02.11.2014 07:27 AM

Leaks vs. Budget

Hoo boy.

The leaks from the Reformatory sanctum sanctorum have now stomped all over whatever the Reformatories were hoping to achieve with pre-budget messaging. Man, what an unholy mess. I can think of a certain Prime Minister and Finance Minister who are likely really pissed off.

These guys have done deliberate leaks before. This wasn’t that. This is a screw-up of historic proportions.

 

 

24 Comments

  1. Brad Young says:

    There doesn’t seem to be much distinction between the Canadian Gov’t and the Conservative party. Too bad they didn’t put as much effort into governing as they do trying to get re-elected.

    • Matt says:

      Same way for all parties when they achieve power.

      All decisions are based on what will keep them in power, not necessarily whats best for the people. We saw the Liberals here in Ontario spend $1 billion to save 5 of there seats, and recently they have thrown hundreds of millions more into Niagfa since that by-election was announced.

      Hell, a good portion the Conservatives decisions over the last 8 years have been decidedly un-conservative from spending to the ballooning size of the bureaucracy.

  2. Matt says:

    So Warren, what is the screw up here?

    Just the fact it was leaked and will distract from the budget, or the content in the leaked documents?

    • Chris says:

      it’s a view inside the sausage factory that most inside would rather not have broadcast.

      coming out on budget day like this will distract what the cons have already been selling as a moderate, understated budget.

      • Matt says:

        Assuming these are actual plans and not bogus emails created to intentionally mislead their opponents into thinking the CPC have been exposed.

        Not saying that is what these are, just there is a possibility, however small.

  3. Patrick Deberg says:

    I read this at the NP comment boards.

    Interesting take

    This bears repeating and I quote……………….

    ” Despite a mandate from parliament in 2012 to reform the Elections Act, the Harper government showed zero interest in doing so, and didn’t lift a finger to consult on a matter that requires a broad consensus. Then, when Andrew Prescott was
    given immunity in exchange for robocalls testimony on January 15, the government dropped everything to rush Bill C23 through as fast as possible. This is a strong clue that someone close to the seat of power is at risk of being exposed.

    Nominally, Bill C23 won’t disrupt the robocalls investigation. In practice, it will now die as resources and people move on and aren’t replaced. “

  4. frmr disgruntled Con now happy Lib says:

    They’re going to try to “humanize” Dear Leader, apparently…….good luck with that…….

  5. Matt says:

    Any chance these are bogus “election plans” intentionally leaked by the CPC election machine to get their opponents and the media to think their grand plan has been revealed while they execute their real election strategy in the background?

    • Kevin T. says:

      Ironically, their real election strategy is to drive straight into a wall after driving through the ditch with mud slicked treadless tires, while pointing to a photo of Laureen Harper and say “See her?! Kim Jong-Steve can’t be all bad if SHE likes him!”

  6. Steven says:

    Interesting times for Darth Soudas and the crew of the Death Star (aka CPC HQ).

  7. Paul Brennan says:

    leaks are not good .. but nothing in here that should surprise anyone ..

  8. Attack! says:

    Coyne tweeted this morning that he heard, and believes, that someone who’d attended the briefing simply stupidly left an envelope with the materials at the lobby of the hotel [presumably while waiting for & hurrying off for a ride to airport].

  9. Cameron Prymak says:

    This makes them look amateurish, which is how they hope to portray Trudeau.

    Funny how that happens.

  10. Les Voix says:

    IIRC, Mulcair and Trudeau have declared the 2015 election campaign has commenced. Looks like the Cons are in panic mode now.

  11. Ronald O'Dowd says:

    Warren,

    Their best shot is not necessarily a winning one but they are in full tactical election mode. Translation: they will go as soon as they find a feasible window — and that means scratch 2015. IMHO , it’s this year for sure.

    • ottlib says:

      I am not so certain. The Senate Expenses Scandal is too easily explained in a 30 second spot.

      Producing one demonstrating how much Mr. Harper’s former senior aides had their fingers all over it and ending with the tagline “What did Stephen Harper know and when?” I believe would be devastating to any Conservative chances of re-election without something to counter it besides the denials that we have all heard before. And even if he suddenly came clean during an election (Not bloody likely) it would still raise questions of why he waited so long.

      As well, there is still the fixed election law. Yes it is just a gimmick and Mr. Harper has demonstrated that he is more than willing to play fast and loose with the rules if he believes it is to his advantage but it would be hard to argue that such would be the case if he called an election this year. His standing with Canadians is not what it was all of those other times. He no longer leads a party that is leading or at least tied with his chief rival and he is no longer seen as the best person to be PM like he was all of those other times. Calling an election a year early, contrary to his own law, could just cement some negative sentiments with way too many voters right out of the gate.

      Mr. Trudeau is no Mr. Dion or Mr. Ignatieff and the Conservatives know it. Witness the leak about how they are going to try to disrupt the Liberal convention. I see genuine fear there, which was missing with both of the former leaders.

      The Conservatives are going to want to have some kind of bright, shiny bauble to wave around to distract Canadians from the waist high pile of crap that Mr. Harper is wading through. The 2015 Budget is going to be that bauble so I would expect to see an election in the late Spring of 2015. They will still break their own election law but only by a few months and they will have had almost a year to convince Canadians that an election is necessary at that point.

      If Mr. Harper calls an election early without that bauble their only real option is to “go negative” hard. Unfortunately, Canadians have seen that before many times so you have to wonder just how effective such a strategy might be this time.

      Politics is a funny game where things can turn on a dime so I would not rule out a 2014 election but its probability is pretty low at this stage I believe. I would say the probability of a Spring 2015 election is much higher.

    • frmr disgruntled Con now happy Lib says:

      Indeed, a great crop of Refoormer MP’s(my own included) now have their full gold plated pensions to look forward to, having served six+ years, so they really don’t have to worry about re-election…..
      My own Refoorm MP is skedaddling…. he wont be missed, because he did virtually nothing while in office……

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