To the editor:
Mr. Harper says the upcoming election is “not necessary.” He is right but for the wrong reasons.
If the minority Conservative government had co-operated with the opposition parties in an ethical democratic manner instead of acting like a partisan majority, and if Mr. Harper had negotiated budget issues with Mr. Layton in good faith, there would be no need for this election.
The money needed for the election could be better spent on the issues Mr. Layton had identified as essential for his support. It is both the opposition and Parliament who have been treated with contempt instead of co-operation.
The funding of the cyclotron project is another matter of concern for Thunder Bay.
If this needed federal funding had been in good faith, it could have been provided as one of Mr. Harper’s pre-election goodies.
As it is, several NDP held ridings have been deliberately targeted with funding for such projects in a budget that Mr. Harper knew would be defeated if voted on – another clever trick to persuade a Conservative vote.
Thunder Bay-Superior North is one such riding; the cyclotron constantly worked for by NDP MP Bruce Hyer is too important to be used as an election tool.
Mr. Harper says the upcoming election is “not necessary.” He is right but for the wrong reasons.
If the minority Conservative government had co-operated with the opposition parties in an ethical democratic manner instead of acting like a partisan majority, and if Mr. Harper had negotiated budget issues with Mr. Layton in good faith, there would be no need for this election.
The money needed for the election could be better spent on the issues Mr. Layton had identified as essential for his support. It is both the opposition and Parliament who have been treated with contempt instead of co-operation.
The funding of the cyclotron project is another matter of concern for Thunder Bay.
If this needed federal funding had been in good faith, it could have been provided as one of Mr. Harper’s pre-election goodies.
As it is, several NDP held ridings have been deliberately targeted with funding for such projects in a budget that Mr. Harper knew would be defeated if voted on – another clever trick to persuade a Conservative vote.
Thunder Bay-Superior North is one such riding; the cyclotron constantly worked for by NDP MP Bruce Hyer is too important to be used as an election tool.
Elizabeth Peters,
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
