Angry in the Great White North

Yesterday, I discussed what options Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff had in dealing with the rebellion among MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador, who apparently were taking orders from Premier Danny Williams, and not from Michael Ignatieff.  One of the options was to allow these MPs to vote as Williams wanted them to vote, that is, against the Conservative budget:

Maybe he figures the contingent of MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador don't warrant the time and effort.  If there was a rebellion brewing among Ontario MPs, well, that would be a different story.  Two class of provinces: those that count and those that don't.

Nah.

I actually wrote that.  Nah.  I figured Michael Ignatieff wasn't near dumb enough to do this.

I'm a lousy pundit, because apparently Michael Ignatieff is capable of such stupidity.  Who knew?  But Michael Ignatieff is indeed treating MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador differently:

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he will allow four of his MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador to break party ranks and have a one-time-only protest vote against the budget on Tuesday night.

Liberal MPs Scott Andrews, Siobhan Coady, Judy Foote and Scott Simms have argued that they cannot support the budget because it singles out their province and robs it of an estimated $1.6 billion in federal transfer payments.

"I decided to permit them in the budget vote tonight a one-time vote of protest to signal their displeasure and my displeasure at these unilateral actions which, in my view, weaken our federation, cause strains in our federation at a time when Canadians should be pulling together."

He decided?  Really?  Like he had a choice.  Those MPs weren't backing down, far more concerned of what Danny Williams would do to them.  It suggests they didn't take any threats from Michael Ignatieff all that seriously.

Michael Ignatieff might have threatened to toss them out of caucus.  That would have been a smarter move on his part.  But he's not going to, and I'm guessing the Newfoundland and Labrador MPs held their ground because they knew Ignatieff wouldn't do it. 

By not punishing these MPs, Michael Ignatieff has created two classes of MPs.  He admits as much:

Ignatieff defended his decision when asked by reporters why he won't allow Quebec MPs to vote against the budget. The province has also expressed frustration over changes to the equalization payments.

The Liberal leader said the situation is different because Quebec was informed last year about the changes and that those changes affect the whole federation. Ignatieff said the cuts announced in the budget single out Newfoundland and Labrador.

What if enough MPs were rebelling to swing the vote?  What then?  Let's say that Jean Charest decided to play the role of political thug a la Danny Williams, promising to ruin the careers of any Quebec MP who voted for the budget.

Or if Dalton McGuinty came down on Ontario MPs.

Are there too many Quebec MPs or Ontario MPs to allow them the freedom Michael Ignatieff is offering to these MPs from Newfoundland and Labrador? 

Indeed, what keeps other premiers from attempting to emulate Danny Williams' success at shoving Michael Ignatieff around?

They know it won't work with Stephen Harper.  Just ask Bill Casey.

The rules are different for Liberal MPs, though.  Each premier is going to see federal Liberal MPs as being their proxies, and Michael Ignatieff as a punching bag.  If a premier has enough strength on the ground in their province to credibly threaten the re-election of a federal MP, Michael Ignatieff can be made to back down and let those MPs take orders from the provincial capital.

Danny Williams just proved it could be done.

Imagine Michael Ignatieff as prime minister!  The premiers would have a field day.

Waiting for the other shoe to drop: When will Gilles Duceppe start complaining that Quebec is being treated unfairly by Michael Ignatieff?