Gilles Duceppe's Dr. Evil moment

Many have called the happenings on Parliament Hill nothing but theatre, and no doubt there is a theatrical theme to the place from time to time, our MP's taking to their roles with relish, some over reaching at times, others grasping the material and making it their own.

This week it seems that auditions are being taken for the spring theatre presentation of  Austin Powers: The Pols Who Shagged Us , a melodrama featuring a cast of hundreds and one perhaps providing Gilles Duceppe with perhaps his greatest role, as none other than Dr. Evil.
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Mr. Duceppe's declaration that unless the government of Stephen Harper comes up with FIVE BILLION dollars in budget goodies for the home province, (certainly not the first time that he's expressed such a sentiment) has elicited the usual quotes and observations.

Among all the chatter around this latest move by the Independiste minded Bloc, the Conservatives on the Hill face the prospect  that the Bloc leader will set loose the Death Ray of this current parliament.

A move which despite their apparent anger of the moment, may prove to be helpful at election time depending of course how they handle the rather bold faced bit of extortion.

Needless to say, the financial demands of the Bloc isn't receiving the warmest of welcomes from the government ranks at the moment.

Globe and Mail-- Tories blast Duceppe's attempt at budget blackmail
Globe and Mail-- Bloc challenges Tories: Give Quebec $5 billion or the budget dies
National Post-- Don't give Quebec a nickel
National Post-- Bloc support for Harper will cost $5B,  Duceppe says
Montreal Gazette-- Bloc seeks $5 billion for Quebec in federal budget
Toronto Star-- We'll support federal budget... for $5B


Rehearsals for these Parliament Hill players will continue on through till February and the budget.

And while the kids continue to work on their lines, it really won't be known until after the Finance Minister delivers his financial prospectus that we'll all learn if they're all ready for Prime Time.

It's at that point that we'll hear the news if the big show is coming on the road for a spring run and set to appear at a community centre near us.