Whatever Happened to "The Economy Is Strong?"

So Flaherty's opening bet is $25-billion to buy "insured mortgage pools" in order to keep Canada's credit pipes from gumming up.

But, it's not a bank bailout. No it isn't. No really, you need to understand that the fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong. That's straight from our Fuhrious Leader.

Let's just do a little math. Yesterday we were told that the Afghanistan mission bill will come in at $18-billion (excluding buried costs) which means about $1,500 per household. That would put the bank bailout at about $2,000 per household. Now if you're watching your retirement investments melting at the same time, those figures look even larger, more dismal.

But what happens if the bailout turns out to be as ineffective at unclogging the credit drains as the American bailout? Are we going to be throwing more of the Canadian taxpayers' money into this and, if so, how much more, Mr. Flaherty?

And what have you got in mind for when the Canadian public - not the banks, the working people - take the trade hit that's coming our way out of the south? Have you got a cash cushion tucked away for them or is it just the banks who'll get bailed out?

Now I know you don't want to talk about this, not with an election just days away. Too bad because we certainly deserve a little openness, a little transparency, a good dollop of accountability from this government right now.