I'll see you in court, says...Calvert?

For those of you confused by this whole equalization mess, you're not alone. Stephen Harper recently admitted: "Mr. Speaker, I don't even understand what they are saying anymore." You and me both. So, first we had the the Atlantic Accord which began with a certain big-chinned law-bringer named Brian Mulroney. This excluded offshore resource revenues from equalization and included them in the revenue of the provincial revenues of Newfoundland(andLabrador) and Nova Scotia. Then in 2005, Paul Martin renewed this whole thing, which you may or may not remember involved some flag-pole-dancing by Danny Williams.

The issue thus far: Premier Williams (PC Party-NL) embarked on a campaign not only against Stephen Harper's budget (ads in the GAM at the beginning of summer) but also against Harper himself. He says Harper broke his promise. Jim Flaherty (CPC -Ontario, former Harris cabinet minister) said "Na-uh". Then Bill Casey (CPC -NS) said "Ya-uh" and Premier Rodney McDonald (PC - NS) also said that because he spent his equalization money on debt-reduction...already. Now Bill Casey (CPC -NS) is Bill Casey (I - NS). The budget is in the Senate, senators (not Senators) are being asked to stall (which will not gain them any love from Harper).

You may be wondering: how does Saskatchewan and Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) fit into all of this? Well, as neither an Atlantic province nor a province with any offshore resource revenues (you may remember, Saskatchewan is the completely landlocked rectangle one on your Map of Canada). Well, he says Harper broke a promise to him, his province and the people of the Atlantic provinces over included non-renewable resource revenues in equalization. Flaherty says the new equalization formula is even better for Saskatchewan. Calvert says "Tell it to the mice!"

You may be wondering: well why aren't we being told more about what the budget actually does? Well see, that would be the case if Harper had an effective communication strategy. Evidence right now points to he doesn't. When Williams attacked him, he said "Whatcho talkin' bout, I'm all bouts the Atlantic Accord like I said befo'" Quoth from the Harper quoth in Andrew Coyne's column (that gets through some crap, and avoids car metaphor-mangling):

Why should Newfoundland's possibility of achieving levels of prosperity comparable to the rest of Canada be limited to an artificial eight year period? … Why is the government so eager to ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador always remain below the economic level of Ontario? The Ontario clause is unfair and insulting to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and its message to that province, to Nova Scotia and to all of Atlantic Canada is absolutely clear. They can only get what they were promised if they agree to remain have not provinces forever.

How will this play out...probably a lot like the Sopranos finale...

Almost Sea to Sea, but not yet, to Sea

Across the provinces of this great land, well it's been an election year, and other things have happened.

Let's start off with the most recent province out of the election harangue. That would be Prince Edward Island, where a new Liberal dynasty has ousted the longest serving premier in the province's history. He has been replaced by the Son of Ghiz. If past indications give us anything to hope for, nationally speaking, Ghiz the Younger will need to contend with the expectations of The Dynasty. Just ask Paul Martin the Younger. Premier Ghiz, it should be known: I'm watching you.

In Ontario, ol' Dalton McGuinty has been hopping to the photo-ops in preparation for E-DAY. First, Arnold Schwarzenegger (mentioned earlier) but also David Suzuki who is now the Canadian Tire Guy of Ontario's PowerWise initiative. Furthermore, McGuinty's government is sticking it to the man for the people. *Sigh*, that's what it's all about. His government announced the outlawing of giftcard expiry dates...by making a giftcard expiry date expiry date. Coming soon: no more expiry dates. I guess he was sick of all those half-off kitten giftcards expiring. Man's gotta eat. Ontario is also both angry about MP redistribution under the new Conservative bill (C-59?), saying its under-represented. More on the upcoming Mixed Member Proportional Representation referendum in coming months.

Manitoba, of course, recently saw the election of a record third majority for the New Democrats under Gary Doer. What makes them new at this point? Was it Gary's oh-too-hip slogan "Manitoba: Just Do'er". How are things in the great middle province? Well...stable, so so. Those Nova Scotians seemed to have spread the mumpocalypse up that way but that Human Rights Museum from the Asper's should be show-- GarybettmanbrieflymentionedWinnipegasapossible (maybe, we'll see, it is kinda cold sometimes...) viableNHLcityonHNICMonday??! OHMYGAWD.

Also, the man who looks like he should have some kind of record for being around a long time, Lorne Calvert is sticking it to Harper à la Daniel Williams. The Saskatchewan and Newfoundland (and Labrador) premiers are quite livid with Mr Harper after his equalization scheme 'solved' that pesky fiscal imbalance. Which explains why there is no First Minister's conference as planned, well except for Lorne he showed up. Anyone notice Saskatchewan and NL are the two provinces with the most unique time zone definitions. I believe Saskatchewan has no day light saving's and NL has the half hour. Maybe Williams/Calvert would be more effective if they didn't have a problem coordinating meetings? Ever notice that Williams always says "Newfoundlander and Labradorian", that takes practice.

The Toronto Star will soon be featuring a regular section on Alberta as part of its redesign called Alberta Now. I just thought the only thing more mildly antagonizing to Albertans than not including them at all in this little run-down would be to mention them only as they are in the Toronto Star. I kid, Alberta, because I love. Also, the Pickton trial is not the only thing going on in BC. But it's the only thing you hear about.

But seriously, the Jets back in the 'Peg. Awesome.