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.
Commentary By Roger Cathcart Election Time I was still in Australia when the election was called in Canada, with the opposition parties using the Tories' so-called "contempt of parliament" Ð for not releasing the actual cost of the new jets, etc. Ð as an excuse for forcing an unwanted election. The cost of the May 2 vote is estimated at $300 million, a big hit on the recovering economy, although it will create a few short-term jobs. Stephen Harper is campaigning on the economy, a major issue. He is insisting on keeping business incentives and tax breaks in place, unlike the Liberals and NDP. The Bloc is, of course, demanding billions for Quebec. The opposition parties really could not have forced a fall election, as several provincial elections are scheduled, so they decided to do so now and take their chances. After all, Michael Ignatieff is 63 and Jack Layton is 60, so this will probably be the last run for the "three wise men." With their standing in the polls, what they hope to gain out of an election is anybody's guess. When the election was called, the Conservatives were poised for a majority. Elizabeth May, the Green party leader who is now running in B.C., hit the news as the TV networks rejected her for inclusion in the leadership debate. The logical reason is that she holds no seats in parliament and is not likely to get any as our system gives the seats to the candidate with the most votes Ð no transfers and no preferences like in Australia. May's supporters say they would have 15 to 20 seats if our voting system was different, but it won't be and should stay the same Ð otherwise we would have continuous political turmoil like in Australia. * * * Surprise, surprise, Al Mackling is running again, this time for parliament against Vic Toews in the safest of Manitoba Tory seats. Remember Mackling? He was a St. James New Democrat who served in the Schreyer and Pauley governments, the last time as attorney-general. He is one of my least favourite politicians whom I worked against in several elections Ð a true leftist. Mackling is 83 now and has no hope in this race any more than the NDP has in Alberta, where they will surely lose their lone seat in Edmonton, especially after Layton promised to eliminate business credits in the oilsands. Layton is hoping to gain some seats in Ontario but should lose some in B.C. and is not expected to do very well anywhere. A strange article appeared in The Australian newspaper, entitled "Canada Watches Its Democracy Erode." Written by a political science professor named Ramesh Thakur, it claims Canadians "suffer an excess of civil obedience, politeness and a lack of civic rage, and are apathetic about the erosion of their democracy." He goes on to complain about government arrogance and toughness, which is really what Canadians like, not the opposition parties creating chaos in parliament and in parliamentary committees. * * * Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott has been widely criticized for always being negative, even though he has a lot to be negative about with the hapless Labour government in power. Abbott recently started to propose new policies. One of interest is about needed reforms to put the unemployed back into the workforce. There are also 800,000 Aussies on disability pensions, which he says is 220,000 more than those getting unemployment benefits. Abbott proposes a benefit structure that distinguishes between lasting and temporary needs, and encourages those who are able to do some work. He also suggests government should suspend unemployment benefits for people under 30 in areas where there are shortages of unskilled labour. The Aussie coalition is again proposing incentive payments for employers who hire welfare-dependent people over 50. They are also advocating a relocation allowance for young people who move to get a job and who agree not to go back on welfare within six months. Abbott favours four other economic reforms: Making those under 50 and receiving unemployment benefits for more than six months "work for the dole." Requiring those on long-term unemployment spend half their welfare income on the necessities of life. Creating a new benefit for those whose disabilities can readily be treated. Suspending unemployment benefits in places where there are unfilled jobs. Wouldn't it be nice if our opposition Liberals could come up with similar positive ideas? Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
