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2012-07-06 at NOON

LETTER: Conservative agenda eroding Canadian values

Louise Fisher, Thunder Bay
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To the editor,

Since the imposition of the Free Trade Agreement in the late 1980s, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is only the latest in a string of rightwing Reformers/Conservatives (both federal and provincial), beginning with Brian Mulroney, to spearhead a calculated and systematic attack on our nation with a view to destroying our way of life and the very values we uphold. 

Their efforts in this regard are designed to assist multinational corporations to maximize profits by introducing a new order that embraces a global economy holding no loyalty to, or regard for, national borders or the peoples within them. 

Onmibus bills such as that passed recently by Harper and the federal government are crucial to furthering this goal. This is why any efforts to convince him to make changes to it were destined to fail. 

Bill C-28 is vital to the Conservative’s corporate agenda, which seeks to further cripple our national economy, dismantle our social safety net, rid the country of environmental protections, drive down wages, destroy labour unions, weaken labour laws, and otherwise wreak havoc on our way of life and everything Canadians hold dear. 

Both Democracy and Canada were fed a poison pill 20 years ago and are but a few short years away from total extinction. 

For this reason I did not attend any Canada Day celebrations this year since a wake, rather than a birthday party, would have been more suitable.


Louise Fisher,
Thunder Bay

 

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Comments

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N250 says:
Canadian values or leftist values? While I don't agree with everything the PM stands for, this government has been a refreshing change thus far - at least as far as my Canadian values are concerned :)
7/6/2012 1:48:51 PM
TWM says:
The Environmental Assesment Act has undergone some major changes recently, specifically, the federal cabinet now has power to over-ride any decisions and move to approve developments in the Oil and Gas Industries. It also limits meetings and has shortened deadlines for arguements against resource development. This is in keeping with Harpers vision to expand our exports to China and other countries. Shutting the door to environmental concerns is not in keeping with my canadian values.
7/8/2012 1:48:48 PM
waterunderthebridge says:
ONMINBUS BILLS -every majority government since Pierre Trudeau's has used its majority to ram through large pieces of legislation full of all sorts of amendments to several acts of Parliament.

One of Pierre Trudeau’s first pieces of legislation after becoming prime minister in 1968 was the Criminal Law Amendment Act.

Like the Tories’ C-38, the opposition charged that Trudeau’s C-150 was an attempt to change the nature of Canada by stealth without proper debate or accountability in Parliament.
The act legalized homosexuality, abortion and contraception. It permitted lotteries. It imposed restrictions on gun ownership, brought in new drinking-and-driving penalties, outlawed harassing telephone calls, regulated misleading advertising and redefined what constituted cruelty to animals in ways that concerned farmers.

Guess we will have to vote NDP - Oh no just had a thought remember "Bob Rae days" with Tommy Muclair
7/6/2012 5:56:18 PM
Janie says:
It is interesting that the purpose of Pierre Trudeau's act was to give rights to those who were under serviced. The conservative Omnibus Bill's purpose is to take away rights and freedoms that many of us hold dear. Kind of a strange comparison.
7/12/2012 10:40:16 AM
big joe mufferaw says:
You say leftist like it's a bad thing...

The Canadian value of equal opportunity has been so undermined by the destruction of the cornerstones of Canadian freedom that one can hardly recognize the Canada we grew up loving...where's the care and concern for all Canadians...not just the rich.
7/6/2012 9:50:19 PM
Tbaylifer says:
N250: You must have very selfish values.

7/7/2012 7:31:39 AM
TWM says:
Canadian values range from far left to far right and while I disagree with most of what the PM stands for, this government has been a absolute let down, at least as far as my Canadian values are concerned.
7/7/2012 4:24:44 PM
caesarjbsquitti says:
I am not sure if the problem with politics is that left or right, creates positions that are out of balance, frankly i use both left right feet to walk.
7/7/2012 10:04:46 PM
Big Head says:
The Government has been excellent. At the federal level your taxes never went up. He got out of Kyoto because it was bad for Canada while India and China could do whatever they wanted, we pay for it. Gun Registry, bye bye! Global Economy is here. If your union can't produce stuff cheaper then too bad. If you are such a union person Louise, what was the last thing you bought at Wall Mart? I hope all your clothes have the union made stamp in it. If you are going to just make a statement like the one in your 4th paragraph you better back it up with some examples. Because its just your opinion. And while you may be negatively affected, others may be positively affected. I guess the free trade with the US must of really hurt you too. Funny, a lot of businesses did well with that, oh and so did you crossing the border with items made in the US. No duty on that even if you are over the limit.
7/8/2012 9:57:56 AM
C J says:
Harper is killing us all slowly. Making us all poor too as he gets richer. Even a $100+k per year household is now lower class. Thank you everyone who voted him in. You are all dumb and don't have a clue.
7/8/2012 10:20:33 AM
pc says:
you probably would have preferred Bob Rae. But remember what he did to Ontario and think about what he would have done to Canada.
I think if you look at the bigger picture you would find that it is the Libs. in Toronto who are making us poor.
User fees for health care, hydro bills through the roof. Look at our education system and pray you don't have children in school come the fall.
Steven Harper is attempting to give us back what we grew up with. For that I am truly grateful to him and his government.
Also, I am neither dumb or lower class.I am well educated middle class and live in the real world. But yes I voted for the Conservatives and will do again. Provincially and Federally.
7/8/2012 8:38:04 PM
Slyder says:
I'm pretty sure it's been quoted by economists that the Canadain economy is the envy of many, many countries. Also if you make 100k and still feel poor, sorry, but I guess you'll have to suck it up and not buy that second sea-doo. Stop being so entitled. Finally, while not perfect, Mr. Harper has done a great job. What Canadian Values are you talking about. We are a mix of people with a mix of ideas, some left and some right.
7/9/2012 9:01:47 AM
canadaboy2000 says:
Hey, leftists.
Equal opportunity is a conservative belief. Equal outcomes is a liberal belief. Lets get that straight first.

