The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Characters, Promises or Policies By now readers who are interested will have been inundated with biased ads and "vote for me" promises from all parties in the countdown to January 23. How about some characters who have shot to the fore this time? Buzz Hargrove, head of the CAW union, is certainly one of them. A lifelong New Democrat (his words), Hargrove endorsed Paul Martin to his members, saying if you can't elect a New Democrat, elect a Liberal. Jack Layton found this very unhelpful, but no word whether Buzz, who suffers from "the great I am" disease, will be rebuked by the party. In the two major parties he would have been given the boot and deservedly so Ð union leader or not. Mayor Miller of Toronto, a good NDP whom Jack Layton helped get elected, is another one. He endorsed Paul Martin's useless promise to ban handguns and endorsed at least one Liberal cabinet minister Ð so much for loyalty. Jack must be thinking, "Protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies." Svend Robinson is a third. The former MP, gay advocate and convicted thief, is now running in Vancouver Centre against Hedy Fry, a controversial former Chretien minister. The kicker is that this is Kim Campbell's old riding, so watch out for the Tory on the vote split. Why Layton would allow Svend to run is beyond belief Ð poor Jack! Do the leaders' debates determine who will win the election? The media always considers them a deciding factor. In any of the ones so far, did they change/help you make up your mind or just confirm your decision? More to come later on this media circus. How about a couple of promises/policies (depending on how you look on them). The Liberal hand gun ban is the first Ð a poorly thought out policy designed to show the big cities that they are going to be tough on crime. As we know, hand guns have been licensed and regulated since 1934 Ð more or less restricted to police, security, gun collectors and target shooters Ð at least the ones obtained legally. The Liberals claim they are a problem, as they may be stolen and be used in a crime Ð so outlaw them except perhaps for target shooters. Everyone knows the real problem is the smuggled illegal guns. This weak promise is to ask the provinces to ban the guns. Paul Martin also offered to let us re-register our rifles and shotguns at no cost, thereby reminding the West of this hated and useless regulation on hunters and farmers. This is a policy? To repeat, this is a non-policy policy, a cynical attempt to curry favour in the large cities. It will do nothing to curb gun violence. Stephen Harper's seniors policy/promise is appealing, especially to those with a pension income. The $1,000 pension income deduction that has been around forever (it was almost taken away by a previous Liberal government) will be increased to $2,000, then to $2,500 in five years. This will give seniors a substantial tax saving and prevent a clawing back of the old age pension for some. Harper says seniors who built the country and the economy are as deserving of a tax break as workers. The Conservative promise to seniors may indeed be attractive in comparison to the other parties, and don't forget, seniors vote! What about Jack Layton and the NDP? Layton opposes returning the overtaxed surpluses to workers and seniors, but instead is advocating more and larger government programmes with the money, such as more nursing homes, more spending on the environment, etc. After having a taste of power in the late and unlamented minority Liberal government, Layton hopes to elect enough members to hold the balance of power Ð and the government for ransom. The view from here is that he won't make it, for if he takes more seats it will be from the Liberals, and the Bloc will surely come in third. However, in an election, anything can happen Stay tuned. More predictions next time.
