On exchanges

While both the Libs and the Cons have tried to position themselves as the only party capable of defending Canada against the Bloc, there are some issues where neither can even pretend to oppose the Bloc's desire to drain Ottawa of as much influence as possible. Fortunately, the NDP isn't staying quiet:

NDP Leader Jack Layton today blasted Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe for calling on Canada to adopt the American dollar.

“Giving up our dollar means giving up our sovereignty,” said Layton. “This is not about having the maple leaf on our money – it is about controlling our financial future. Canadians – not Americans – should control our destiny. The interests of the U.S. Federal reserve shouldn’t come before the interests of Canadian businesses or Canadian consumers.”

Layton called on Duceppe to stand up for Quebec businesses, home owners and students. “The Bloc needs to re-think their monetary policy and keep the ‘loonie’ in Quebecers’ and Canadians’ pockets. We shouldn’t leave it to US bankers south of the border to determine our interest rates. Canadians want their financial security in Canadian hands.”...

Duceppe joins a long list of politicians willing to gamble with Canadians’ financial future. Conservative MP Jason Kenny (sic), current Liberal leadership hopeful Scott Brison, and Bob Rae’s economic adviser Maurizio Bevilacqua, have all called for a common currency with the U.S.

It should be a fairly straightforward issue to recognize that Canada is best off being able to adjust its currency based on its own economic needs rather than being tied to the choices of the U.S. Fed. But with the other parties (or at least significant figures therein) all wanting to sell out as much of Canada as possible at every opportunity, the NDP is left as the sole party united in wanting to keep Canada's currency in Canadian hands. And that should position the NDP well to the extent that further subjugation to the U.S. will (and should) be an issue in the next election.