Liberal House is Burning Down-2006 Canada Election Campaign Analysis

One week to go and the Liberal house is burning out of control!

Outside of Montreal, there is virtually nothing left of the once vaunted political machine that until recently could always be counted on to deliver a substantial number of seats. In the province, excluding the Greater Montreal area, the Conservatives are now closing in on the magic 30% above which they can realistically begin to count some chickens.

It has been a surprising one, starting in ho-hum way with all indicators showing a result similar to the last one. But then, Christmas happened, the RCMP came into play and right after the New Year, all the trouble that had been brewing below the surface erupted at once.

It is a campaign not unlike that of 1984, with the major difference however that the Bloc did not exist. They alone may or may not give the Conservatives a majority. Their support seems to hold pretty well even though they are losing some to the Tories who have already garnered a substantial number of Liberal defectors.

The Ottawa area is in mourning.

The venerable Café Henri Burger, host to politicians and high powered civil servants for over 80 years closed down on Saturday. The owner explained that his establishment had been mentioned frequently in the Gomery inquiry, which did not help his business one bit. Coupled with the disappearance of the expense accounts of George Radwanski, Andre Ouellet and David Dingwall it just became too tough.

Does anyone realize how difficult it will be to recruit candidates if the National Capital region loses its few gastronomic havens! Talk about a loss of entitlements.

Mind you, the crowd that is poised to invade Ottawa as part of the Harper brigade seem to be disciples of the Joe Clark school of haute cuisine where ice cold Baby Duck is the potable of choice.

Next thing you know, they'll be expected to work a full day.