Some of you are making blanket statements about how the Conservative party supposedly destroys people's opportunity, and you have it completely backwards.
Opportunity is when you have the freedom to make something out of yourself, or choose to not do anything with your life. You make your life what you choose it to be.
Having equal outcomes on the other hand, is when a government punishes the achievers and rewards the low achievers by spreading the earners wealth around to everyone, regardless of if they work or not. A far more criminal philosophy, in my opinion. Punishes good behaviour, and rewards bad behaviour.

You leftists, simply blame your own low achievement on everyone else, when its a result of your own lazyness.
7/9/2012 10:29:20 PM
TWM says:
It is you that has made a blanket statement. If you believe the conservative government has your best interests at heart, you are sadly mistaken. However, the conservative party appeciates your blissfulness.
7/11/2012 9:29:45 AM
matt1981 says:
I would like to know who died and gave you a monopoly on patriotism. Who are you to decide what is a Canadian value and what is not. We live in a society where opinions are different. You sound no different from a right wing Republican in the U.S.. "Agree with me or you hate America"

I agree if you can't make a living on $100 000 a year, see a financial advisor NOW, because you obviously don't know how to manage money properly. And how is free trade destroying the "values" we uphold. Are we not allowed to say something because of free trade? Are we not allowed to move to where we want because of free trade.

If protectionism had worked, then the 1930's should have been a time of prosperity. While I wasn't around, from what people tell me it was not that way. In fact 1993-2008 saw the longest streak of economic growth in Canadian history.

7/10/2012 11:47:46 AM
ircorrect says:
I would like to add that the Harper government is constantly in the process of eroding our rights and freedoms. Look at the new copyright bill that prevents us from legally using our media the way we want (DRM provisions mean you can't unlock something you OWN). Look at the new crime bill they keep trying to pass that follow a tough on crime stance that is well known to be a failure.

The Harperment is constantly trying to mould Canada into the US using all of the policies that the US is now openly admitting are failures. First of all, why would/should we be emulating the US? We are (or were) a very socially progressive country. Why go backwards because our neighbor to the south puts pressure on us? Second, any policy that benefits corporations more than consumers is evil plain and simple.

Citizens best interests should be the governments first concern. What Harper wants is irrelevant. It's our country not his. We need to move forward with policy, not backward.
7/10/2012 12:17:28 PM
canadaboy2000 says:
@Ircorrect ( or is it "incorrect"? )

I find it funny that so many on the left attack conservative policy on rights and freedoms, when the vast majority of entitlements that those on the left support are not rights, and are not legitimate under our constitution.

Canada's health system completely takes away people's rights.
Progressive tax systems are unfair to those who do pay, even though they are loved by the recipients who do not pay.
Welfare is completely unfair to the working man, who must labour for his money.
And many others...

I'm sure you support these things, and others like them.

You do not want rights- you truly dont. Rights and Freedoms come with RESPONSIBILITIES to take care of yourself. You want entitlements, that someone else pays for. You want a nanny state. You dont even know what freedom really means.
Just admit it.
7/10/2012 8:20:13 PM
ircorrect says:
Explain how the health care system completely takes away peoples rights.

Taxes exist to pay for things that benefit everyone. Everyone (who cares about the survival of our species and understands that social help and compassion are necessary) should pay taxes to help others out in any way they can. If you have more, you should be able to give more to help those who have less.

You're right, welfare is unfair to the working man. Not being able to find a job because of circumstances out of your control is even more unfair to the unemployed.

Don't presume to tell me what I do and don't want. I do want rights. I am a responsible person who takes care of themself. I don't want a nanny state. I want people who are capable of making good socially conscious decisions without government. The responsibilities you speak of include helping those who can't help themselves. Everyone is entitled to a quality life. Freedom is a fallacy. Every thing in life is a privilege.
7/12/2012 4:29:51 PM
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