Jack Layton was in Oshawa this morning campaigning for local candidate and CUPE leader, Sid Ryan. As I mentioned on the Bloggers Hotstove the Oshawa riding was a crushing disappointment to the NDP in 2004. They had a strong candidate but the last minute pitch by Paul Martin that a vote for the NDP was a vote for the Conservatives actually allowed to Conservative candidate (Colin Carrie) to squeeze through the middle and win the seat. As Jack Layton said this morning, in many ridings across Canada, a vote for the Liberals became a vote for the Stephen Harper Conservatives.
Mr. Layton as made another interesting point. Last night in Montreal Paul Martin gave a speech where he played the National Unity card. This strategy is twofold. First he is trying to make the 2005 election a referendum and thereby solidifying the federalist vote behind the Liberals. This is a desperate play and I doubt it will work. Secondly, this is an appeal to the voters in Ontario - who see themselves as the big brother of Confederation. Their argument is that how can the Conservatives defend Canada in Quebec when they most likely will not have an MP from Quebec.
As Jack Layton said this morning, it is the Liberals who have put Canada at risk. If there is is any threat to National Unity it is the Liberals fault. The separatist threat was done until the Liberals decided to try to bribe Quebec voters and kickback money and use illegal money to right election campaigns. Can we really expect a strong defense of Canada from a Prime Minister who does not support the Clarity Act, whose Quebec lieutenant is a co-founder of the Bloq Quebecois and whose parties activity is the reason that the separatist sentiment is inflamed.
As Stephen Harper has said there is no referendum with the strongest federalist leader we could have in Premier Jean Charest. As Premier Charest's adopted home of the comfy fur Liberals given up on him. Are they hanging him out to dry for their own electoral success. It is this divide and conquer strategy that the Liberals have employed for twelve years now - and is what has made National Unity an issue. It is Liberal programs that have created the threat and the Liberal party is in no position to fight it.
