Part 3: Institutionalised Conservatism - Was Harper's Nation flip flop about forcing Liberals to vote?

Last week at this time, it looked like the LPCQ's Nation Resolution was about to be pulled from the policy convention because of bad procedure. The Bloc did not want to lose the opportunity to split hairs by watching this thing die with Iggy. To avoid a lost political opportunity, the BQ chose to put a tough question to the house. Fear crept in, and Harper duped members of all parties and the party leaders (except the Bloc at the time) to support his way of thinking. A massive flip flop for the Prime Minister it seemed to be at the time. The way this was being reported at the end of the week, Harper had saved Canada and Liberals were bowing to his leadership.

Did Harper force Duceppe's hand too? The Bloc flip-flopped yesterday and will now be supporting the motion tomorrow. Some say it is just a flip-flop. Others think this vote now represents something very different than what Bill Graham encouraged the leadership candidates that are currently a part of the Liberal caucus to support last Wednesday morning at the 9:00am meeting.

With Duceppe's flip flop, our Liberal caucus members are voting on something that is purely symbolic for now. And, symbolically, this forces Liberals to support or reject Quebec (the francophone nation). Thanks Ig!

Where this get dangerous is if and when the BQ and PQ are successful in swaying soft nationalist public opinion that this nation symbol means nothing without constitutional renewal. Next they twist Harper's rubber arm a bit, and now we have an election issue over re-opening the constitution or not (unless it is Iggy).

After that, constitutional discussions will amount to either successful repatriation or not. If not successful, nationalist sentiments would be fanned and another Quebec referendum could be on the horizon. Great. Thanks.

Or, Harper will transform Canada into a place that is more conservative by giving away the farm to seal the deal. And, at the same time, he will limit federal spending on matters of provincial jurisdiction to save money and set a trap for Liberals, who will find it hard to govern any differently in this new diluted Canada.

Duceppe's flip flop changes everything, so Liberal caucus might want to think about changing its tact tomorrow before the vote. If this becomes an unanimous love in, Harper will have gained in a series of very strategic chess moves.

Politics can be tough and Liberals need to perform better or the convention will represent a lost opportunity in the struggle for momentum leading up to a possible spring vote.