Earlier today on a CTV affiliate (ATV) future Prime Minister Dion made the Liberal blooper reel. Failing to understand the question presented to him resulted in take after take (after take) until one of his aides had to explain the question, which involved past and present tense together – damn this right wing media and their agenda of confusion.

The fists never really started to fly until this week between the two front runners, but Stephen Harper and Stephane Dion are at odds over the financial crisis. The financial fight is on.

Dion scored some major points over the last couple of days, playing on fear and uncertainty of Canadian investors opening bank statements and falling over. The Liberals did an amazing job of turning around the polls in a matter of days, making up a smashing 15 points to the Conservative rivals. They did this by successfully tying the Conservative leadership to the economy, joined with the fact that the Tories do not have a ‘plan’ to address the crisis at hand. The momentum was in their favour until today.

Enter the green shift plan, the Liberal game book for a greener, cleaner Canada – that comes with a notably high price tag, a price tag so high that to implement in an economic storm would be suicide. The blood was in the water and the Tory sharks were circling. It wasn’t long after the green shift came back into the light that another fact of some Liberal in-fighting between Iggy and Dion had been released – apparently over the green shift and it’s impending implementation regardless of the economy. Dion argued for the green plan no matter the times, while Iggy purposed changes to the plan to help weather the financial issues at hand should they return to office.

The Conservatives, looking to gain back the losses in the polls this week were quick to pounce on the problem and create a further financial standoff. Much like the scene in the Untouchables, apparently in Canadian politics “if you don’t have the bookkeeper, you got nothing.“

In a week where Conservatives have taken a beating in the media on the economic crisis facing the world, a World Economic Foundation report puts Canadian Banks at the top of the class.The Prime Minister’s plan of not making knee-jerk promises, especially economic ones during an election (let alone during a financial meltdown)  have proven well served. A perspective of this sort is hard to appreciate as you look at statements showing negative totals, but it is providing Canadians with sound, sage advice. Why would you try to fix a problem that hasn’t occurred yet? The preventative replacement of a home furnace without any measurable issue is not something homeowners plan for, so why should we have a bailout plan for financial institutions when it isn’t an issue?Now to be fair there is something to be said for being prepared for a situation approaching on the horizon. We haven’t heard too much about that from any other party, Tories included – which would most likely provide a level of security (even a small one) to those who are losing money in the stock market plunge.The wonk supports the Conservative position on providing plans for problems, not plans for speculation because in comparison to the other parties it seems the most logical. The other party perspectives are:

• Liberals – Will announce a financial plan after 30 days of taking office
• NDP – Take away $50 billion from corporate tax cutting and prop up the economy using that money
• Green – Have been very quiet during this issue, anyone heard anything that the wonk can’t find?

The full report on Canadian Banks is available here.

Whether you’re selling stocks or flushing the toilet, you can’t get the economy off your mind.

And neither can the leaders in the Canadian Election race, the economy has dominated more than any other issue this election. Recently it was a sparring session between Harper and Dion after Harper accused the Liberal leader of hoping for a recession. We’re still translating Dion’s response, but we don’t believe he agreed with the statement. The debates proved to provide much lip flapping time to each of the leaders as well, here’s a wonk’s take on the strengths and areas of improvement for each.

The Conservatives – Stephen Harper
Harper should receive a nod from the academy for the longest slide into some bad news. For some time when asked about the economy and possible recession he’s eased from ‘it’s okay’ to ‘we have a sound economy’ to ‘we are not an island’. Perhaps he’s a fan of the sandwich approach, placing the bad in between two good points – but what are the good points? What Harper needs to do to better manage the message on economy:

• Use the real numbers in the situation – don’t round, or speak in percentages – straight talk results in straight answers without the sugar coating. Harper should be in front of the cameras with his mini-Irish sidekick along side reminding voters of actual financial results that they have provided Canadians in the past two years. Tax savings accounts, GST reductions, etc, etc.
• Be clear on the economics of business – Layton talks the talk on billions of corporate tax cuts but where’s the proof of that, speak to that issue and bury on the side of the NDP.
• Better highlight the significant differences (and similarities) between Canada and the US – The fear mongering from the other parties is coming from the Bushisms of the US comparisons, trump their arguments with facts about how we are really like the US and how we are not. Don’t beat around the Bush (pun) with the affects of the economic crisis in the states, we as Canadians will feel it, but how are we prepared to feel it and deal with it in the end.

The Liberals – Stephane Dion
Stephane Dion has obviously been taken to the woodshed by Jean or Paul because during the debates he starred right into the camera and dropped the Canada phrase numerous times as he talked about everything including the economy. On the economy he didn’t promise anything and everything at the same time. The wonks here think the Grits need to pull their socks up on the following economic issues:

• Commit funding to only certain issues – by promising spending on everything that is asked of you, the party loses creditability to those who are undecided. It also makes you appear more detail oriented and well-thought when you pick and choose.
• Talk about the Liberals history of deficit elimination – Why do we have surpluses, the Liberals are the reason for that. Speak to that point more and frame it in the context of a tanking economy and the built in ability to conserve (pun) and manage the money based on a proven track record.
• Hit back on economic ‘green’ issues – You will be hitting the Tories and the Green party with one statement about the Liberals ability to integrate environment and economy. The argument for blending the two works because you worst enemies for each are strong only in one of the two areas.

The NDP – Jack Layton
Jack Layton needs to wake up and react more like a person than a budding comic. He had some very hard points in the debates on the issue but they did not bake as they should have and Harper ended up shrugging them off with ease. Wonk says work these economic points to do better:

• You’re not on Seinfeld – and Thomas Mulclair is not Kramer. When you deliver a good zinger don’t stare at the target and wait for the applause machine to kick in. So many of the points in the debate were great but delivered with such a smug tone and a crooked smile they fall flat. Keep the one liners and zingers (read: sweaters), but lose the attitude (sorry – that was more on personal development rather than economic development)
• Taxes are the governments only source of income – if you cut too many taxes then you run out of money. Nuff said?
• Business make money – Most business is in business to produce a gross profit, which is not evil. Oh, and the above point has an application with this one – when you shift taxes from personal to business too much business cannot afford to keep people employed. I know this is really hard to understand, but it’s a must before you assume the opposition position. Maybe we could get some Muppets in and explain Sesame Street style.

The Greens - Elizabeth May
All Liz May jokes are off the table. She ran a good race in the debates and proved that she is more than just a one-trick pony. Wonk’s advice for Ms. May:

• Pick apart Conservative economic decisions made lately – by showing that the Green Party can dive in and analyze a policy, producing their own results is a true measure of the party (really – what you did during the debates, just expand)
• Argue reality to the NDP – make the Greens the left-realist vote choice in the election. Jack is straying too far from the real situation and the opportunity is yours to take over that position.
• Point out the Liberals history on the economy – and frame it in the context of green initiatives, speaking to Liberal voters who are swaying your way on the environment. The Grits had years to fortify the environment / economy in Canada and here we are looking over the edge at an abyss.

Next topic in the series, sweaters. That one was for you Jack.