Get ready for new definition of ‘dysfunctional’

What the hell is going on in Ottawa? First the Conservatives offer the nation an economic update so anemic it belonged in Twilight rather than the House of Commons.

Then the hands-off Liberal party gets a spine and proclaims it won’t support the document because it offered no economic stimulus.

Never mind that the government said it would cancel the practice of giving all parties $1.95 for each vote they received, effectively hobbling them financially and ensuring no chance of marshaling funds for any imminent non-confidence votes and subsequent election.

Even as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unveiled his outdated and tepid strategy, party leaders from the NDP, Bloc and Liberals were ensconced in a backroom somewhere mapping out the government’s demise and a protocol to form a coalition government.

All of this, mind you, when there’s a global economic crisis and people everywhere are worried about their jobs, pensions, mortgages and what future we’ll secure for our children.

Didn’t Stephen Harper call the election this fall because he thought parliament was dysfunctional? Sheesh! Stay tuned, folks; you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

Dysfunction is about to take on a whole new meaning if things don’t get ironed by Monday, Dec. 8 when the update package is put to a vote. Yes, Transport Minister John Baird told us Saturday the federal government will drop its plan to eliminate the vote subsidy, but it’s just another example of gamesmanship and Harper doing his best to get his way by any means possible.

Here’s the thing. If the Liberals et al support the government’s wait-and-see attitude on the economy now, they’ll look like cash-starved carpetbaggers instead of the dedicated public servants we assumed they were when they were elected. Score one for Mr. Harper.

If they don’t and are successful in pushing a non-confidence motion forward, the government will fall and we’ll have a political dog’s breakfast rife with agendas, backroom accords and little vision.

There’s a reason why political parties are distinct and, frankly, I don’t see a coalition working out. No matter the level of cooperation initially, sooner or later someone’s nose will get out of joint, the house of cards will collapse and it’ll be a free-for-all.

Dysfunctional? Oh, yeah. To the max.

By the numbers, courtesy of the last election, the Liberals don’t have popular support, nor do the NDP or the Bloc. Unfortunately, since the Conservatives failed to get a majority, they don’t either. We made it clear we don’t have any confidence across the board in these jokers and, with the advent of the current financial situation, we’re in serious trouble. Likely have been for a while, but the chickens have come home to roost, haven’t they?

While governments around the world frame up economic foundations for the future, we’re stuck with a bunch of self-serving children interested in power and politics instead of those whom they were elected to serve.

Citizens are between a rock and a hard place here and no matter the outcome in the coming days, any possible collegiality and cooperation during this session of parliament is gone and we will all pay the price down the line.