As so often happens, events (or the stars) are aligning to ensure an exciting Wednesday Night this week. With the Tories claiming the Liberal minority government could fall as early as Tuesday after the Speaker of the House ruled that a motion calling on the government to resign is in order, the visit of Westmount Ville-Marie's acclaimed Conservative candidate, Brian Mitchell, is, to say the least, timely. Stephen Poloz has conveniently arranged the Quebec portion of his semi-annual cross-country tour for this week and we will have him as a welcome commentator on export-related matters. He will also be the speaker at the Board of Trade luncheon on May 12. For those with an interest in the global textile market, please read his column of May 5 on the MoneySense Website. Congratulations to The National Post for the series on The New India. As Wednesday Night has long recognized, India and China are in a race to lead major world economies in growth in the next half-century as their populations of more than one billion people each evolve into middle-class consumers. China is in the lead, with production this year increasing at a faster-than-forecast 9.5% a year, compared with India's 6.6%. But there are demographic trends at play that may give India the advantage over time. Meanwhile, the International Herald Tribune's Kristy Houghs focuses on India's poor, writing that Indian officials must find new and creative ways to fight poverty if the country's economic success is to be sustainable, and argues that programs focusing on entrepreneurial development and private-public partnerships offer the most promise as India rises on the world stage. During the 60th anniversary celebration of VE-Day, we have noted with dismay the Prime Minister's inept handling of what should have been a major tribute to the Canadian liberators of The Netherlands. "Mr. Dithers" out-dithered himself and managed to arrive as the party was winding down, thus disappointing some 1500 veterans who had their act together, making himself, the Canadian government and the country look foolish. In addition, in our opinion, he behaved like a badly brought-up and cranky child, confining the other leaders to the back of the plane and barely recognizing their presence. Please come share our eventful evening -- and, if you are VERY good, we might be able to skip the latest from the Gomery Commission! Don't forget to check http://www.wednesday-night.com/Wed1209.asp