Horsefeathers

June 5th, 2004 - staggeringly ancient by Emerson standards (all the way back to last election!), but a lovely little insight into the Minister's political philosophy, and one to keep in mind when the former Liberal inevitably rises to vote for Flaherty's May budget [scroll down to the Frances Bula article from the Vancouver Sun]:

But David Emerson, the Liberal candidate for Vancouver Kingsway who has spent his career until now as a top-level business executive, said there are only two ways the Conservatives will be able to pay for those kinds of cuts, which would total $37.2 billion over five years.

"Either they're going to take us into a big Mulroney debt or they will be slashing social programs," said Emerson.

He said the Conservatives are relying on being able to pay for that lost revenue by reducing government expenses.

"I've heard right-wing governments say for years they were going to save money by reducing inefficiency," he said. "It's a bunch of horsefeathers. It doesn't happen. If you don't cut programs, you don't reduce expenses."

Emerson also said he's seen little sign that Canadians want that.

"There's no evidence that Canadians want or need tax cuts at the expense of cutting social programs."

Ah, yes. The focus on what Canadians - what the constituents want. That's Minister Emerson for you. Pity he didn't let the voters know of his change of heart before two Mondays ago.

Then again, that's one of the joys of "non-partisanship". Just flow with that breeze.