(or who doesn't love election speculation...other than Paul Wells that is)
The latest reports having the Liberals backing away from presenting a fall budget. However I still think they will do something of the kind. Here is why,
..."If the writ were dropped today, I think we would do better than we did in the last election," says Toronto MP John McKay, parliamentary secretary to Finance Minister Ralph Goodale.
"We're enjoying something of a post-Gomery bounce prior to Gomery," he added, referring to the two reports Justice John Gomery is slated to release on the $250-million advertising scandal by mid-December.
Once Justice Gomery tables his reports the sponsorship scandal could once again become top-of-mind and the Liberals could see their increased support in Quebec evaporate. It has become clear that until a national party gains siginificantly in Quebec we will have permanent minority governments - the goal may have shifted to a stable minority instead of a majority. The Liberal-NDP came painfully close to such a stable minority in the last election. MP Jack Layton has made it clear that the NDP would rather have a"central role in Parliament" than hold the Liberals accountable for their corruption. So if MP McKay is right the Liberals will be plotting to find the fall sweet spot and have an early November election. How the tables have turned. It could rest on the Conservatives to make sure that we actually so have a 30-Days after Gomery election.
