Constitutionally speaking...

The cat is out of the bag, Harper is setting the course for a constitutional debate.

This little trial balloon should be interesting.

Given that there was no discussion of this during the election and it's curious absence from the Conservative platform, it's a surprise to everyone.

It's a cynical strategy to set the table for the next election.

You don't need a Strategic Counsel poll to realize that the 5-P's aren't going to set anyone's passion on fire, in fact, they are likely to infuriate a lot of people.

So Stephen realizes he needs something else to talk about, and to corner the Liberal's into something which pits them against the provinces. Mulroney did this with free trade, and it worked.

Why do I say this is cynical?

Well, you woke up this morning, had breakfast, took the kids to school, and went to work.

What bugged you about today? Likely nothing.

But if something bothered you, what about your day so far required a constitutional change?

Likely nothing.

You might have wanted a better car (a tax cut), or less traffic (infrastructure), or a better school (provincial jurisdiction), a more challenging job (SDC) or maybe a prettier husband/wife (Wife Swop...)

But none of these require a constitutional amendment. Fixing them does have an important role for the federal government, but none require a constitutional amendment.

Unless you want to enshrine the right to hold secret cabinet meetings... yeah, that's what this is about...

Otherwise, rolling the dice with the future of the country is as nutty as it gets...