First Prorogue, then Eviscerate
Harper's agenda has a simple goal: destroy the Canadian social safety net.
Cartoon by Ingrid Rice.
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Settle in for Long Harper Reign
Seat tallies tell the tale. Tories won bigger than pundits said.
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Stephen Harper, Unfit to Govern
Few are thrilled to have another election, but we must put it to good use.
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Six Ways Harper Is Wrecking the Economy
Need evidence? Look south.
There is, for good reason, a lot of enthusiasm across the country as the groundswell against Stephen Harpers' cynical shuttering of Parliament continues to grow. The prime minister from hell has gotten away with so much -- and the opposition is so weak that any indication of genuine public disgust at his continuing demonstration of contempt for democracy is a welcome sign. And everyone who cares about the country should be taking part in the new movement for democracy.
But we should also be careful that this issue does not totally distract us from Harper's actual agenda which is still exactly as it has always been -- to dismantle the Canada so painstakingly built by two generations of Canadians. In March, Harper will present his first "austerity" budget. It could prove to be more damaging than the proroguing of Parliament.
Harper is driven by a visceral hatred of what we once referred to as the welfare state. Most people in this world of information overload and 20 second sound bites have probably forgotten that Mr. Harper once ran the National Citizens Coalition (NCC), one of the most right-wing, libertarian organizations in the country -- founded by an insurance broker determined to rid the country of Medicare.
In a speech to the NCC in 1994, Harper gave the Reform Party credit for the reverses in social programs being implemented by the Liberals: "(T)he Liberal government in Ottawa has announced... no new major social spending programs. Universality has been severely reduced. It is virtually dead as a concept in most areas of public policy. The family allowance program has been eliminated and unemployment insurance has been seriously cut back."
Harper is surely the only Canadian prime minister to openly express scorn for his own country, as he did in the National Post on Dec. 8, 2000: "Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status."
Stephen Harper doesn't seem to believe that there a separate, distinct Canadian nation. Asked in a 1997 CBC interview, "Is there a Canadian culture?" Harper replied: "Yes, in a very loose sense. It consists of regional cultures within Canada -- regional cultures that cross borders with the US. We're part of a worldwide Anglo-American culture. And there is a continental culture."
In a speech to a right-wing American think tank, Harper ridiculed all Canadians: "I was asked to speak about Canadian politics... it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except about your own country. Which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians." The whole speech was full of such insults about his own country.
The next nail in Canada's coffin
As we inch closer to budget day -- it will come no matter what the outcome of the opposition to proroguing Parliament -- there is almost nothing in the media, and virtually nothing yet from progressive groups, about what we can expect and what the alternatives are. There needs to be, because Harper and his war room strategists are definitely prepared. Indeed, they have already warned Canadians that this budget is the transition to a new era of austerity.
This coming budget was set in motion by Jim Flaherty's 2007 budget which launched a five-year, $60 billion tax cut -- largely for the wealthy and for corporations. He then gave up another $12 billion in revenue by knocking two points off the GST. That effectively created a structural deficit -- that is, an assault on the tax base, which means we cannot avoid yearly deficits in the future, no matter what happens to the economy. This was confirmed last fall by Kevin Page, head of the Parliamentary Budget Office, who stated that in 2013-14, when the economy will have recovered, the deficit will still be $18.9 billion.
Flaherty had to know that his tax cuts would create a structural deficit -- and indeed, it just the crisis he needs to justify the cuts in his upcoming budget. The financial crisis and stimulus spending postponed the day of reckoning -- but it is now upon us. Flaherty has made it clear that he will not deal with the deficit through any tax increases, so look for massive layoffs of federal employees, the shutting down of government agencies and large cuts to others, a wage freeze, attacks to federal employees' pensions and cuts across the board for government departments. We can expect the government's Crown Assets Review to recommend the sale of billions in crown assets, further diminishing the financial status of the federal government.
