The Perils of Free Association

Well, it looks like the whole Canadian Wheat Board affair played nicely into Doer’s hands. Hugh himself offered up a tepid response, even in light of the shortcomings of the plebiscite. From the Winnipeg Sun:

Wowchuk said Strahl and Prime Minister Stephen Harper are acting like “ideological dictators” when it comes to the wheat board.
“They should let producers have say,” said Wowchuk.
Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen agreed with the NDP minister.
“We certainly encourage the federal government to pay attention,” said McFadyen.
However, McFadyen was not in favour of the symbolic referendum, calling it a political ploy to divert attention from the NDP’s overall mismanagement of rural Manitoba.

Some random thoughts:

1) Harper should reward Doer’s concern about the CWB by returning the favour. In the middle of the provincial election, the Conservatives should demand income taxes from the unauthorized Seven Oaks School Division development project. The last time I checked, the financials indicated a provision for property tax (Income Statement & Schedule of Expenditures) and payment of GST (Note 6) but none for income tax (which is usually a pretty important line item on any other income statement). If the Province is going to get into the development game, it is time for Today’s NDP to pay their fair share of taxes on the profits. As an aside, does the fact that Seven Oaks gets to do a financial statement spanning 2 years and 4 months entitle us hardworking business owners to skip OUR required annual statement preparation? I wish governments held taxpayers to the same standards they hold themselves to. Do(er) as I say, not as I do(er).

2) It looks like Doer managed to spend $80,000.00 of taxpayer money to win the hearts of a few farmers. The general city dwelling public will also be fawning over Doer’s championing the rights of the downtrodden farmer – 70% of farmers are oppressed are they not? Shrewd politics on the public dime keeps me in perpetual awe of Gary’s political prowess.

3) I hope McFadyen was agreeing with Wowchuk’s “letting producers have a say” quote and not the “ideological dictators” assertion. Otherwise, Hugh’s going to have a tough time cozying up to Harper should McFadyen get the keys to the Leg. Of course, poking a finger in the eyes of the parent doling out the allowance could be part of the provincial Tory strategy to get us off of transfer payments.

4) Speaking of public money, a note to the Blackberry Addicts – there is a difference between the Conservatives using PARTY money to pay for election shenanigans and the Dippers using PUBLIC money (via a plum posting) to pay for their election shenanigans. Of course, the allegations against the NDP have yet to be proven so I’ll reserve my own moral indignation for a while longer.

And now on to Rorschach inkblots…