Issues
Aug 2, 2011: Harper Government Invests Heavily in Arts and Culture
April 8, 2011: “Here for Canada” Conservative policy platform 2011
April 7, 2011: Coalition forces quietly creeping to a deal
April 4, 2011: 20+ YEARS OF POLITICAL PARALYSIS THANKS TO THE BLOC
March 27, 2011: The truth of 2004 that Gilles Duceppe is trying to hide
Jan 17, 2011: CONSIDERATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION IN THE SPRING
April 8, 2011
“Here for Canada” Conservative policy platform 2011
The “Here for Canada” plan focuses on five key priorities:
- Creating jobs through training, trade and low taxes.
- Supporting families through our Family Tax Cut and more support for seniors and caregivers.
- Eliminating the deficit by 2014-2015 by controlling spending and cutting waste.
- Making our streets safe through new laws to protect children and the elderly.
- Standing on guard for Canada by investing in the development of Canada’s North, cracking down on human smuggling and strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces.
Click here to learn more and download the complete platform!
April 7, 2011
Coalition forces quietly creeping to a deal
By Eric Duhaime, QMI Agency
While they still publicly deny the creation of a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition, the three political leaders, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe, are putting everything in place, slowly but surely, to get back in bed together if we give them the keys of the House on May 2.
The Bloc Quebecois leader has been the most vocal coalitionist since the beginning of this campaign.
Duceppe’s main message to his former/future Liberal-NDP bedfellows is to win as many seats in English Canada while he is trying to defeat the Conservatives in Quebec. As he says, “We need to face the Conservative threat by forming a united Bloc to block the road to Stephen Harper.”
Duceppe just stopped short of saying vote Liberal or NDP in other regions, depending on who has the most chances of defeating the Tory candidate in that constituency.
Since the beginning of the campaign, Duceppe’s main message, repeated over and over, is “we have to protect our values.”
The menage a trois is so close they’re beginning to sound alike.
Touring Quebec on Tuesday, Ignatieff started to tout “Quebec’s values”: “Quebecers do not recognize themselves in the values of this government, on guns, on women’s rights, on respect for culture and identity.”
The Liberal leader even invited Quebecers to elect him as prime minister so we have a head of government “close to the values of Quebecers.”
Since when are Quebec values linked to gun control or any other pet policy of the left? I have always thought what makes Quebec different has everything to do with language, culture and history and certainly nothing to do with social programs or policies.
Our uniqueness is man made, not government made.
A politician who has spent the majority of his adult life in the U.S. and now thinks he can represent our values is out of touch. By promising a big tax-and-spend Liberal government, Ignatieff is proposing to violate a fundamental law of this land. Every major intervention proposed by him — health care, education and daycare — would be done in areas of provincial jurisdiction.
How could the Bloc swallow such a constitutional violation against provincial rights? To show how much more socialist than separatist the Bloc has become, look at the position of its strongest supporter that came out this week.
The CSN, the second largest union, had an extraordinary council meeting Monday to co-ordinate their strategy to do whatever it takes to beat the Harper government with a riding-by-riding choice.
Duceppe’s lips were also the first loose ones last Monday to admit he will vote against the budget of a minority Tory government if that is the outcome of the current election. Layton and Ignatieff followed.
Unless these leaders want an election in July that will cheat taxpayers of another $300 million, they will commit the act as soon as we re-elect a minority government.
There will be no honeymoon cocoon, though, just what Jacques Parizeau had in mind when he tried to set up the separatist “lobster trap”: You realize the wonderful speeches that attracted you on election day end up squeezing you into an unholy threesome the day after.
April 4, 2011
20+ YEARS OF POLITICAL PARALYSIS THANKS TO THE BLOC
While Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe likes to sprinkle the words lie and liar in his words about Stephen Harper, what can be said about the achievements of his party in Ottawa since 1990? There is much talk these days about the fact that Quebec saw its political power erode for years in Canada, but who is at fault? The members of the Bloc are more like protesters at a business meeting that scream and shout slogans outside the doors, but can never hope to participate. Instead, they marginalize Quebec, limiting it to a helpless spectator role around the circles of power. Quebec becomes paralysed in place and cannot participate fairly in the country's political life.
In the infancy of the Bloc 20 years ago, Gilles Duceppe entered the House of Commons and declared that he was probably one of the only ones willing to spend as little time as possible in the House and that no one in Bloc 'went for a career! Well, 20 years later, who is the liar?
March 27, 2011
The truth of 2004 that Gilles Duceppe is trying to hide
Veteran journalist for Radio-Canada, Daniel Lessard, said this September 9, 2004:
· "It seems obvious that these three leaders will try by all means to embarrass the minority government of Paul Martin, being careful however to keep it from falling. In the medium term, what they want to avoid is Paul Martin doing what Pierre Trudeau’s minority did in 74, when he himself had chosen the date of the overthrow of his government in light of favorable polls.