The limits of elite support
It is gratifying to see such widespread opposition to Harper's assault on Parliament and democracy -- from almost every major political columnist, newspaper editorials, over a hundred political scientists, and constitutional experts -- including a significant number of unusual suspects. It is a clear sign that Harper has overreached yet again -- a character flaw that has saved the country from disaster more than once. Harper now sits at 33 percent in the latest Ekos poll, and if the movement continues to grow, Harper's plan to force an election over his March budget will have to be put on hold. That might have the effect of postponing the worst cuts.
But the sudden support for democracy by parts of the Canadian elite will not extend to defending the legacy of public services, wealth redistribution and government intervention in the economy. Those are the things that are in Stephen Harper's crosshairs, and progressives will have to fight the campaign to stop him on their own. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
Bob Watts
11-01-2010
The Good Christian.
God gave the People 40 Loaves of Bread. Harper said thank you Jesus for giving "ME" all the Bread, and all the Milk and Honey.
Harper and his friends pigged out and the people fired off letters and the Harper raised the price of stamps....
Harper never read the story about walking in another persons shoes, just that charity starts at home, meaning to Harper keep all the bread.
Is it just me who thinks Harper is an Ass***.
Barryeng
11-01-2010
Dobbin you are right
I had read, and been upset about Harper's speech to the American think tank before, but it was nice to be reminded again about Harper's opinion of us. Dobbin is right in saying that Harper has absolutely no respect for Canadians individually, Canadians as a whole, or anything that we have stood for in the past.
Dobbin is also right in predicting that Harper is going to use the prorogation, the budget, and concerns about the deficit (That HE helped cause) to force an election whether the Canadian public is ready for one or not. The Liberals are in disarray, and good as the NDP opposition has been it is not in contention to form government. It only makes good tactical sense for Harper to force an election before his opponents can gain more ground.
Our only hope is groundswell opposition such as the facebook group. Public opinion can restrain a politician's actions. We did it with Meech Lake. We did it with Elizabeth May and the debates. Now we will obviously have to do it again as Harper forces an expensive election on us.
Mind you, with a lot of public effort and just a little bit of luck, maybe this will backfire on him and we will finally be rid of him.
Booker
11-01-2010
Image
"Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status."
Harper has succeeded in making Canada a third or fourth tier non-entity on the international scene. I have to travel a lot in the U.S. and the feedback I'm hearing about Canada from people down there is negative. Until the election of Obama, Americans would often joke about moving to Canada. Now Canada is seen as a joke.
Irish-Will
11-01-2010
Time for action - Harper must go
Naturally, the Conservatives continue to argue that this is nothing more than a parliamentary practice employed frequently by other recent Canadian governments including Gretchen and Trudeau.
I don't see Harper at fault for using an accepted procedure. I do, however, see him as incompet-nt. During the election he told us that Canada's economy would fair better than any other. Well, it didn't, and I am choked that Sarah Palin knew more about what was happening than Harper was 'prepared to admit'. Secondly is the 'vote buying' spree during a recession. Lastly, is what the government knew about tortured detainees, which I sincerely believe happened. After a career in the Canadian Forces I can say with all conviction that correspondence of this type would have found it's was to the Ministers desk, if only as military personnel covering their backsides. For those reasons, the government should go.
As far as Michael, Jack and Gilles taking advantage of this, that remains to be seen. Too bad they didn't have the pierogies to force an election once parliament is back in session. Likely for Jack and Michael, this will be their last chance to move their parties forward. Gilles in the other hand is more established and secure.
Skywalker
11-01-2010
Maybe Harper is too clever for his own good?
