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They wouldn't have had to resort to attempting to unite the right of centre vote at all if it wasn't for the reaction against the PC rule of Mulroney. I hindsight, the anxiety induced by the PCs of the '80s may have caused Canadians to send a very strong message that American styled ideals will not fly here without a bit of tempering and translation (ex-reformers take strong note: it was not just an Ontario thing) but some of the most distasteful or controversial actions passed by them have been successfull in the long run for our overall economy.
I'm referring to the GST (uggh) and NAFTA. I particularly despise the LIberals for reneging on the removal of the GST, although I don't know if that would have meant replacing the hidden (what 13%?) manufacturers sales tax on items. Yet I do not know of any gov't that has actually reversed taxes with the exception of Ontario income tax which has declined steadily thanks to Mike Harris, and Ive heard that the Ontario PST actually was reduced to 4% at one point in the '70's (so i've been told).
At any rate, the point of my ramble is that I get a lot of grief from former neighbours in Vancouver about the control that Ontario has on election outcomes. I always state that the sentiments are overwhelmingly national, and that while the PCs/Refromsers/Conservatives remain parochial, they will always have problems obtaining majority due to the experience of the 1980's.
/ready to be slammed.
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