www.ChrisLaBossiere.com

I have been feeling a shift in the Progressive Conservative's tone over the last few weeks, and I am actually starting to think that they might be making a turn to the ideological middle-right and leaving the Wildrose Alliance out on the far right.

As you already know, I think that might be a smart political move, if even disingenuous. I think what really caught my attention was the lack of interest, even distaste for the Manning Centre event. I had a conversation with one of the Cabinet Ministers on Twitter that made me wonder why the Conservatives didn't attend, or want to add any people, hence credibility to the event. That really sealed the deal for my guesses below:

So, my budget predictions, in big chunky themes:

• The Province will force modest cost cuts from all departments, but PROTECTS service delivery in Education, Healthcare, and the Environment
• The deficit is projected to be $1.0B LESS than expected due to increased natural gas costs
• A balanced budget is predicted by the end of 2011, just in time for election season to start

The tone of this budget will be very moderate, and the PC's will start to ramp up anti-WAP rhetoric, to try and isolate them as angry, far-right, and out of touch (Draconian?).

We'll find out in 1-minute....