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There is irony in the fact that polls have consistently shown Canadians think the Conservative party and Stephen Harper have been able to best handle the economy, yet as soon as some economic turbulence occurred, primarily driven by U.S. interests, the national media and disgracefully opportunistic opposition parties began to invite similar fear and panic about our Canadian economy.

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The national media should be ashamed of its panic-inducing fear mongering, including frequent references to a "depression." It has been biased and unfair to the prime minister.

Yesterday, for example, in one story The Canadian Press breathlessly wrote about Harper being "blasted" for being "out of touch -- and out of empathy" with "fearful Canadians" facing an "economic crisis." It wrote that "With the economic news darkening by the day" the polls for Harper are looking worse. It's gloomy bunk! The very same day the very same source wrote a story that quotes credible economic experts as saying that despite all the economic turmoil in the U.S. and Europe, Canada is expected by the International Monetary Fund to have the best economy of all the G7 nations. Our Gross Domestic Product is expected to increase by 1.2 per cent! That's growth, not even "recession" let alone "depression"! Nor is it "economic news darkening by the day."

Prime Minister Harper is correct. Canada's economy is fundamentally sound, there is no crisis here, even if we will feel some effects from the turmoil elsewhere. Economic experts agree: we have no sub prime mortgage crisis; we have no banks that need bailing out; our bank system is well regulated (unlike in the U.S. and Europe), we have low unemployment, we've enjoyed surpluses for several years and we are not burdened by outrageously high national debt, again unlike the U.S.. Canada is among the best placed in the world to weather the effects of the economic problems elsewhere.

We wouldn't know that, however, if we listened to the opportunistic bleatings of Stéphane Dion and Jack Layton, demanding action when in fact the steady as she goes approach is precisely what's needed. Mr. Dion would spend billions to bail out who? He would raise taxes, a disincentive to economic growth. He panics people for votes, not for the nation's best interest. It is irresponsible opportunism at the worst possible time. We do not want to make a mistake. We do not need a Chicken Little act when we are in such a good position.