Where Is the Recalibration?

March 4, 2010 by PattiM
Filed under: Out of the Shadows

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Well, I’ve read through the Throne Speech which was delivered yesterday. I’ve read some of the commentary which has appeared this morning in reaction to it. For the most part, they are echoing my thoughts as I read through the speech, where exactly is the recalibration? There was very little real focus or meat.

I had the sense that the speech came about from a brainstorming session around the Cabinet table on how many buttons could they find to press in a bid to make Canadians believe this government has a real sense of need and direction. The point form results was then handed over to speech writers to form into what was delivered yesterday.

I know the devil is in the details and Throne Speeches are not where one would expect to see details. Some will emerge today as the Budget is delivered. For the most part, speech repeated previous announcements and claims from the government.

Public Wage Freezes

It does say there will be a freeze on not only public service budgets but the wages of the Cabinet, Senators and MPs. That is really sharing in the hardship that 1.5million Canadians are going through, not to mention the millions of Canadians who find themselves under-employed as the result of jobs lost through business failures and jobs moved offshore.

If the government really wants to show some belt tightening, they should be looking at some cuts to their $100,000 plus salaries and pensions. Struggling Canadians just don’t relate to a freeze on incomes which are already higher than they can expect to see.

Foreign Investment & Free Trade

The speech says it will be opening the door to more foreign investment in the telecom and mining industries. Canadians have already watched many of our Canadian firms being gobbled up by foreign interests under this government’s watch. When the doors are thrown open for foreign interests to sweep in, the dangers of Canadian jobs going offshore rise proportionally.

We need to be likewise wary of free trade agreements the government is overseeing. There has already been alarm raised in some quarters that the agreement being negotiated with the European Union could see some areas of our public service forced into privatization in order to conform to the terms of the agreement.

That is not safeguarding Canadian sovereignty. The Conservatives can wave the flag all they want, protecting our right to make Canadian choices puts the proof in the pudding.

Law & Order Platform

Once again, the government is touting their so called law and order platform. A platform sledge hammered into Parliament as supposedly necessary and urgent. Those same bills that died on the order table when Harper closed Parliament for almost three months in order to recalibrate are once again being trotted out.

While I agree with the premise of some of the measures, like keeping violent convicts in jail for life, I note the government has been very coy about the added financial burden on the taxpayer of the increased prison population. The speech claims this is the will of the Canadian people. Really? I must have missed that referendum.

Increasing the prison population doesn’t decrease crime. Our neighbours to the south have learned that already. Increased prison populations, at a time when crime rates are dropping, only serves to incubate increased crime later on as non-violent offenders learn to graduate to violent offenders. Who is going to be building and running the additional prisons these bills will necessitate?

Democratic Reform

The speech references the government’s continued intent to ‘reform’ the Senate but no references to democratic reform a little closer to home, like curbing the powers of the Prime Minister. Those powers have been subject to abuse for many years but none have escalated the abuse to the point Harper has.

Canadians are becoming more aware of this democratic defict and will increasingly demanding change. Which politician is going to have the guts to curb his own power or potential power in the name of democracy and accountability?

Have you read the speech? How do you view it?

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