May 27, 2004 - Yesterday, New Democrat leader Jack Layton laid the blame for the deaths of homeless people in Toronto at the feet of Prime Minister Martin, who cut housing subsidies as Finance Minister.

Martin tried to spin himself onto the moral high road. He ignored the substance of the accusation and attacked Layton personally: "I don't want to sink to that level."

Harper initially tag-teamed with Martin, also going after Layton.

What their attacks on Layton revealed is that both leaders fear the linking of government policy - Martin's vaunted "ideas" - with consequences in the real world. Policy does matter, especially when it comes to Canada's most vulnerable people.

Neither Martin nor Harper want to connect their collective agenda of shrinking government services and reducing the social safety net to consequences that don't match the "Politics of Achievement". Since the Liberals have come to power, food banks and homeless shelters have become major Canadian institutions. Toronto, which has Canada's largest homeless population, relies on 20 motels in addition to 50 shelters to house its homeless, over half of which are families.

It is absurd for Martin to say it is not proper to answer the question of how this happened, as Layton did.

On an election campaign, social problems are bad visuals, especially for the incumbent. Martin's logic seems to be: Why take responsibility, when you can promise solutions?

Yet the denunciations of Martin and Harper against New Democrat Party leader Jack Layton distinguished him and made his party look different.

Seeing the advantage Layton reaped, Harper left the so-called moral high ground he had claimed and tried to highlight a Conservative priority - more funding for the military - with the safety of Canadian soldiers.

Layton has the right idea. Canada has changed since the Liberals swept to power in 1993. Martin is trying to take credit for his government's achievements. Why not hold him accountable for its failures?