Tories trash talk Dion in bid to put him off his game

Conservative MPs have taken to taunting Liberal Leader Stephane Dion every time he's about to skate on to Parliament's centre ice. They use members' statements - which precede question period in the House of Commons each day - to indulge in pyschological warfare apparently aimed at putting Dion off his game just as he's about to rise to ask the first question of the day.

For example, St. Catharines Tory MP Rick Dykstra used his final statement Tuesday to accuse Dion of planning to spend billions, hike taxes and push the country into deficit.

"One person wants to bring this country and our economy to its knees," Dykstra thundered in conclusion. "Who is that? It is the person who is about to stand up."

The bookish Dion has never seemed comfortable with the hyper-partisan cut and thrust of question period.

Being hectored by a Tory backbencher before each day's performance "can't help but have some effect," said political scientist David Docherty of Wilfrid Laurier University.

The Tories must think it works. They've been employing the tactic steadily since about the beginning of April.

Members' statements are intended to give MPs a chance to speak on any issue that strikes their fancy. Frequently, MPs showcase local worthies or special events in their ridings or expound on causes close to their hearts.

While they also frequently take partisan shots at political rivals, the Tories are unique in their systematic use of the final statement each day to knee-cap a party leader. Indeed, it often appears they're following a script.

In essence, their daily message is that Dion is a spineless, unprincipled leader who has backed down repeatedly from threats to topple the minority Conservative government. For good measure, Tory MPs have recently begun regularly throwing in the accusation that Dion wants to hike gas taxes and spend the country into oblivion.

They invariably conclude much as Manitoba MP James Bezan did last month: "The actions, or rather inaction, by the Liberals makes it clear that they have no leadership, no policy and no vision for the future of our great country."

Some MPs add creative flourish to the same basic message. British Columbia MP Ed Fast prefaced a statement last month with the observation that fishing season is fast approaching. He detailed Dion's various flip-flops before concluding:

"Ever since the Liberal party swallowed his leadership hook, line and sinker, the Liberal leader, like a fish out of water, has been left gasping for air on issue after issue. It is no wonder that he and his Liberal party continue to flounder."

Windsor-area MP Jeff Watson called Dion, a "self-proclaimed hero" who has "turned out to be a zero," reduced to taking advice from his dog.

He sneered that Dion has learned to sit and roll-over and predicted that in the next election the Liberals' "so-called leader will finally play dead."

The Tories wouldn't comment on their strategy, while the Liberals insisted the "ritual denunciations," are having no effect.

"It's all part of the game," Liberal MP Bob Rae shrugged.

But Docherty worries that the daily skewering of Dion only helps lower the tenor of parliamentary discourse, encourages politicians to "find new ways to degrade themselves" and further alienates Canadians from the political system.

He warned the tactic may ultimately backfire on the Conservatives, who seem more intent on "attacking the opposition than defending their record."

"I think at some point in time voters are going to say, . . . 'To what end are you beating up on Stephane Dion? He's not the prime minister.' "