HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-12-04, Page 6THE EDITOR,The political circumstancesthat we now find ourselves in,is most certainly in the realm
of the incredible. Prime
Minister Harper was elected
to lead a minority government
with a spirit of co-operation,
which he himself attested to
upon his election.
Yet, with the 40th
Parliament having barely
begun, he cynically opted to
chart a course of self-political
gain that has undoubtedly and
irreparably breached the trust
of Canadians and poisoned
the atmosphere of Parliament.
The catalyst of the current
political situation was the
Harper government’s
astonishing economic update.
With regards to its measures
specifically, it has predicted
0.3 per cent economic growth
and a razor-thin surplus in
2009-2010. Yet
simultaneously respected
economists are predicting a
decline in economic growth
and a deficit of around $3
billion for the same fiscal
period.
Furthermore, the Harper
government has included in
its predicted surplus the
sensational claim that it will
sell $2.3-billion in
government property and
Crown corporations; all the
while, it has come to light thatthe government is unable toprovide a list of the assets thatare to be sold, during a
buyer’s market. Therefore, it
would be logical to conclude
that if the Harper government
does not know what these
Crown assets even are, it
would be incredible to believe
that they could be pre-
emptively valued at a magical
$2.3-billion.
Moreover, under the veil of
the economic crisis, the
Harper government has used
its economic update to
ideologically suspend the
right of public servants to
strike and has sought to
undermine the principle of
equal pay for work of equal
value for women.
What is even further
concerning is how wildly out
of step the Harper
government is with that of
governments around the
world by choosing not to put
forward an economic stimulus
now. This, despite the fact that
various sectors of our
economy are already
beginning to falter and
irrespective of the fact that
other major western
industrialized nations are
moving forward with
aggressive economic
packages to protect the jobs of
their citizens.Beyond the economicupdate itself, it is also vitallyimportant to consider that in
the 40th general election, 62
per cent of the popular vote
went to political parties other
than the Conservatives. The
Harper government therefore,
had a fiduciary duty to consult
with the other political parties
before unilaterally moving
forward with an undemocratic
economic plan.
Instead, the Harper
government dishonourably
attempted to use a serious
economic crisis simply for
political gain with the
underlying motive of
financially hobbling every
other major political party in
Canada.
With Prime Minister Harper
having breached the trust
invested in him by a minority
of voters to work in co-
operation with other political
parties and having now
poisoned the atmosphere of
the 40th Parliament of
Canada, it is my most humble
conclusion that the Harper
government’s mandate is now
near its end and perhaps it is
time that a new government
replaced it.
Sincerely,
Kevin Wilbee,
Walton, Ontario.
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008.
Yum!
Maddy Bernard, two, was one of the many children running around the
Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Saturday after the Santa
Claus Parade. Bernard was in the kitchen, enjoying a hot dog. (Shawn Loughlin
photo)
Letter to the editorWriter feels Harper breached Canadians’ trust
THE EDITOR,
The Liberals and the NDP
must think we live in a
banana republic where they
can stage a coup anytime they
want!
In a naked grab for power
they could not attain by
election they are conspiring
to bring down the
Conservative government
elected by Canadians just
eight weeks ago. Since both
together cannot outnumber
the Conservatives, they are
prepared to get backing from
the Bloc, a party that exists in
one province and whose sole
reason for existence is the
destruction of Canada.
Supposedly, the reason for
overthrowing the elected
government is that the
Conservatives have not
brought in a stimulus package
in their economic statement;
what a bold-faced lie! The
real reason is that the
Conservatives were planning
to get rid of the taxpayer
subsidy to political parties
and it was right for them to do
so.
Their squealing is the
sound of piggies being
dragged away from the tax
trough! It is not the fault of
Conservatives or Canadians
that these two parties have
almost no grassroots
fundraising ability.
Why should my taxes be
used to fund political parties
whose philosophies I abhor
(like the NDP, Bloc, and
Liberals)?
So now we are faced with
the prospect of a coalition led
possibly by the-man-even-
his-own-party-doesn’t-want-
Dion, or possibly Michael-I-
can-change-my-position-
anytime-Ignatieff with (it is
rumoured) Jack Layton as
finance minister.
This would-be coalition is
not about what’s best for
Canada, it’s about Liberal and
NDP greed and megalomania
and is being brokered by a
couple of has-beens –
Ed Broadbent and Jean
Chrétien.
Canadians should not
accept this Third-World-style
coup and we should kick
these parties to the curb –
forever!
Dave Joslin
Huron-Bruce CHP.
Letter
Joslin slams opposition
Notice to Hog Producers
Application deadline is December 31, 2008.
For more information or for an application form,
call 1-800-667-8567 or visit www.agr.gc.ca/cdhi
The Circovirus Inoculation Program provides eligible hog producers with financial assistance to
offset costs related to testing, diagnosis and treatment of hog herds for Porcine Circovirus Associated
Diseases (PCVAD2).
Diagnostic testing/clinical diagnosis
• Hog owners or herd managers whose herd(s) have had a certified diagnostic test for PCVAD2 since
March 1, 2006, can receive up to $150 per test, up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and up to $4,000 for the
duration of the program.
• In the absence of a certified diagnostic test, a clinical diagnosis must have been performed by a
veterinarian between March 1, 2006, and November 15, 2007.
Vaccination
Hog owners or herd managers whose animals were part of a herd that tested positive for PCVAD2 can
receive up to $1 per piglet and up to $7 per gilt, sow, or boar.
THE EDITOR,
The Belgrave Community
Centre Board would like to
welcome Karen Smith as the
new secretary-treasurer.
Karen is replacing Barb
Black whom we have relied
on for many years.
With Barb’s help and
Karen’s keen desire to be
involved in the community,
I’m sure the transition will be
very smooth.
The Community Centre
Board appreciates the
continued support of the
community.
The fowl supper and
the fundraising draw on
Oct. 8 were both great
successes.
Paul Gowing, Chair
Belgrave Community
Centre Board.
Belgrave board
gets new secretary