Dorian Baxter's "Progressive Canadian" Concern and Remedy Over The Harper Regime's Throne Speech, Issued on This 22nd. Day of October, 2007.
As a "Progressive Canadian" in the true tradition of Sir John A. Macdonald, I have the following serious concerns over Mr. Harper's true colours as revealed in his recent "Speech From The Throne":
Stephen Harper has once again revealed himself as one who wishes to become the anithesis of Sir John A. Macdonald, he appears to want to be the "Father of De-Confederation"! Without doubt this man has a "small" vision of Canada with an ever-diminishing role for the Federal Government.
This is clearly evidenced by the narrow and myopic focus he has upon cutting taxes, throwing away keys on criminals, going really slowly and ineffectively on the environment and extending Canada's mission in Afghanistan until 2011.
Somehow this Prime Minister (who was recently found guilty of violating the Canada Elections Act in his hostile take-over of the Progressive Conservative Party in a successful lawsuit against him by the Hon. Sinclair Stevens) seems to think he is the "President" of Canada! He appears to have totally forgotten that he is "Prime Minister" and therefore is accountable to the Canadian Parliament!
His above-mentioned "narrow focus" in the recent Throne Speech totally ignores the problem Canada faces in connection with "poverty" and thus robs too many Canadians of any chance for a "decent" life! His long-time goal of weakening the Canadian Federal Government is reflected in his choice to ignore the cries of "cash-strapped" Canadian cities! It is further reflected in his vow to introduce new legislation to limit federal spending in areas under provincial jurisdiction.
Clearly Mr. Harper's agenda is NOT a "Nation Building Agenda" at all. A true Nation Building Agenda would focus upon:
1. Economic Prosperity
2. Social Justice
3. Environmental Sustainability
4. One Canadian Health Care System for ALL
5. High Paying Jobs
6. Addressing the "High Canadian Dollar" impact on the Canadian Manufacturing Sector
7. The type of education needed for our children to compete effectively in today's world
8. A new deal from the Federal Government for our great cities (Canada's engines for growth)
9. Designing programmes to lift Canadian parents and children out of poverty
10. Canada's indispensible and objective role in the realm of "International Development"
A Nation Building Agenda will seek to establish programmes across our great nation that promote the great Canadian characteristic of "Unity in Diversity". Such programmes would promote another great Canadian trait, that of tolerance! Thus our Canadian "multiculturism" will triumph as a vital Canadian strength and a magnificent example to the rest of what is a very troubled world!
A true Nation Building Agenda will NOT ignore the needs of women, youth and our native Canadian population, rather, it will aggressively pursue the need to advance these above-mentioned causes in strength. In short, it will tenaciously seek to establish the elusive concept of the "Just Society"!
There is little doubt in my mind about the FACT that Canada needs a National Policy that will eagerly embrace a CLEAR "Poverty Reduction Strategy" with firm targets and timetables for lowering poverty across the nation. I strongly believe that this should include the appointment of a Senior Cabinet Minister to actually "oversee" the WAR ON POVERTY....to ensure that jobs get done with the efficiency and sense of urgency of a "War Office"!
Canada now needs more than ever an "Affordable Housing Programme" and an effective, affordable and wholesome "Child Care Programme" and we MUST strengthen the National Child Benefit and other income supports for low income families.
Instead of thumbing his nose at our cities in financial distress, Stephen Harper ought to be reaching out to our cities with a whole new "Partnership Approach". This approach should embrace and emphasize a Federal, Provincial and Municipal Partnership that will seek tirelessly to ensure that large urban centres have the money they need to remain or become attractive places to work and live! Any caring Prime Minister would clearly act on the measure promoted by the mayors of Canada's 22 largest cities to transfer 1 cent of GST to urban areas!
A true Nation Building Agenda would not simply pay "lip-service" to the astronomical signficance of the problems associated with "Global Warming". Unlike Mr. Harper's obfuscated approach to protecting the planet which appears to be a deliberate attempt to confuse the Canadian public, we need specifics! Mr. Harper glibly speaks of these "Intensity Targets" with what would seem deliberate nebulosity designed to make the public believe that he is actually replacing the Kyoto Accord with something! This is complete and utter "Bolderdash"!!! The Canadian Government needs to be honest and transparent and owes it to all Canadians to tell them just what it is going to take to actually CUT emissions over the next ten years! Canadians deserve to know EXACTLY how the Government proposes to go about getting people and businesses to ACTUALLY REDUCE their greenhouse gas emissions! It is also imperative that Canadians get to SEE
results!!!
We need a Government that is going to cut out the garbage and "claptrap" and actually demonstrate the ability to focus on poverty, cities, the environment, health care, women, native Canadians, jobs, multiculturalism and the ever-increasing needs of our "seniors". What we really need right NOW is a Government with a REAL Nation Building Agenda that will be a VERY attractive alternative to the very narrow and somewhat "Hidden Harper Agenda" as recently spelled out in his rather enemic speech from the throne agenda!
Ultimately, what Canada needs now, more than ever, is a PROGRESSIVE CANADIAN approach that will permeate the entire country from sea to shining sea. A Progressive Canadian Agenda that will make Canada a stronger, fairer and much richer country! This can be achieved amongst other things by doing as ONLY Canada can do, by tapping into and partnering with, not only the British, but also the Francophone Commonwealth of Nations!
In conclusion let me issue a rallying cry to all Canadians. It is now critical for us to shed our differences whether Liberal, NDP, Conservative, Green or Independent and let us unite under ONE banner, let us all agree that we are CANADIANS and let us all agree that we want to be part of a "PROGRESSIVE" society.....let us join together then as "PROGRESSIVE CANADIANS" and let us, the constituents of Newmarket-Aurora have done with lesser things and partyisms and let us UNITE under the PROGRESSIVE CANADIAN banner by sending our desire for a "PROGRESSIVE CANADIAN" approach to Ottawa! I can promise you this, you will ALWAYS be glad you played such an indispensible role in "STANDING ON GUARD FOR CANADA"!!!
Respectfully submitted,
Dorian Baxter B.A., O.T.C., M.Div.
Nominated Candidate for the Progressive Canadian Party (PC Party of Canada) |