Jacobhunter.ca
Big-spender Harper true to his neoconservative roots
By. Eugene Lang, Toronto Star
A new conventional wisdom has emerged. The Harper government has been labelled moderate, centrist – even "liberal."
This characterization is due entirely to the large fiscal deficits that have emerged on the Harper watch – $56 billion next year alone – deficits the government admits with a shrug will extend for several years.
No self-respecting conservative government could tolerate such profligacy, or so goes the critique. The Harperites have lost their way, abandoned their guiding philosophy, sold out to those soft-headed, big government political parties for which deficits are regarded as a normal part of governing.
Fraser exposes Tories
Auditor general's report calls Conservatives' competence into question
Canadians who fear their hard-earned tax money is disappearing down a black hole will no doubt be relieved to learn they are actually investing in government mismanagement on a grand scale.
Auditor general Sheila Fraser's latest compendium of federal misdeeds calls into question the basic competence of a Conservative government already under fire over stimulus squander and the current flu-shot fiasco.
Surprising only to those awaking from a long coma, Fraser concluded that Stephen Harper's government of big cardboard cheques is far better at making announcements than actually implementing them.
Some of Fraser's findings would be worthy of a comedic spoof were the consequences not so dire.
Canada's red ink won't vanish
By GREG WESTON
As Stephen Harper leads the country toward a historic $55-billion deficit and beyond in the name of economic stimulus, recent polls show ordinary Canadians are starting to fret about leaving their kids drowning in a sea of red ink.
But not to worry. In the world according to federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the national deficit will disappear when the Conservatives stop printing those big cardboard cheques for roads, sewers and new door knobs.
The finance minister's recent economic report went so far as to promise the country would "return to budgetary balance" without raising taxes, or cutting support to seniors or families.
Canada will be back in the black, Flaherty promised, without reducing employment insurance benefits or funding to the provinces for health care, social services or regional equalization.
Stephen Harper snubs world leaders at Climate Change Summit
OTTAWA–Prime Minister Stephen Harper opted for the double double and got a side serving of trouble by choosing to tour a Tim Hortons plant in Oakville while world leaders took to the podium at the United Nations.
While the world spotlight was on New York City and high-level discussions of nuclear proliferation, global peace and climate change, Harper, a hockey dad, was in Oakville reminiscing about the joys of enjoying a "hot double double" at early morning practices.
It was an event to mark Tim Hortons' decision to return its company ownership to Canadian soil.
Still, federal Liberals jumped on Harper's no-show at the United Nations yesterday as further evidence of how Canada's clout on the world stage has diminished under the Conservatives.
"Mr. Harper does not believe in multilateral institutions ... deep down he is an isolationist," said Liberal MP David McGuinty (Ottawa South).
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Harper government to raise taxes by $12.9 Billion over 2 years
According to the Globe and Mail, Harper's Conservative government plans to raise EI taxes as a way to balance the books. Harper's government "will collect $12.9-billion more in EI premiums from employers and workers".
This is the why Stephen Harper wants a majority, to raise your taxes, cut your programs, take Canada back 50 years as a society, and to do so while being accountable to no one.
Jacob Hunter Bio
Jacob Hunter is an advocate for drug policy reform and social justice based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Jacob is the Policy Director of the Beyond Prohibition Foundation and sits on the Board of Directors of both the BC Civil Liberties Association, and the Pivot Foundation. Jacob is also the founder and administrator of the activist website WhyProhibition.ca as well as a member of RightsCity.org editorial board.
Though he considers himself a non-partisan progressive, Jacob has volunteered on various political campaigns since 2000, working with likeminded candidates regardless of party affiliation. During the most recent provincial election Jacob served as Campaign Manager for the Green Party in Vancouver-Fraserview, while during the most recent federal election, Jacob served as Communications Director for the NDP in West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.