When the conservative spokespeople try to justify proroguing they seem to think that the public could not see how dishonest the move really was. They kept telling us that they had a hold on economic issues so that was not the reason. They were getting beat up on torture of Afghanistan detainees. They were being ridiculed on their pathetic performance in Copenhagen. They had dropped to a 5 pt. lead in the polls and they were scared spitless if they were subjected to questions in the house. There was legislation that died because of this so it was a backward step under any measure. Proroguing is running away. It is a chickens#@t tactic which I am surprised the G.G. let them use again. All the reasons sounded lame, dishonest, cowardly.
Governments do not like time spent in the House of Parliament, they would rather rule by cabinet decree. The public is not watching every day and the media goes to sleep. It gives a little dictator the edge.
cdn
11-01-2010
Canadians for Democracy Network
The Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament facebook group has seen Canadians working together in exciting and powerful new ways. We need to bring this same level of mobilization to a broader set of issues on an indefinite basis.
Please join the Canadians for Democracy Network facebook group and keep the community alive:
http://tinyurl.com/y923wbc
Polakite
11-01-2010
Hey you guys on the NDP site...
"The NDP could be described as basically a party of liberal Democrats, but it's actually worse than that, I have to say. And forgive me jesting again, but the NDP is kind of proof that the Devil lives and interferes in the affairs of men.
This party believes not just in large government and in massive redistributive programs, it's explicitly socialist. On social value issues, it believes the opposite on just about everything that anybody in this room believes. I think that's a pretty safe bet on all social-value kinds of questions.
Some people point out that there is a small element of clergy in the NDP. Yes, this is true. But these are clergy who, while very committed to the church, believe that it made a historic error in adopting Christian theology.
The NDP is also explicitly a branch of the Canadian Labour Congress, which is by far our largest labour group, and explicitly radical."
PMSH speaks for me, dammit!
Bob Watts
11-01-2010
Voting
Well its 2010, how about people voting via the Internet issue by issue. The hell with the people we voted for not listening to what the majority of us want. I e-mailed my MP stating no to the HST, and go back to work. I’ve been holding my breath for a reply, LOL.
I can do secure Banking online, so why can’t I vote online. I like the government in the far North, there are no parties, they just vote for what the people want.
If we could vote online the HST would be gone, the War would be over, I would hope child poverty would also be over. The oil, gas, fish, forests, etc would belong to Canadians and not just 10 men.
There would be women ski jumpers! Pot would be taxed, sorry Barb, somebody has to pay for your fried brain, opps got carried away there.......:)
bfearn
11-01-2010
Polakite again??
Weren't you just telling us that the Olympics were a wonderful thing? So you are a true Conservative and PMSH does speak for you.
Try to remember that he does not speak for the majority of Canadians who are opposed to offensive needless war, tax cuts for the rich, ignoring global warming, promoting oil from tar sands, cancer from Quebec asbestos and ignoring the poor because they are poor, etc. etc. etc.
dave49
11-01-2010
The detainees
Is is clear that with the AR/control freak attitude of this government and the various ministers, the Minister of Defence and his senior officials HAD TO BE AWARE that Afghan detainees handed over to Afghan authorities would be tortured.
Remember, there is a blanket gag order over the entire Federal civil service: nobody says anything that has not been pre-approved (if they want to keep their job). Civil servants making speeches have to have prepared Q & A and are not supposed to answer questions that fall outside that approved list.
blueknitca
11-01-2010
Harper
As I am ploughing through the book "The Family" about the Christian Political in the USA and its tentacles around the World it seems to me that Harper would fit right in that house.
I really wonder if Mr. Harper is a member of that "Family".
stevebailey
11-01-2010
Cutting of Kairos funding
Every Canadian should be outraged about the Harper crowd's cancellation of funding to support the international relief and development work of Kairos. The ignorant lies spouted by Harper's henchmen are a disgrace. Lobby your MP now and insist on reinstatement of funding to Kairos. Protest clearly and loudly about another piece of the Canada we know and love being ruthlessly dismantled.
carfreed
11-01-2010
give 'em enough rope
he may have put the noose around his neck on this last move.
after copenhagen, his apathetic Canadians were sizzling and his timing was just right to refuel the fire.
this time even the press are with 'US".
