To the Editor,
What’s up with Mr. Stephen Harper and his attacks on what he calls a “reckless coalition”?
He seems to forget that his own government is a coalition of Conservatives and Reform. He also seems to forget that every MP that is elected, is elected. This is not the “Tory Nation” of his website, but Canada, a parliamentary democracy.
According to Mr. Harper, it is this “evil coalition” that didn’t pass his budget and has brought the bother of an election upon us. How convenient to forget the real reason for an election: contempt of Parliament and the Bev Oda affair.
Then there is Elections Canada laying charges against the Conservative Party and four of its members, including two senators, over alleged violations of election spending rules, secrecy and lack of accountability, out of control spending at the G8/G20 summit, purchase of fighter jets without accountability or competitive pricing, cuts to women’s programs while declaring he is “for the family”. The list goes on.
Remember the Senate? Mr. Harper was going to reform it. One day he found it was more beneficial to simply appoint senators who he could count on to represent him.
Tax cuts? If you are rich. Otherwise you get service cuts. By limiting party funding to donations he also can insure that those who can afford to, will be represented in government.
Maybe it’s the bratty voice in the Harper attack ads sneering at the “reckless coalition” that has me feeling rather snarly myself. But when someone lusts so much for absolute power, I think it’s time to take notice.
Barbara Cooper,
Port Alberni