30 Reasons Not to Vote for Stephen Harper . . . .

Just in case you might be considering voting Conservative in the upcoming election let's review some reasons why you might want to reconsider that notion. Already we've looked at some reasons why Stephen Harper is not deserving of your vote, we have examined some of his telling quotes, and we have reviewed the disdain he has for the arts (a position he reversed on the campaign trail when it proved to be problematic for him in Quebec). On Tuesday we examined Harper's relationship with Canada's most populous province and the economic engine that has driven the country for years. . . . Ontario. Today 30 other reasons why Stephen Harper's Conservative party is NOT worthy of your vote, or the time of day for that matter.

1. Calling an early election, breaking a legislated promise to have the next vote in 2009.

2. Cutting Canada’s Food Safety Inspectors just prior to a major food poisoning outbreak (Listeriosis) that has killed 19 people so far. He made it worse by supporting one of his minister's who was caught making tasteless jokes about the crisis and the people who died from the food poisoning.

3. Adding a personal hair stylist and image consultant to the PMO staff and billing the taxpayer for her services.

4. Fudging the costs of government jets used by Stephen Harper and his ministers after blasting Liberals for the same thing.

5. Producing a 200 page "Manual of Dirty Tricks" to deliberately disrupt parliamentary committees and parliament.

6. Muzzling Conservative MPs and banning them from unauthorized media interviews.

7. Doing nothing about climate change or the environment for more than a year (other than to say it was myth), and until forced to act by the polls.

8. Making a former lobbyist for military arms dealers the minister of defence, in charge of $15 billion in spending.

9. Failing to have any effective policy to help Ontario’s struggling manufacturing sector, other than tax cuts for the ones enjoying a profit.

10. Refusing to allow media coverage of the return home of our Afghan war dead, without consulting the families.

11. Threatening Conservative MPs with loss of party status if they talked about funding cuts that affect their constituents.

12. Running the most secretive and least accountable government in Canadian history after running on a platform of accountability.

13. Attempts to block access by the Parliamentary Press Gallery to the prime minister and cabinet. Secret timing of cabinet meetings to avoid press.

14. Cutting the Energuide program for low-income homeowners and replacing it with a new one for higher-income homeowners.

15. Canceling the Kelowna Accord, cutting off talks with first nations’ leaders and refusing to deal with the Caledonia crisis.

16. Spending $150,000 per weapon to arm border guards.

17. Not a single new child care space after promising 125,000 would be created in first Conservative mandate.

18. Snubbing two of the world’s fastest-growing economies and most promising trading partners, China and India.

19. Breaking promises to provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan, over transfer payments, while showering Quebec with additional transfer payments.

20. Politicizing the police and the military.

21. Rona Ambrose, as environment minister, firing a government scientist for writing a book on global warming.

22. Massive spending on advertising prior to an election call.

23. The Elections Canada raid on Conservative party headquarters, investigating the ‘in and out” election financing scheme where the Conservative party is accused of illegally spending millions of dollars in the last election. Calling an election int he midst of the hearings about the alleged activity thereby muzzling the investigation.

24. Ignoring the advice of the Canadian Nuclear Agency on the Chalk River reactor the result being that the world's supply of radioactive isotopes used in the treatment of cancer was at significant risk. Firing Linda Keen the head of the Canadian Nuclear Agency a supposedly independent quasi judicial body hours before she was to testify a parliamentary committee about the government ineptitude. Hiding the Minister responsible for nuclear safety Gary Lunn, for weeks and billing taxpayer for an imagine consultants services before he would re-appear.

25. The 'Obama Leak', leaking confidential diplomatic comments to interfere with the American Presidential election process.

26. Conservative MP Helena Guergis leaks details of Stephane Dion’s top secret tour to Afghanistan thus endangering his life and those of the troops protecting him.

27. Smearing MP Nav Bains’ father-in-law as being a potential terrorist, in the House of Commons. Later grudgingly apologizing for the lie.

28. Refusing to use the Canadian Press Gallery except on one occasion. Refusing to accept questions from the press except a few carefully screened journalists. Stopping public servants making statements without approval from the PMO. Stopping Conservative MPs making statements without approval from the PMO.

29. Harper’s broken promise to reduce federal fuel taxes if gas goes over 85 cents/l, saying “get used to it” and “the reduction would be insignificant” after being elected.

30. Stacking a stem cell research advisory committee with pro-life Conservatives.

There you have a two year record of one of the most secretive, maniuplative, cynical, and controlling governments in Canadian history. Tomorrow we will check out two years of Conservative scandals. Do those of you who are thinking of voting Conservative really think that this sort of behaviour is acceptable?

Stephen Harper - role model to playground bullies throughout the land.

Comments

[girasoli]

The photos are all the proof I would need to NOT vote for him.

[Jerry]

Girasoli - you are so correct. The sad thing is that some folks here actually like George W. They like a leader who 'stands up'.

If only they thought through the consequences of this behaviour a little more fully. Oh well, independent thought is a challenge for some.

[Kendall]

Jerry,
I pray everyday that this man gets defeated. I would hate to see America's shame repeated in Canada.
Wood you like me to send you a Steven Harper Voodoo doll?

[Jane]

Hi Jerry, would you like Sarah, too? We will export her--gladly. See you in two weeks.

[Jerry]

Kandall - sadly the one I had was ripped to bits in a mysterious fit of anger . . .

Jane - that would make things too frightening for words!

[David]

Jerry, I just linked to your list on my new blog:

http://darkthoughitis.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/meet-the-new-boss/

It's not an exclusively political blog, but politics is one of my concerns. Fingers crossed for the election, my first chance to vote as a Canadian citizen! Feel free to add me to your blogroll (I'm still trying to figure out how to get linked to more, so apologies if that's poor netiquette).

[Jerry]

Thanks David - it looks as if there will be some more dark days ahead . . .

[Alison S]

Good list, but I believe Rona Ambrose stopped him talking about or promoting his book, but I think he did publish it. I could be wrong though.