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.
Stephen and John and Glen Fending off Liberal desperation attacks on everything including his support of America in Iraq (much real support would have been impossible as the 11 year Liberal government under equipped and under funded Canada's armed forces) and a number of his previous comments, Stephen Harper was off and running or rather off and flying well before the election call. On May 17th in Winnipeg, Harper showed off his customized Airbus 319 and was ready to go, adding to his call for his previously leaked tax cut program. A few days earlier word was out in Ottawa that the Tories would cut middle income earner's taxes by 25%, lower business taxes, give a $2,000 child tax deduction and eliminate the bloated employment insurance surplus. Those with incomes up to $70,000 would pay only 16% in taxes, which covers the vast bulk of Canadian taxpayers. High income rates would remain the same. There is a lot more in the plan including a savings plan for RRSP's and property investments with no taxes on withdrawals or capital gains. Every once in a while a party comes up with a plan that has appeal for the severely taxed middle income earner. One of the problems with RRSP's is the tax one has to pay when they are cashed in which may push a modest income into a higher tax bracket, and for seniors negate the OAS pension income. Of course contributions will not be tax deductible, but the plan has great appeal, particularly for those on fixed incomes, and for those concerned about leaving funds in their estate for family. The leaked platform (it could have been leaked on purpose) is moderately Conservative and far from extreme right. It calls for a free vote in Parliament on same sex marriages, a change in the way parties are funded, eliminates slush funds which have allowed the Liberals to go on end-of-the-year spending frenzies, and will give some federal gas tax money to the provinces for roads. There are many references to reform in Parliament including a ban on union and corporate political donations, proposals for helping poorer Canadians, a number of tough law and order measures, $1.2 billion more for defence, and of course a pledge to scrap the federal gun registration system. In Winnipeg, Harper also pledged to lower gas taxes and and was immediately countered by an instant liberal promise to keep the gas tax and give the money to health care. (Oh no, not another Liberal health care promise!) Gay Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray, a former "gay New Democrat," (his words not mine) became one of Paul Martin's appointed "star candidates" in the Winnipeg suburban riding of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia, making true the Right Corner prediction that Murray would become a "gay new liberal." Murray has probably been promised a Martin cabinet post if he wins, which he denies, claiming he wants to help Martin forge a new deal for financing cities. First elected to Winnipeg City Council in 1989, Murray became mayor nine years later, and until recently was a card carrying member of the NDP. If he and Scott Brison get elected and appointed to cabinet, Martin will have two openly gay ministers, a first in Canadian politics. Getting Murray elected won't be easy in the west end riding. Of the five provincial seats it includes, three are PC and two NDP with the area generally considered supportive of conservative values. A combined PC and Alliance vote last time was 8,000 more than Liberal John Harvard's winning vote, and Harvard was widely expected to lose this time. Glen Murray is known in the area as a "downtown mayor" and opposed several suburban initiatives such as the Charleswood bridge and the Kenaston Street underpass, which Conservative candidate Stephen Fletcher will surely exploit. Watch this one on election night and don't bet too much money on Glen Murray. In the crass, backroom deal that opened the seat for Murray, John Harvard, MP since 1988, lucked out, accepting an appointment as Manitoba's 23rd Lt. Governor, with a fat salary on top of his fat parliamentary pension and $70,000 in severance pay from the House of Commons. The five year plum appointment has a few ceremonial responsibilities and a gorgeous residence, not bad for a boy of Icelandic heritage from Glenboro who changed his name from John Heidman to John Harvard when he became a broadcaster of note in Winnipeg. A local prominent citizen told the Corner that he found the deal disgusting and a turn-off of politics. Writer Allan Fotheringham (The Reminder, May 14th) called the appointment the most cynical political act since the Roman Emperor Caligula appointed his horse to his cabinet. He went on to say that Martin bribed "a mediocre back-bench MP (and previously a mediocre Winnipeg media figure)" to give up his seat to Glen Murray. Martin, who claims to be different and more democratic than Chretien, is really "more of the same". Good election fodder for Stephen Harper. In fairness, however, most Lt. Governors were political appointments because of their loyalty to the party in power. They included Liberals Bud Jobin, Pearl McGonigal and Peter Liba; Conservatives Eric Willis, George Johnson and Yvon Dumont, the latter a strong Metis supporter of Tory icon Harry Enns. Good luck to John Harvard who is the big winner in this affair.
