There is a growing consensus that the current political crisis in Ottawa came from the Conservative Party's heavy-handed approach to government displayed in the mis-named financial update.
Finance minister Jim Flaherty went beyond merely giving a report on the government's cash flows and the state of the Canadian economy to launch a much broader set of initiatives that would, among other things, ban strikes in the public service for several years. There was no reason for such a draconian move but it was there.
What wasn't there was any sign of a stimulus package for the economy. To anyone listening to Flaherty's comments the words "stay the course" came to mind; but stay the course is hardly the option given both the serious downturn and the extent to which previous Conservative spending had decimated the public treasury.
More than a decade of enormous surpluses produced by sound fiscal management had become piddling amounts that, in all likelihood would turn into deficits.
The whole episode brought into the open once more concerns among Canadians that, when times turned tough, the ruling element within the party would head home to its ideological roots rather than display typically Canadian pragmatism.
On top of that, the crisis has shown up some of the fissures within the party rooted in the discomfort over Stephen Harper's autocratic style.
Clearly this is a party which has not only shown itself to be incapable of governing in a difficult period in a minority parliament. This is a group which has manifest problems within its own ranks that need to be sorted. Dirty political tricks of the type the Conservatives used in their ruthless drive for power, hysterical rhetoric and churlish behaviour of the past few days merely remind Canadians of the controversy that continues to swirl around the Conservative Party of Canada. A once proud and vital Canadian political force has been brought to a low not seen since the early 1990s. The party of Sir John A Macdonald and Brian Mulroney is now the party with nothing more to offer than reflexive Rovianisms.
Clearly, this is a party which needs a time out from government.
Better for them to take the time to fix their own problems and make an appeal to Canadians once again when they are ready to govern.
In the meantime, Canadian parliamentary democracy has offered a viable alternative to either more of a dysfunctional government or a second election in less than six months. The Conservatives have tried to monger fear of separatism. Aside from their baseless claims about senate seats and vetoes, the check against any notion that the country will fall apart rests in the elected members of parliament who would support a coalition government.
In particular, Canadians can rest assured that there is no one better in the next few months to ensure the unity of the country than Stephane Dion. His record on separatism is clear. He has found no need, in stark contrast to Mr. Harper, to try and curry favour with those who would see the federal government weakened to the point where the country ceases to function as surely as he we have seen him weaken the federal government's finances.
Time for the Conservatives to take a time out.
The only question is whether their current leader has the strength to face the House in a vote of confidence. If he will not do that then surely he does not deserve the confidence of Canadians.
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