I am confident the Prime Minister's political advisors have done a great job and delivered a strategy, however the latest playing around with election rumors is not a healthy exercise for the country. Harper is right to demand a check on whether the current set-up can function, but it should be very quick and painless.
Gordon Brown flunked an election in his first year in office because he thought at first he'd win it. When opinion polls turned against Labour the election speculation died away.
The troubles lay mostly in the Senate, and there isn't much we can do about it right now. For all the need of reform, I doubt many Canadians would shift their allegiance to the Conservatives on this issue. And an issue-based election it should be: general polls give us too close to the Liberals. We simply can't risk a simple tally-up of voter support.
Harper's test should be a law project that would be immensely popular with Canadians and sufficiently crafted to get the Liberals to stand up and vote against. The Party must demonstrate to have important law projects in the pipeline and thus be deserving of a majority. This should convince Canadians that the Tories know where they're taking the country and that it's the right way.
If we're serious about the election then bring it on cleverly. Announce a popular test bill with universal appeal among voters, submit it under a vote of confidence and then go for it. If the Liberals defeat it they'll shoot themselves in the foot. If, on the other hand, the bill passes it's business as usual. With the additional proviso that the Government is committed on a road to reform and transformation of the country.
It won't be long before the system collapses anyway, once the pressure's up the boiler must yield at some point. The top priority is delivering what Canadians want and be seen as true leaders who don't accept stalemate in times of crisis. Whether Canadians want an election or not, let the Liberals throw the stone. It will bounce back anyway.
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