While philosophers and priests debate the ethical merits of cloning, it appears two Canadians are already the result of some bizarre cosmic experiment in human duplication. From politics to personality, former British Columbia premier Glen Clark and current federal Industry Minister Brian Tobin, are walking, talking, mirror images of each other.

Don't laugh. The last chuckle may yet be on taxpayers if Brian Tobin continues to replicate Clark-like ideas on the national stage. Need proof In 1994, when BC's government-run ferry system needed new ferries, Clark, then BC's Employment and Investment minister, pushed a "buy in BC" policy to revitalize BC's moribund shipbuilders. Three new ferries were constructed under his guiding hand and the result was a $250 million cost-overrun.

Similarly, seven years later, Brian Tobin recently announced that the federal government will provide "help" for Canada's shipbuilding industry. Taxpayer guaranteed loans for companies that purchase Canadian-built vessels, preferred "buy in Canada" policies for the government (but supposedly still decided on a "competitive" basis), and expanded tax credits for the industry will soon be standard.

Predictably, the minister claims those measures are not subsidies, but the fine print from Industry Canada puts the taxpayer value-for-dollar promise in the context of only a competitive domestic marketplace. And the other items merely deliver industry-specific help at the expense of lower tax rates for other businesses and individuals. Taxpayers will also be on the hook for any loan defaults.

Besides shipbuilding subsidies, both former premiers share a remarkably similar genetic make-up in other areas. Both love (or, in Clark's case, loved) the media spotlight but skip over important economic details. This trait was evident in Glen Clark's bias for government-built and poorly thought-out mass transit projects and inefficient Crown corporations, which cost taxpayers a fortune.

Tobin's Newfoundland approach to economic development was also reckless though in a different manner. Exhibit "A" was his cancellation of the massive Voisey's Bay nickel mine development unless Inco guaranteed processing jobs for Newfoundland. That action sacrificed wealth creation for all of Canada but the then premier had the gall to argue there was no reason for his province to export mineral wealth to Ontario. Yes there was; Ontario (and Alberta and B.C.) regularly exports its wealth to Newfoundland in the form of equalization payments.

"Captain Canada" should have been grateful for what Canada gives to Newfoundland. Instead, he acted like the leader of a third-world banana republic, another sign of Clarkness.

Now in Ottawa, it appears the Industry Minister will combine the worst instincts from his tenure in Newfoundland with Clark's megaproject delusions. The federal government, under Tobin's direction, will build high-speed internet connections to every corner of Canada at a cost of somewhere between $1.8 billion to $4.5 billion.

Similar to the former B.C. premier, Brian Tobin's past and present actions betray a schizophrenic approach to business and wealth creation; bash it when politically expedient and hamper major private sector projects unless companies agree to dumb and costly political objectives. Later, give away taxpayer candy in the form of subsidies that are, arguably, of marginal economic benefit at best, and at worst, useless and/or damaging.

If Glen Clark's record in British Columbia is anything to go by, his genetically similar Ottawa twin has only begun to hatch expensive schemes for taxpayers. Policy implications aside, it has all has the makings of a joke: "Question: What's the difference between Glen Clark and Brian Tobin Answer: About 7,300 kilometres."