Unconventional Wisdom

A few questions/queries about Canadian politics, in the wake of this weekend's seismic shift in the landscape:

- Isn't Jean Charest supposed to be a federalist? Just how Liberal are Quebec Liberals anyway? I know they need to be a little more autonomous than they might...but surely the definition of supporting federalism implies a federation of more than two actors? Maybe they could annex New Brunswick before they go?

-Conservative Cabinet ministers sure do throw a lot of stones for people whose houses aren't just glass, but air-conditioned as well.

- Wouldn't you expect Jacques Parizeau to spin Stephan Dion's election as good for separatism? Why should anyone take this as anything other than partisan rhetoric? Only because it's being repeated by every journalist from Moncton to Manitoba...

- Ed Stelmach's victory was even more improbable than, though eerily similar to, Stephan Dion's.

- Let me get this straight just once: Dion won't attract votes in the West because he's from Quebec, even though he's hated in Quebec because he's not nationalist enough. What to make of this? Completely irrational region-based xenophobia? Well, stranger things have happened I guess...but don't Albertans like the Clarity Act? Or would they prefer a flamethrower?

- People in British Columbia are rumoured to care quite a lot about the environment. Especially when bits of the environment are putting food (and turning up as food) on the table. Come to think of it, doesn't this sustainable economy thing involve some sort of rural policy?

- Dalton McGuinty sure did look sour on Saturday evening.