In the middle of a financial crisis brought on by the pandemic we don’t have a finance minister who enjoys the confidence of the PM. That is now clear.

The PM seems to have sought out Carney, but Carney seems to be making it clear he doesn’t want to run in the pending by election.

So let me get this straight. Carney gives PM a hard no. Then PM has someone go out and tell the Globe he lacks full confidence in Morneau. While the PM is on vacation somewhere.

There will be something like a Question Period tomorrow. Unless Morneau resigns before that, the PM will be asked if he has confidence in his finance minister. Does he belatedly say once again that a Fife story is not true? Does he waffle?

If he doesn’t show up to answer the question, that is an answer in a manner of speaking as well. Letting Morneau twist in the wind.

The longer the Fife story sits out there, the worse it is for everyone. The only person who can end this right now seems to be Morneau and I don’t see why he’s waiting. If his status becomes the stuff of questions tomorrow, it will be worse.

The government is in a crisis of its own making. Can Trudeau fire Morneau for a conflict of interest he tolerated in himself? But if Morneau resigns to take responsibility for his conflict of interest, does he not indict the PM?

PMO can put out whatever spin it wants about “transforming the country” but the PM can’t manage a change of finance minister cleanly. This does not bode well for the coming weeks. Esp as we find out how many emergency Covid contracts went to firms with good Liberal links.