It’s no April Fools Joke
Today, Liberals from coast to coast are hoping to hear Stéphane Dion tell them that the past 16 months have been a giant April Fools Joke.
Ever since he was named as the new Liberal leader, Mr. Dion has left Canadians baffled by his weak leadership and lack of priorities.
Stéphane Dion has been indecisive. He admits he is planning to raise the GST only to flip-flop and then deny. He says he wants to see some more accountability from the Senate, but then he flip-flops and lets the unelected, unaccountable Liberal insiders in the Senate boss him around on issues ranging from crime bills to Senate reform.
Stéphane Dion has been out-of-touch. Mr. Dion plans to claw away the Conservative Governments child care benefit that pays parents $1200 per year for each child under the age of six. Now he is musing about some secret plan called “tax shifts” that will take even more money of the hands of Canadian families.
Stéphane Dion has shown poor judgment. His comments about using Canadian troops to invade Pakistan have become a thing of legend. Even more concerning, his judgment in appointing Liberal candidates in by-elections has been just as poor with his hand-picked candidates losing two formerly Liberal seats.
Stéphane Dion has been irresponsible. He travels the country promising massive new government spending to virtually every audience, oblivious to the fact that all of this spending would plunge Canada at least $62.5 billion deeper into debt.
Stéphane Dion has been unaccountable. On virtually every single major issue to face the Canadian Government over the past year, Mr. Dion has threatened to force an election. Yet each time these issues come to a vote, his caucus chooses to abstain and, by default, endorse the Conservative Government’s leadership. Canada has therefore lost the services of an effective Official Opposition.
It’s no wonder grassroots Liberals are demoralized and disgruntled. It’s no wonder that Stéphane Dion’s former and current leadership rivals, are now chomping at the bit to replace him. The Liberal Party is short on money, short on candidates, and short on ideas. It’s now clear they’re short on leadership as well.
Stéphane Dion. Not a leader. Not worth the risk.
