First, care of Rick Mercer, care of Calgary Grit.Second, care of Alberta: Get Rich or Die Trying.

OK, here's the updated situation.  Stephen Harper has backed off on eliminating the cash-per-vote political funding, but has proposed to de-index it (which means it wouldn't increase to keep up with inflation).  On the proposal to ban public sector strikes for a few years he has pulled back completely.  On the (lack of) fiscal stimulous, he has pushed the budget a few weeks early, and is hinting that there will be help for the auto industry.

Sometimes, something seems like a good idea, and then, not so much.Update: Liberals and NDP say "too late."  Bloc are supportive.  Can Harper back down further than this?  Will he?

Interesting. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will ask the five political parties to give up the $1.95-per-vote subsidy that parties need to pay for staff and expenses. Opposition parties are likely to see the measure as a declaration of war only weeks after the election because of the Conservatives' commanding strength in fundraising. The president of the Treasury Board rejected that suggestion.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9iT7HmblXE&hl=en&fs=1]Elections Canada says Stephen Harper spent $1.3M more than he was allowed to spend in the last federal election, and accounted for it in a way that it would be refunded to his candidates. Stephen Harper's response was to accuse Elections Canada of liberal bias, and to sue them to keep the money he doesn't deserve.He then called an election, contrary to the spirit of his fixed-election-date law, before any of this could be sorted out by the courts.

Hat tip to Daveberta for posting a link to this story in the Calgary Herald.

I brought your attention recently to the investigation into Conservative election spending. The RCMP raided the federal party's headquarters this past week.

In a democracy it can be comforting to believe that the right thing will happen without your getting involved. Comforting, but deeply wrong. The right thing can’t happen unless you’re involved. Your involvement is what makes it the right thing.