Ignatieff on the Budget: He may not have "come FROM nothing", but he certainly shows he has "come TO nothing".

Finally.

After months of ankle-biting by the opposition over matters that are virtually irrelevant to the electorate - like whether or not Bev Oda should or shouldn't have made an initial to the denial of funding for KAIROS, or whether or not the Government has given ENOUGH information to the opposition respecting the costs of the fighter jet purchase or the building of new jails - finally, we have an issue that is of relevance to Canadians to define what separates Conservatives from everyone else.

The budget.

The budget, as tabled, provides some benefits to low-income seniors - some $223 million to increase the guaranteed income supplement for low-income seniors, as well as some modest perks to encourage re-settlement of doctors and nurses in rural communities through forgiveness of Student Loans.

The budget also seeks to close some corporate tax loop holes and to harmonize treatment of RRSP's with Individual Pension Plans.

Otherwise, it is a very boring, "stay the course" type of budget.

Which is exactly what the country needs.

No more lavish "stimulus spending".

No grand social programs.

A budget that basically says, "we, the government, will try to get out of the way of the economy".

The Liberals and Michael Ignatieff?

Read the transcript of Ignatieff's response here.

Mike is in it for Mike.

It takes over half his speech before he actually responds to the budget.  And then, a good part of his commentary is basically approving it - except for wanting to spend yet more money.

A couple things to note:

a) He makes no mention, specifically, of added expense for building new jails and the anticipated increased cost of more inmates;

b) He makes no mention of the cost of the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets;

c) While he makes broad statements of "reckless spending", he makes not one single statement suggesting WHERE that reckless spending occurred.

Why?

Because his statement has nothing to do with the budget and has everything to do with getting ready for an election.

Typical of Michael Ignatieff he says a lot, and at the same time, says nothing.

Where's the beef, Michael?

Generic complaints and platitudes come across like so many Monday morning quarterbacks - "If I got in the game, things would be different!"

But the thing of it is - he's not in the game, and he has suggested no specific plan to improve on the game plan of the Conservative government.

While Michael Ignatieff may not have "come from nothing", he certainly is showing Canadians that he has "come to nothing."