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This was true enough before the election. Less so after Liberals, having benefited from criticism of Conservatives, started benefiting from and perpetuating Conservative policy. Someone else may have done the deal, but it isn’t actually done. And, since only the Liberals can walk away from the deal, a more honest defence isn’t that the Conservatives did it – it’s that the Conservatives started it.

Dads don’t like that line, though; voters like it even less. So second, Liberals say, they won’t cancel the deal because they’ve already said that they won’t.

It’s always been a strange thing to say though, especially during a campaign. More a threat than a promise, since most Canadians oppose it. The government wasn’t elected because Liberals assured voters that – not to worry! – they’d supply lethal weapons to brutal states. Still, the Liberals committed to sticking with an odious decision, and they’ll be damned if they’ll break their word on that.

Very annoying Canadians, however, keep asking for a reasonable explanation. Fine, then. Third, Liberals explain, the deal is a contract, and the contract is “existing.”

“We respect the contract,” intoned Global Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion last month. Maybe this was the government’s time to really stand for something; maybe, in a moment of philosophical revelation, it nobly sacrificed human rights at that most sacred altar of contractual obligation.

Now, you might point out that contracts can be cancelled. You might even ask, “Why honour a dishonourable agreement?” But then you’ll surely suffer this answer from our eagerly engaged government.