The real task is to see how well we can remain united.
Peter Evanchuck
11-01-2010
Harper is a coward who is dangerous for Canada's ideals
We were a peace caring country before Harper. Harper is a harpie who screams inside his cabinet to absolute autocratic control that allows little if any democracy to exist. He manipulates and changes like a chamelion to suit the leaf that changes in the weather so that one cna't tell where his truth if there's any may be. God save Canada certainly Harper won't!
siamdave
11-01-2010
What happened?
Murray as usual is right on the money. The main problem is that Canadians are not standing up to him and what he is doing. Much of the problem is that few people really understand what is happening here, or that Harper is not some sudden devil come to undo Canada, he is simply the latest, and possibly the last, if 'final victory' is achieved during his reign. For some detailed discussion of what has been happening here, with a PDF booklet available for copying and taking around to get discussions going in places away from the net, you might check out What Happened? http://www.rudemacedon.ca/what-happened.html .
Des
11-01-2010
When His Highness,
Stephen Harper, said "After I'm finished with Canada, you won't recognize the place," I used to wonder what kind of idiot would actually vote for him. But now I know. About 33% of us. Poor Canada.
TYRONE
11-01-2010
Government or RULER?
While many generations of Canadians and highly skilled imigrants have build this once great Nation, the apathy and complacency (some mislabeled it tolerance) has finally brought us to the brink of disaster with these governments, both federal and provincial and their cheekiness knows no bounds!
They lie and cheat, double talk and corrupt with impunity, because the population does NOTHING but PAY, PAY, PAY . . . . until death do us part!
Think about it, people, do you want your kids and grand kids to say: WHAT WUZZES THEY WERE!!! ?
dave49
11-01-2010
Des
Des, I saw a poll result recently that some 60% of people over the age of 45 would vote for Stephen Harper. Scary thought, we get stupider and more conservative with advancing years.
jwstewart
12-01-2010
It may be that SH wants to
It may be that SH wants to deconstruct the social fabric, but it is genuinely false to say it is being done un-democratically.
Every day that SH sat in parliament as PM, he was part of a MINORITY of MPs who could be voted out of government at will.
But even though a majority of the population don't support SH, it was the part of that majority who's self-serving interference made this situation not only possible, but most likely to continue.
The Bloc's division of support must be recognized and addressed as the enabling factor. Only when fairness and proportionality are implemented will this situation change.
RickW
12-01-2010
I think we've arrived full circle.........
.......with Neville Chamberlain's "peace in our time"......
Des
12-01-2010
Voting
out a particular party or a particular M.P. sounds comparatively simple. But in reality, both the M.P. and the party have distinct advantages after election in the first place, one of which is incumbency. Another one is the lethargy which the electorate experiences after an election - it takes quite a bit of overt incompetence to get the public to re-focus on politics after a campaign has been decided. And politicians know how to turn off the electorate's enthusiasm as well as how to turn it on.
But in general we get the government we deserve. Proportionality solves just a minor part of the problem. Perhaps we should be operating under a system in which only taxes (no 'membership' fees or 'contributions' from the public) are diverted equally to candidates for public office.
sicntired
12-01-2010
attack the weakest of the pack
Harper has been on a crusade of late,against the people he usually doesn't even know exist.His recent crime bills have been against the enemies of the state,pot smokers and petty criminals.That he even knew such people lived in Canada was quite a shock.That he hates and despises them is not.If you want to know what Harper sees as our destiny,just look south of the border.His announced three strikes law,and it is a three strikes law despite protests to the contrary,is just what even the Americans are now realizing is a terrible mistake.Harper has even expressed a fondness for private prisons.If all of his crime legislation passes we will need private prisons to hold all the non violent offenders he wants jailed for longer periods.Just another little thing that Stephen Harper wants to do to change the Canada we know and love.