Who is the real leader of the opposition?

Maybe it because it’s been a tough several weeks for the Ignatieff Liberals. Or maybe it’s because it’s the first time the Liberal leader has asked a question on the Conservatives’ planned Employment Insurance premiums hike.

One or the other might explain why Michael Ignatieff’s first question in today’s question period was so similar to the question posed by New Democrat leader Jack Layton yesterday.

Jack Layton on October 6, 2009:

Mr. Speaker … the same is true for the EI premium increase, yet he is planning to increase EI premiums by $15 billion, which will mean employers will have to pay $884 more per year per employee, and workers will have to pay an extra $632 per year. He does not want to call it a tax increase, but that is what it is.

Economist Dale Orr says, “If it quacks like a duck, it's a duck”. Why is the Prime Minister intent on discouraging employers from hiring Canadians in a recession by talking about raising a payroll tax?

Michael Ignatieff on October 7, 2009:

Mr. Speaker, according to very renowned economists, the Prime Minister's decision to increase wage contributions will prevent employers from hiring new employees. There will be an increase of $884 in premiums for employers under the Conservative plan. Will the prime minister not recognise the fact that this rise in taxes will kill jobs?

Welcome to the Employment insurance premiums hike file, Mr. Ignatieff. Er, and have a good weekend.