OTTAWA - With a newly minted majority government, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will have the opportunity to revisit many issues. In fact, there are several key issues that this government had wanted to act upon earlier, trying to squeeze some progress out of an obstinate minority parliament. These issues include healthcare funding, the long-gun registry, and - certainly - the elimination of political pay-per-vote subsidies.

It is likely for the best that the Conservatives were unable to act on these issues previously, while in a minority position. The nature of Canada's brokerage politics would have surely watered-down any proposed legislation or resulted in a hodge-podge of compromises and inefficiencies. This would have only made things worse, and would have created new political quagmires that politicians would be loathe to wade into again.

Rather, buoyed by a majority government it seems that Prime Minister Harper is now taking aim at the $27-million gorilla in the room - political pay-per-vote subsidies.

These subsidies, pegged at around $2 per vote received in the most recent federal election, prop up Canada's political parties and help pay for operating costs and campaign expenses. Of course, political parties need funding to remain viable but, since the inception of this scheme the question has always remained - why taxpayers' money?

It appears that Mr. Harper is finally set to axe these subsidies once and for all. The Prime Minister has announced his intentions to phase out these handouts over three years - reducing the subsidy first to $1.50, then $1, then $0.50, and finally $0.

This has long been a popular cause for the Tories, who have led all of the federal parties in terms of fundraising in recent years. It was united opposition from the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois that had stalled these reforms previously - as each of these parties relied heavily upon the public subsidies to remain afloat. The Bloc, for example, did not need to solicit donations whatsoever to fund their regional party and its candidates - the public handout was more than enough. It is widely believed that the elimination of this subsidy will spell trouble for the Bloc.

The same can be said for the Liberals - who are set to receive a relatively smaller handout now, after their dismal showing in the recent federal election. The Liberals have had a very difficult time fundraising for the past several years, seemingly unable to resonate with voters enough to encourage the writing of cheques. One thing, however, is for sure - the Liberals will not win any new support by opposing these reforms. Taxpayers are clearly tired of funding political parties that do not stand for anything concrete.