In his column today, Tim Harper reminds us that yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of the Harper majority government.
It is hardly an occasion that progressives take delight in as columnist Harper makes reference to some of the regime's retrograde policies and 'achievements':
- streamlined environmental regulatory reviews
- the formal withdrawal from the Kyoto protocol
- the radical overhaul of the Navigable Waters Act and the Fisheries Act
- the uncertainty over the future of the Experimental Lakes Area
- the shuttering of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
- cutting of scientific research
- muzzling of federal scientists
- compromising the independence of Statistics Canada
- abdicating the federal role in setting national health care policy
- raising the age at which Canadians are eligible for Old Age Security
- the odium and loss of international reputation Canada has experienced thanks to its uncritical and unwavering support of Israel in all matters
Tim Harper concludes with the following observation:
All of the above took a mere two years. It is also reads like a blueprint for continued support from the party base. As it turns the corner on this mandate, the real test will be how the Conservatives try to reach beyond that base heading to 2015.
My suspicion is, as I have mentioned before in this blog, that the regime hopes that the vast majority of Canadians will have lost all faith in government by 2015, in which case the election will be an unfettered opportunity for the 'true believers' to give Harper another majority, thereby enabling him to complete the task of dismantling whatever remains of the Canada that we still take pride in and cherish.
UPDATE: H/t Michael Scott for this sad but telling link to a new story about Harper muzzling of scientists.
As the Scott link makes abundantly clear, Lorne. there is nothing to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope that there will be, at most, only two more years to mark this solemn occasion, Owen.
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