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.
On Monday Bev Desjarlais replied to the Speech from the Throne, which outlined Prime Minister Martin's election platform. "Canada may have a different Prime Minister but this throne speech is the same liberal rhetoric as always, it's easy to make promises, it's the keeping them that is hard," said Desjarlais. The custom of making empty promises to Canadians is not a new one to Paul Martin. "If Paul Martin honoured his promises, then after a decade as Finance Minister we would have innovative Medicare, cheaper education, a cleaner environment, and fewer children living in poverty," stated Desjarlais. Martin showed that he is out of touch with the needs of Canadian students, outlining his meagre commitment to increase loan limits, add new expenses, and raise income eligibility levels. In so doing he is sentencing students to carry an ever-increasing debt load. "Mr. Martin's commitment to life long learning is for students to spend a lifetime paying it off," declared Desjarlais. "Students need real change; they must have low-to-no interest loans, debt forgiveness, and a change in bankruptcy terms for student debt." Finally, let's not just look at what this Speech says, let's look at what it doesn't Ð there is no mention of implementing the Romanow Report on Health Care, no mention of the softwood lumber dispute, no mention of BSE and the impact on the farm industry, and no mention of Canada's position on missile defence.
