So let me get this straight.  A federal Liberal government negotiating with nine provincial Liberal governments, and one Liberal sympathetic government, and they still could not come up with a deal?  And the government sweetens the deal in a last attempt to buy the Liberals off- a traditionally successful negotiation ploy?

What a colossal waste of time, all at the expense of the taxpayer.  Again, Harper was right.  Negotiation with the provinces is like herding cats.  A lot of manoeuvring at the cat dish for the biggest portion of the food at the expense of others.  These federal-provincial conferences reflect all that is wrong with with the Confederation.  National interest sacrificed in the name of greed.  That being said, the government is equally responsible as their 'agree to the deal by sunset' tactic, and last minute buy off attempt, was just as damaging to the Confederation.

  Impose the deal.  No bribing.  No bankrupting the country.