Modeling Journey

It should be very clear by now that Harper has suckered the two premiers over the equalization formula. Harper is probably technically right when he says the agreement was not breached. The premiers are being offered two choices: the 'new deal' from the 'new' Tories, which has a cap, or stick with the old deal.

However, it is also clear that anyone dealing with this Prime Minister needs to pay very careful attention to what he says, and what he does not say. Harper is becoming rather famous (should that be 'notorious'?) for being very precise with words. If you want to understand this man, you have to understand what he is NOT saying as much as what he is saying. Harper believes that if he did not say exactly the thing you think he said, then he has not mislead you. If you somehow get swept up by the tone, or the excitement of the moment, of headlines which overstate what he says, tough. He won't correct your incorrect assumptions; after all, did HE say it? If not, game over.

What this means for every politician (lissen up, Jack Layton, lissen up, the Bloc, lissen up, every Premier, lissen up, EU governments, lissen up, Canadian voters) is that if you wish to deal with the Prime Minister of these 'new' Tories, you had better bring your lawyer to each meeting, get it in writing, and be ready to sue him if be does indeed breach it.

You have been warned.