Apolitical Staples

The cabinet shuffles were less important, than Harper’s corresponding statements regarding the governement focus:

Three areas now: 1) democratic reform, 2) Canadian competitiveness in a world economy, and

that’s right kids,

3) the environment (with specific mention of “climate change).

The already crowded “environment agenda” parties, has reached full saturation.

The issue is effectively politically neutral.

Bad, bad news for Dion.

Agree with Chester. Baird’s job is to demolish Dion’s and Liberal’s faux-cred on environment and “climate change” (formerly known as “global warming”). He can do it too, but he won’t break a sweat demolishing Dion on this. Liberal record is hopeless on Kyoto. They signed Kyoto only to pander to the anti-American/anti-Alberta element in the Liberal party, not that they want to do anything about the environment. “Kyoto” is all about politics and has nothing to do with pollution, so Baird is the right guy for the job. Ambrose was good as environment minister, but couldn’t play this political role like Baird, who also speaks French much better than Ambrose.

This has been a great shuffle. The rumours and speculation alone blasted Dion off the front pages for days. Now for all the “what does it mean?” pseudo-analysis from the MSM and pundits. Watch for the after-effect in a drop in Liberal poll numbers. There ain’t going to be an election in 2007. Dion would be a fool to let it happen, and he ain’t no fool.

Rona Ambrose looks good in all this. As Pres of the PC and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, she is in the position that Dion was when he was lured by Chretien into Government. And when PM Harper announces “serious democratic reform” as the number 1 new priority, she has the best seat in the House. So much for being a loser.

Maybe the most significant move is Toews (Manitoba) out and Nicholson (southern Ontario) into Justice. Budget will probably deep-six the long-gun registry, and better to have a smooth Ontario lawyer do it than a Westerner.

All in all, very impressive shuffle, both in governing as well as in political terms.

Any word on Lib MP Khan crossing? I hear he has a “fish or cut bait” interview on Friday with Dion?

One could craft an amusing Rovian conspiracy narrative out of this. Environment was given weak handling to tempt the Liberal leadership candidates to adopt a strong environmental platform; the illusion of fear of the Liberal leadership candidates not rising to the environmental bait was created; the Liberals selected a leader who adopted a strong environmental program; now the government working with the NDP (which wants to at least hold its own base) will pull out the environmental rug.