Another reminder why Steven Harper is bad for Canada
Ten reasons not to vote for Stephen Harper.
Angry at the Liberals? Be careful what you wish for, says former Ontario Deputy Secretary.
Dateline: Friday, June 25, 2004
Dear Friend:
I know that many people are contemplating voting Conservative because they are mad at the Liberals and because Stephen Harper is coming across as a reasonable guy. All this is understandable, but I believe that the real Stephen Harper and the real Conservative policies are bad for Canada and our future. Below I have listed my top ten reasons for not voting Conservative. If you think this list is worth considering before you decide how to vote, please send a copy on to a few friends.
Michael Mendelson
P.S. This is NOT a sponsored political advertisement: I just wanted to make a list for myself but when I showed it to a few others they suggested that it would be useful to circulate. ============================================================================
Ten reasons not to vote Conservative
1. The Conservatives will withdraw from Canada's agreement to the Kyoto Accord on climate change. This will have serious effects for Canada's standing in the global community, not to say the world's effort to reduce global warming. If you have children or grandchildren, be worried. There is no greater threat to their future well-being than climate change.
2. The Conservative fiscal plan does not add up. It will leave Canada once again with a huge deficit by making tax cuts we cannot afford. The Conservatives can only balance their budget with several billion dollars in cuts to other government programs, according to studies by the CD Howe institute and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Ten years later, the Conservative fiscal plan will mean higher taxes to pay the debt they accumulate.
3. The Conservatives main 'social' plank is a $2000 child tax deduction. This would provide no benefits at all to low income families, such as a single mother working at minimum wage, but would provide about $1,160 to a single earner making $200,000 a year. The cost of this proposal is about $3.5 billion, and it will also cost the provinces about $1.75 billion - every year! The Conservative platform does not acknowledge the cost to the provinces. This $5+ billion a year could almost end child poverty in Canada if it were put into the existing National Child Benefit. 4. Stephen Harper wrote an article and made numerous statements advocating Canada's participation in the war in Iraq. His current disavowal of his own position shows that he is not willing to be straightforward with the public and accept responsibility on a difficult issue. His stand in favour of Canada's participation shows that he does not value Canada's long-standing support for the United Nations and multilateral international institutions.
5. Stephen Harper's main advisor, Tom Flanagan, who is likely to be his Chief of Staff and very influential in Ottawa, has written a book (First Nations, Second Thoughts) on Aboriginal issues that has caused deep distress in Canada's Aboriginal community. Essentially, Flanagan argues against any 'special recognition' of Aboriginal people. Many members of the Conservative caucus have taken similar positions. A Conservative government will attempt to set the clock back on Aboriginal issues, and will cause great tensions with Canada's Aboriginal peoples - our most vulnerable community.
6. Stephen Harper has said that he will allow free votes on private member bills. It is virtually certain that a private member will sponsor a bill to reduce women's right to choose. In a Parliament dominated by Conservatives such a bill could pass, but even if it does not it will cause a divisive and disturbing campaign. Other issues likely to come forward include capital punishment and perhaps other socially conservative issues.
7. The Supreme Court has two vacancies now and will shortly have a third vacancy. Appointments can be made at the will of the Prime Minister, even in a minority government. Stephen Harper is likely to select extreme conservatives for these positions, and this will have an impact on Canada for many decades, long after his government is defeated.
8. Stephen Harper has refused to take a stand against privatization of health care. He only says that services must be publicly funded. Stephen Harper will not stand up to Ralph Klein; to whom many in his caucus owe debts for political support. But private health care will add to costs for Canada and threaten our health, as has been shown in several academic studies, including studies recently published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. Once we introduce private delivery it will be expensive and difficult to go back to a public system, as private providers will have to be compensated.
9. The Conservatives have no articulated policy to assist Canada's cities, where 80% of the population lives. Canada's cities are the foundation of our economic growth, but their infrastructure is crumbling. The mayors of Canada's cities took the unprecedented step of asking Canadians not to vote for the Conservatives.
10. Many members of the Conservative caucus argue for an American style 'right to bear arms' and do not support any type of gun registry. Stephen Harper has not spoken out in favour of gun control. He criticizes the Liberal's registry, but typically does not say what he will do, if anything.
