NDP reaction to federal budget was premature and possibly unwise

Moose Jaw - Late last year, the three federal opposition parties were up in arms about what they felt was a stand pat, or laissez-faire, attitude towards the downturn in the economy by the federal government.
As a result, the three parties banded together to threaten to form a coalition government to replace the Conservatives. The three opposition parties wanted the government to spend more money to stimulate the economy than it initially seemed willing to do.
After some jiggery-pokery, Prime Stephen Harper saved his job for a month while promising to bring in a budget this week.
And on Tuesday, that budget arrived. While there were some income tax cuts in the budget to appease those on the right side of the political spectrum, this budget was chock-a-block full of spending with the intention of stimulating the economy by creating jobs.
Sure, it's not everything they wanted but the opposition parties should see this as a moral victory. They showed the power of a minority government and forced the Tories to listen to the majority, which was also a desire of many Canadians.
So now the Tories have delivered more of what the opposition would like to see. And what has the opposition done?
Before even hearing one word of the budget speech, both the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois dismissed it out of hand. Yes, the budget does not have everything both these parties wanted to see, but it might have been wiser to have held off judgment.
Most of the country, except Quebec, has indicated a desire for the government to stay as it is instead of reverting to a coalition. Now, with the majority of Quebec wanting the Tories tossed out in favour of a Liberal/NDP coalition, I can understand the Bloc Quebecois dismissing the budget, but this is something the NDP should think twice about.
It may have behooved NDP Leader Jack Layton to have been like Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and said he needed some time to digest the budget.
The truth is there is enough here for many people to say to the NDP, "Come on, this is enough to help the economy, let's keep things going with the Tories for now."
While it is very distasteful for Layton to consider getting into bed with the Tories, remaining stubbornly against the Tories and, therefore, against this budget could backfire. The decision to remain against the budget could lead people to view the NDP as power hungry and not interested in what's best for the country.
Chances are, like most politicians, Layton is just doing what he thinks is best. However, it may be time for Layton to swallow some pride and support the budget with the proviso that he and his party would fight for other items such as increases to employment insurance.
This may be a bitter pill, but in the party's long run, it could be the smartest move to make.

Jason Small can be reached at 691-1255.