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.
Less Pomp, More Circumstance An October column dealt with the federal Speech from the Throne and reaction to the government's plans for this session. The Opposition was negative but, as usual, did not provide any alternative ideas. The Liberals blasted the speech but did not vote against it. In fact, they did not vote at all, much to the disgust of the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP, who by all appearances want another election. It's hard to believe that the Tories would not welcome an election, especially since most polls show the Canadian voter satisfied with the Harper team; however, the Conservatives are stuck with their proposal to have fixed election dates, with the next one set for 2009. The Tories would have to sucker the Opposition into defeating them on a confidence motion, but of course Prime Minister Stephen Harper will decide what motions are confidence - maybe all of them. The Tories are also stuck with their promise to have an elected Senate and are going to bring this idea forward again, probably championed by new (elected) Senator Bert Brown. But such a bill would have to pass our unelected Senate, which is unlikely even though a majority of Canadians would likely support the NDP idea to abolish the upper chamber. To abolish the Senate or even to have it elected, such as in Australia, requires a constitutional amendment, really only possible if you have a majority government and can get the provinces to agree. My advice to the prime minister? Forget it for now and proceed when you get a majority. Did you get a card in the mail from Stephane Dion? I recently received one that blasted Harper for his treatment of the Canadian Wheat Board and trying to give farmers choice. The Liberal leader pledges to "defend Canadian farmers' right to determine the future of the Canadian wheat Board." Of course Canadian farmers outside the Prairies have no say on this matter, as the CWB has no monopoly outside the West. It is also apparent that a majority of Western farmers will vote to get rid of the monopoly and the cushy jobs it has created. Would Dion, who is from Quebec, support such a monopoly in his own province or in Ontario? Of course not! * * * Harper and his team intend to proceed with further tax relief for overtaxed Canadians and businesses. They pledge to fulfill their promise to lower the hated GST to five per cent. In spite of what the NDP and some Liberals say, this reduction will be welcomed by consumers, especially those in the market for big ticket items. Not only the rich will benefit, and it may particularly help our beleaguered automotive industry, which is losing thousands of jobs. The prime minister also pledges to give back more surplus tax money to the taxpayers, and the growing surplus will make it easy for him to do this again. Harper has already delivered textbook credits for students and tax breaks for public transit users. He gave employed Canadians a $1,000 employment credit. Small business owners were also helped as the corporate surtax will be wiped out this January. Families have seen the Harper government help them financially, with a $1,200 family allowance for children under six, a $2,000 child tax credit for parents of children under 18, and the children's fitness tax credit. Seniors have also benefited. The age credit was increased by $1,000, the pension income credit doubled to $2,000, and pension income splitting allowed, saving some couples a lot of cash. This is all about returning surplus tax money to those who have paid it, instead of the Liberal practice of setting up huge and expensive national programs with lots of bureaucrats. The Grits used the surplus as a re-election slush fund, while Harper is giving the money back to Canadians. A great idea! Roger's Right Corner runs Wednesdays.
