Election buzz

Prime Minister Stephen Harper should lay off plans to force a snap election this spring as Canadians — especially Quebecers — are not ready to go to the polls again and there is no compelling need for the country to head into a third federal election in three years.

With Bloc Québécois MPs backing the Conservative minority government’s federal budget, there is no immediate need for Harper to call an election this spring, though he may be tempted, given the results in last month’s Quebec provincial election.

While Harper’s pal Quebec Premier Jean Charest barely held onto power with a minority government, the third-place Parti Québécois finish could result in more Quebecers turning from the Bloc to the Conservatives to represent them in Ottawa.

Combine that with federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion’s less-than-spectacular performance since he took the big job last fall, Harper sees an opportunity, finally, to take his party to majority status.

Harper’s thirst for a majority government must be tempered by Canadians’ wishes for some time off from election campaigns. In fact, this patience might even be rewarded — down the road, a thankful populace might hand Harper he majority government he wants to badly.

You know the old saying: if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.

The country is humming along with a solid economy, few divisive issues and checks and balances against any form of government abuse of power.

Harper should wait until next spring — or at least fall — to call a vote, but from all indications, he’s not going to heed that advice.

The Conservative machine is warming up, selecting candidates to run in West Island ridings as these words are being written. Please, Stephen. It’s not too late to call a halt to the whole thing.

The national question now appears to be moot in Quebec and we very well may have turned a corner, and many people are giving Harper, and his addressing of Quebec’s fiscal imbalance with $2.3 billion in transfer payments, direct credit for that. Why don’t you just enjoy the moment and bask in that glory for a while?

Maybe minority governments are what people want these days. In one sense, it makes politicians more accountable for their actions and forces them to stick to their election promises. Hey, if the Bloc and Conservatives can agree on a federal budget, maybe there is hope the country will remain strong and united. ꆱ