Wait times guarantee joins custodial management on election scrap heap

It doesn't take an advanced degree in English language interpretation to understand that health minister Tony Clement is realizing the Connie "wait times guarantee" is a bust and that the Liberal administration of Paul Martin already committed cash to deal with wait times.

As Canadian Press is reporting, the Connie in power don't plan on adding any new cash to deal with wait times.

Health is under provincial jurisdiction, and the federal government has traditionally brought provinces into national programs with new funding. But the Conservatives say they don't intend to offer new money for care guarantees.

Clement argues the money is already available under the 2004 First Ministers' Health Accord, signed by the former Liberal government. It included a fund for cutting wait times.

"From our interpretation and our perspective, based on that $41 billion extra over 10 years, there already is some money allocated."

The Connies already abandoned their commitment to move immediately to extend Canadian jurisdiction over the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks in favour of a policy that is essentially the one already being followed by the previous Liberal administration.

Stephen Harper is waffling somewhat on senate reform.

Now the fabled wait times guarantee might well be headed for the growing pile of unfulfilled Connie election promises.

Stephen Harper hasn't been in office a month yet.