Is the industry portfolio a good fit for Flaherty?
Lots of Ottawa chatter regarding a major cabinet shuffle in the Harper government. This post over at Sobering Thoughts (Paul Tuns) is a very good primer as to why this particular shuffle won't be major: "CTV reports that there will a big cabinet shuffle in Ottawa in the next few weeks. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Industry Minister Jim Prentice will probably switch jobs and three current ministers are likely to be dropped from the cabinet completely (Secretary of State Helena Guergis and Treasury Board President Vic Toews), three new faces are likely to be added (MPs James Moore, Gerald Keddy, and Rod Bruinooge). David Emerson will be given the full title to Foreign Affairs and Health Minister Tony Clement moves to take Emerson's trade portfolio -- if it isn't Clement, it could be Immigration Minister Diane Finley. If Clement moves, that will necessitate further changes. I think there will be tweaking, but I doubt that the kind of overhaul CTV is reporting are in the works -- that would be seen as an admission of comprehensive failure(s) by Stephen Harper and he is not going to do that.Here's one prediction: if Clement moves from Health, either Prentice or Diane Ablonczy, currently the Secretary of State (Small Business & Tourism), will take his place. Flaherty stays in place."
I tend to agree with Paul as I think Flaherty will stay put in Finance even if CTV sources say he wants to "expand Industry Canada".
However, that being said, I'm certain that the business community are still a little nervous in central Canada (mostly the Ontario auto industry) at the thought of Flaherty being shuffled in as Industry Minister, especially those who see his stance on corporate welfare as a threat to their respective bottom lines.
Anyway, when push comes to shove, I don't think they have anything to worry about as Harper's government has veered to the left on a number of issues (including subsidies for business), plus, they need all the help they can get to further break through in Ontario.
Translation: they need to buy votes through the use of lucrative Industry Canada contracts. Furthermore, when has the word 'expand' ever meant less government interference over at 235 Queen St.
This is one blogger that is regretting "more of the same" from the next Industry Minister.
9 Comments:
I disagreed with the Harper/Flaherty move to reduce the GST, a magnificent Maloney cash cow. Most reputable economists condemned the move, they would have reduced income taxes more instead. The Cons are just vote buying with that wrong headed GST reduction.
Anyway, in spite of that, if Flaherty is shuffled out, I hope his replacement continues to push for a unified Securities Commission and get rid of the ridiculous system in Canada of 13 ineffective Securities Commissions. As an investor, it's no wonder we as a country are laughed at on this issue.
I agree with the above commenter. We need to make a concerted effort to cut corporate and personal taxes while holding the line on consumption taxes.
The GST cut as nothing more then a political move to obtain a large constituency of votes over the Liberals.
Bill, I clicked to take a look at your profile and got "Profile Not Available". What's that all about? You paranoid?
Paranoia of the worst kind!
canuckguy:
I can vouch for bill's anonymity. Trust me, it's for his own career safety. He used to just email me, but I suggested that he post (like the comment whore that I am).
I see my link is broken too?? Maybe something's up with the nickname/URL as it doesn't allow me to post after the first click (after detailing the comment).
testing.
there it's fixed! I just emailed bill about it. It would seem that when you post under an blogger account, it would bring up the same page. But when you enter a specific URL in nickname it works just fine.
Well, glad that is all cleared up.
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