Canadian Liberals Finding Times Tough
After 12 years it must be a difficult thing to wake up to a Conservative Prime Minister and their celebrations. Something they will not suffer quietly.
The centrist Liberals — who took power in late 1993 — campaigned on their fiscal record, reminding people the economy was booming and trying to portray Harper as an extremist who wanted to scrap freedoms such as gay marriage and abortion.
But Prime Minister Paul Martin seems likely to fall victim to voter fatigue with the Liberals and a major kickback scandal that hit his government shortly after he took power in December 2003.
Expect the pressure to be intense and a non-cooperative posture from the Liberals. On the other side watch some movements by the conservatives to not appear overly conservative. Watch them appear aggressive toward the United States on several issues to show they don’t cow-toe to the United States.
If all goes well the Conservatives will gain a good foot-hold and begin the transformation of Canada. In the meantime the Liberals might look a little like the man in the Toronto paper. Just a little overwhelmed and lost.
