Unenforced

As for the Cons' stance on the Quebec government's plan to impose health care user fees, it's worth pointing out the yawning gap between their words and their actions in office. Here's the Con response when the news broke:

(T)he federal government is avoiding getting sucked into what would be a contentious debate. It offered a curt reply when asked whether it would halt Quebec's move.

"The Canada Health Act is the law of the land," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper's spokesman, Dimitri Soudas.

"Provinces and territories have continuously indicated they respect the Canada Health Act and obviously the federal government expects the Canada Health Act to always be respected."

Which is certainly a positive enough sentiment if taken at face value. But it rings rather hollow coming from a government which has ensured that the Canada Health Act won't actually be enforced at the federal level - and the fact that the Cons have relied purely on provincial self-reporting looks to have played a significant role in Charest's apparent belief that his government can get away with thumbing its nose at the law.