This week, Stephen Harper continued his culture of deceit and showed his lack of courage by only taking scripted questions from youth who thought they were going to engage in a frank discussion about all of the issues at the upcoming G8 and G20 summits.
By taking questions only on issues he considers politically ‘safe,’ Mr. Harper was able to avoid public scrutiny on a range of subjects that he has been soundly criticized for, both here at home and internationally. Here are some questions that Stephen Harper would like to have censored:
1. Corporate taxes
Despite creating a record $54-billion deficit, you want to borrow another $6 billion a year from future generations to reduce taxes for profitable corporations – even though Canada’s corporate tax rates are already among the lowest in the G7. Why are you giving more money to large corporations instead of paying down the deficit and investing in the Canadian economy?
2. Bank Tax
Are you wasting your political capital going into the G8 and G20 on fighting a bank tax that has no chance of being adopted to divert attention from your poor record on tough bank regulations – which you attacked when in opposition – and your complete isolation from other world leaders on maternal health and climate change?
3. Maternal health
How do you justify applying one policy on abortion abroad and another at home, particularly when an estimated 68,000 women die worldwide from unsafe abortions? And when will you publically say what your position is on a women’s right to choose, rather than let anonymous sources comment on MPs who are actively engaging in a campaign to make abortion illegal here in Canada?
4. Environment
A government appointed advisory panel has ranked Canada near the bottom of G8 countries when it comes to climate change and the economy, while our closest competitor, the United States, has already invested 18 times more per capita in renewable energy and energy efficiency than Canada. Why do you continue to ignore the clean energy economy of tomorrow and the opportunity to create clean energy jobs?
5. Afghanistan
Our American allies in Afghanistan have expressed frustration with Canada for failing to clarify what we intend to do once our NATO military commitment there expires in 2011. This vacuum of leadership is damaging our ability to sustain our legacy there – and the considerable sacrifices made by our soldiers. When are you going to come clean with Canadians on your plans for Afghanistan after our mission expires in 2011?
6. Learning
By 2017, nearly a million Canadians won’t be able to find a job because they won’t have the skills they need, and we’ll have 750,000 jobs that are unfilled because we don’t have the skilled workers to fill them. Why do you continue to ignore this frightening economic forecast by not investing in the best educated, most highly-skilled workforce in the world?
7. Cuts to women, culture, pride events, environment and science
Your government has cut funding to major arts festivals, women’s groups, gay pride events, environmental research and energy efficiency programs. Why do you consistently use government resources to attack elements in society that don’t support your government’s ideology, instead of governing for all Canadians?
8. Economic Action Plan waste
How many millions of taxpayers’ dollars has your government wasted in self-promotion associated with the Economic Action Plan – including TV, print and radio ads, signage in front of projects, and travel to and from photo-op announcements?
9. Homecare
Statistics Canada has said that three-quarters of people between the ages of 45 and 64 – many of whom would still have children living at home – are providing care for a senior. As Canadians come under increasing financial strain to pay the costs associated with caring for aging family members, why are you doing nothing to help ease the pressure on Canadian families, which would also help reduce costs in our health care system?
10. Culture of deceit
The night before New Year’s Eve, you shut down Parliament in order to avoid being accountable. You have the worst record on Access to Information of any government in history. You fought disclosure of Afghan detainee documents until the Speaker ruled that Parliament is supreme. How do you reconcile this with what you said only one year ago, that you encourage journalists to “shine light into dark corners and to insist on the process of holding governments accountable?”
