Angry in the Great White North

Tomorrow the budget will be presented to parliament.  What happens next? Will the Liberals support it?  Michael Ignatieff sounds grim, speaking through John McCallum:

Opposition parties are threatening to vote down this week's much-anticipated Conservative budget because it contains a potentially contentious proposal to permanently slash taxes for middle-class Canadians.

While the Conservatives say the tax cuts will help working families during a challenging economic era, the Liberals say the rollback is ill-advised and will do little to stimulate the economy.

"If the permanent tax cuts were very large, we would be very concerned, partly because it would saddle future generations with a big debt and a permanent deficit," Liberal finance critic John McCallum told CTV's Question Period Sunday.

So the problem is not with permanent tax cuts.  Just with permanent tax cuts that are "very large".

So what does that mean?  Obviously it doesn't mean anything at all.  Or to be more precise, it means whatever Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals want it to mean.

If Michael Ignatieff decides the time is right to attempt to usurp the government with a coalition with the NDP and the separatist Bloc Quebecois, or fight an election if the Governor-General does not go with the coalition option, then shaving even a half-percent off the tax rate would be declared to be "very large".

If Michael Ignatieff decides that a coalition with the NDP and the separatist Bloc Quebecois would ultimately ruin the credibility of the Liberal Party, or that the Liberal Party can't afford to fight an election, especially on a platform of higher taxes, then lopping even five percent off the tax rate would not be considered "very large".

My guess is that Michael Ignatieff already knows what is in the budget, at least the basic numbers.  He's already decided that it will pass, and this is all rhetoric that only seems to sound tough, but isn't at all.  But who would be impressed with such a lame display?

I would think Michael Ignatieff is playing to Liberal partisans who are in heaven not having to apologize for Stephane Dion.  It's all part of gluing the broken Liberal Party back together again.

But if his tough talk (but ultimately empty threats) about voting down the budget is designed only to rev up disheartened Liberals, getting them re-engaged with the party, and in doing so begin the long process of rebuilding the party, then his tough talk (but ultimately empty threats) is the biggest hint that the Liberals will support the budget.

Ironic, isn't it?