With Parliament now prorogued until the government tables a budget, the fate of the recently-elected federal government remains uncertain.

There is no good reason for this sad state of affairs. While the Governor General has temporarily helped to chart a course through these murky political waters, let’s take a serious look at how we got here. In my 15 years as a Member of Parliament, I would be hard-pressed to recall a more fractious time when partisan politics trumped common sense.

The Economic Update tabled by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on November 27 was considered too controversial for the opposition parties to adopt. While the update contained several initiatives would have helped Canada navigate through difficult times, the opposition focused on something else.

The NDP and Bloc Quebecois separatists had already formed a secret coalition and were waiting for a unifying issue that would bring the Liberals into their scheme to bring down the government. That issue presented itself when the government advocated an end to the taxpayers’ subsidy for political parties.

Parties that win more than two per cent of the popular vote in an election receive $1.95 for each vote they receive. Ending this transfer would cut spending by about $25 million and allow politicians to set a national example in this era of fiscal belt-tightening. Since the Conservative party won the most votes in the October 14 election, we stand to lose the most. If our party made a mistake, it was in underestimating the greed of the three opposition parties.

Since we formed a minority government, the opposition refused to bring the government down on issues they railed against, including environmental policy, Afghanistan, immigration and many others. When we suggested that all parties forfeit this free money and instead raise their own funds the old-fashioned way through private donations, this became their hill to die on.

The notion of a coalition that would invite a separatist party to help craft policies for the betterment of Canada is alarming. I fail to see how a party that is bent upon breaking up this nation can help build a stronger Canada in the future. And, the parties within this coalition are diametrically opposed with each other on virtually all policy issues. Our government will do everything possible to oppose it.

In the meantime, we hope cooler heads will prevail so Parliament can address the issues that are truly important to Canadians. It is essential that Canada stay the course on its economic plan. We are the envy of the industrialized world and this government intends to keep it that way.

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The audio version of Garry's December 8, 2008 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here