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01 April 2005

What are they thinking? Are they thinking? They think?

Enjoy this Sun story.

Apparently, Stephen Harper has decided that public bluster is better than anything else when it comes to dealing with the C-43 controversy.

Now it could be that the Sun chain is just keeping something on life support that should be allowed to pass peacefully into eternity. Then again, maybe the Opposition parties are just getting up a head of steam to see if they can force the Martin government into blinking.

Consider too that over at the local weekly The Express, Norman Doyle is blaming John Efford for the whole mess. Geez, Norm this "Blame Efford" thing is getting even more tiresome than the C-43 story.

Three opposition parties. Three different problems with Bill C-43.

What should a government do?

It's a bit of a poser.

Stephen Harper now wants both Kyoto and the offshore bills taken out of the budget measure. Since the Kyoto - or more correctly - the environmental provisions are not really budget measures, perhaps the government could meet him on that one. But knowing Mr. Harper has upped the ante, I'd be more inclined to take my chances if I were Paul Martin.

After all, Stephen Harper doesn't support the offshore deal. His solution is a change to Equalization and I have yet to see Mr. Harper state in writing that if he were prime minister he would honour the commitment reached on January 28. Statements from his media wrangler don't count.

So, we are in the same place we were a week ago. Lots of bluster and threats. Lots of media speculation.

The bill doesn't come for a vote for about three weeks.

I am not sure I can stand three more weeks of this palaver.