Ahem, but Harper stepped up military confrontation. The Liberals went to primarily rebuild Afghanistan.
Try building a school and later have the local children go to it every day when you have armed nutjobs shooting everything related to Nato forces. Blue Helmet missions where a joke, peacekeeping in a warzone, pretty ridiculous. It got alot more of our soldiers post-traumatised than the Nato missions just because of the absurde rules of engagement. They could nail a woman on her front door before your very eyes and they knew you could't do jack squat because you where personnaly not attacked...that got alot of our soldiers messed up. Remember Dallaire?
Now, I'm thinking that this is a golden chance for Harper to get majority. The liberals need Québec to get back, and with Dion, it's not gonna happen. He is soooo hated around here, we still can't believe the libs chose him for leadership. (but still, even after a few years after the sponcership scandal, people in Québec still got that sour taste in their mouths)
The Bloc is loosing steam since the few last elections, and they pretty screwd I think. They can't now go against a popular federal budget that they already accepted, it would make them look like they where going against the liberal and ADQ electorate, but then again, since the Bloc themselves approuved of the budget, the Conservatives are in good shape in Québec anyways, its a win-win for Harper.
And last, we saw the middle class talk back at yesterday's provincial election. The more right wing ADQ going beyond expectations, having four MP's sunday, to 41 yesterday. Now this is a very good sign for Harper, since a right wing party as crippled the two more central and center-left party's.
Lets not forget that the eternal opposition of the Bloc is wearing thin, and that the Québec City region as tasted having MP's in the goverment in Ottawa, It will probably spredd much more in a coming election.