When a brawl breaks out in a schoolyard or in a bar or tavern, the first question people usually ask, quite rightly, is: Who started it? Who threw the first punch? In this question, there is a tacit recognition that whoever the culprit is, he or she must take special responsibility and receive punishment for the mess that follows. 

 

So it goes with the current crisis in our national parliament and the role of Stephen Harper.

 

Coming out of the federal election a few weeks ago, Canadians had an expectation that all the parties in the minority parliament should get down to work and address the grave economic problems that are bearing down fast on our country. 

 

Some of us have been warning about these looming economic problems for several years now, and there was a sense that, finally, our political leadership was becoming aware of the gravity of the situation, that they were beginning to “get it.” Indeed, after the election, Prime Minister Steven Harper made it quite clear that his government would aim to work together with all the opposition parties to address the urgent economic issues facing the nation.

 

However, for reasons known only to him, Harper chose to poke sticks into the eyes of the opposition parties by stripping away their election funding, yet offering no new process to govern this funding. In addition, he and his finance minister mounted an attack on the right to strike of federal employees, as well as on women seeking pay equity. Truly a curious way to get people “on board” your economic plans.

 

Instead of putting forward a budget – as many other countries in the world are doing in the face of the financial crisis – he delayed it into the new year, all the while talking ominously about “belt tightening” and “selling off public assets.” 

 

When you are off in Ottawa, two months may not seem like a lot of time. So who cares if the budget is delayed until the end of January? But it does matter if you are a laid off mill worker in Mackenzie or Fort St. James whose Employment Insurance benefits will be running out in the next few weeks – a situation which many are facing across the country.

 

Even a disinterested observer could see that there was a careless, mean spirited and vindictive attitude behind Harper’s behaviour. And it came at the worst possible time and sent the worst possible message.

 

The results have been predictable. Parliament has been plunged into chaos. A coalition of opposition parties has come together in a bid to form a new government, a maneuver which, however unpalatable for some, is allowed under the Canadian electoral system when a government loses the confidence of Parliament.

 

But it is not only parliament that has been plunged into chaos. By his actions, Harper has greatly added to an atmosphere of division in the country. Thus we have East against West. Canada against Quebec. Newfoundland against Ottawa. Alberta against Ontario. And so on.

 

Whatever we think about the new “coalition” of Liberals and NDP, which has support from the Bloc Quebecois, these parties are within the parliamentary rules to form a new government.  

 

And the fact remains that Harper made a huge mistake that has threatened the long term stability of our country. As Prime Minister, he must take the consequences.