Furthermore, here are the statements of the leaders themselves proving that there was no coalition in 2004:
· Stephen Harper: "This is not a coalition, but a cooperative effort. "
· Gilles Duceppe: "We are not forming a coalition and we will not form one"
· Jack Layton: "It is impossible to imagine that these three parties, with their completely different platforms, could form a coalition such as we see in other countries. "
On September 9, 2004, the Canadian Press also reported that "The trio are very different politically and have said they will not try to form a coalition. "
The same people who have said they would not form a coalition, and have indeed formed one to reverse the democratic choice of Canadians are the members of the haphazard Coalition! They did it before, and they will do it again.
January 17, 2011
CONSIDERATIONS IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION IN THE SPRING
Upon filing of the next budget in March or April, it is likely that citizens will be going to the polls to take a position alongside a political party. Given the present situation where the global economy remains fragile and that the financial burden of the Quebec model is unsustainable, from what angle will people approach the choice of one party or another?
FAMILY DEBT
Within each family there are all kinds of concerns or priorities early in the year. If you look at recent publications, it is a dominant issue.
According to recent figures published by Statistics Canada, families now carry debt levels up to 148% of their disposable income compared to 110% in 2000. This debt consists mainly of a mortgage with a temporarily low interest rate, car loans, outstanding credit card balances, accounts payable and lines of credit. What would happen if interest rates increase again? Many households would find themselves in a difficult situation. Will they be able to repay their debts? Make no mistake; this debt represents high risk to the growth of the Canadian economy and job creation.
How much margin is there left at the end of the day, given that food, housing, transportation and taxes eat up about 65% of their income? How can families cope knowing that the price of gasoline will only continue to increase, as will municipal and income taxes, and that the QST will go up yet again?
In such circumstances, which leader and which party are the right choice?
PATHS TO SOLUTIONS
REDUCTION OF PUBLIC SPENDING. The first track on the path to solutions is to reduce public spending. Like all the major economies of this world, we must review the majority of government programs. Because time is short, we must ensure that the next government enacts prompt, bold fiscal measures by which each household keeps more money in its pockets and that the government needs much less. This is a return to a "policy focus” on the family, the nucleus of society, and will require courageous leadership contrary to populist measures that we are generally exposed to at election time.
CANADA'S ECONOMY. The second track on the solution path is to focus on the Canadian economy in general. It is important to remember that against this backdrop, Quebec is not properly structured for economic progression. Saddled with too much debt, it has no more room to maneuver. All economists acknowledge that Quebec is on the brink. The recovery remains fragile, and the next federal government must remain fiscally prudent. This government must, as a priority, continue to work hard to strengthen the Canadian economy in order to protect existing jobs and to establish conditions to attract new businesses and create new jobs. It must also pay particular attention to the economy of Quebec whose situation is hardly better than those of Greece and Iceland.
THE INFLUENCE OF QUEBEC IN OTTAWA. The third track on the path to solutions concerns the role and influence of Quebec within Canada. The next election is another crucial opportunity to take a position in this regard. Before casting your vote, ask yourself the question as to the "value added" within last 40 years of the Canada-Quebec duality. But, it is also necessary to examine the results of the past 20 years the Bloc Quebecois has had a presence in Ottawa. Do we want to continue the same old story of "always on the defensive" or should we develop a new approach "to promote Quebec, talents and creativity within Canada”?
For this election, do we want to end the climate where endless confrontation reigns in Ottawa? Do we want to perpetuate the fruitlessness of much of the work of the House of Commons? Do we return to a minority government yet again, where suspicion and confrontation serve only to delight journalists selling newspapers? Or can we allow a party to have some elbowroom to deliver on its programs and legislation? Quebec citizens hold the answer to these questions and must be willing to question their long emotional relationship of 20 years with the Bloc Quebecois. Will they accept that the Bloc Quebecois does not hold exclusive rights regarding the defence of Quebec's interests? Can they change the old paradigm and give a fresh mandate to their elected officials: take a constructive and dynamic leadership within Canada
CONNECTION WITH PARTY LEADERS. The final track on the path to solutions is to evaluate one’s response and connection to the leader of each party. Voters can like one leader more than another, or perhaps the leader is just someone with whom they associate with a political agenda. Voters can be seduced by election promises, each just as enticing as the others. This is expressed all too often by an emotional choice, influenced by newspaper headlines or by the opposition who will stop at nothing to "spin" reality and seed doubt or suspicion.
Which party and which leader are most focused on families? Which party and which leader can best influence the health of the Canadian economy while having an eye on Quebec? In this economic climate, should we send a representative to be on the defensive or a representative who will focus on the promotion of Quebec? In such a situation, who has the most skill and courage to carry out the term for Canada and Quebec?
These are the kinds of questions all citizens are invited to consider before voting. We must place new emphasis on reflecting on the issues and put aside the purely emotional approach that has for too long characterized Quebec society. For both Quebec and Canada, 2011 will be an appointment not to be missed.
Thus, it is primarily by focusing on the family unit of society and the economic questions that will determine the choice of many voters. The other factor is simply that because for Quebec, like Canada and many other countries, the people will support the party that will prioritize keeping them employed!
Next spring, with which party leader do we want to entrust the reins of the Canadian economy? To Gilles Duceppe? To Stephen Harper? In Michael Ignatieff or Jack Layton? Our quality of life depends on it ...
Maurice Brossard
Conservative Party candidate
Brossard - La Prairie
From the Canadian Government Economic Action Plan web site
April 7, 2011
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