movement could break into the mainstream. The solution, as Stephen Harper put it on Wednesday is to be the Prime Minister of all Canadians.
To do so a homerun is required; a clear majority government with significant inroads into Quebec by flipping the federalist vote. No doubt a tall order but at this point it should be and appears to be the goal.
