Y is a crooked letter
2015-03-03
By Bill Fox/Columnist
When I was young and quizzing my mom on why I had to eat my veggies, she would always reply with this often repeated phrase, “Y is a crooked letter and you ought to know better.” Does this sound familiar to you?
While not using that excuse, it seems that today’s politicians are almost of the same mindset; they know better and you should not ask! Here are a few cases that I would like answers to.
Why are the Conservatives (seemingly a wealthy party) inundating radio and TV with attack ads months before an election? I’m tired of them singing their own praises and attacking Justin Trudeau because (out of context) he once said, “The budget will look after itself.”
As a voter, I am sick of hearing political messages all year long. It’s bad enough hearing them during the election campaign, especially when they are attack ads. I bet with some research, I could put together a sound track of Mr. Harper saying, “As Prime Minister” “ I hope to be” “King” “with the help of our allies” “ISIS.”
Why after Mr. Harper campaigned two elections ago for an elected senate, has he yet to change things? He pledged that “all appointments would be made on merit-based requirements,” yet in his first act as Prime Minister, he appointed his campaign co-chair, Michael Fortier, as a senator and Minister of Public Works, which is the largest governmental purchasing department. Since Mr. Fortier was not elected, he cannot be held accountable for his actions in the House of Commons!
Why in opposition did the Conservatives fight hard against floor crossing? Forty Conservative MPs supported a private members’ bill banning floor crossing without a by-election. However, after being elected, Mr. Harper dismissed this concept and instead sought out Liberal Minister David Emerson for a key position in his cabinet. Recently, Eve Adams’ decision to leave the Conservatives and become a Liberal must be an embarrassment to Harper. Bet many Conservatives wished they had banned floor crossing now!
Why did former premier Dalton McGuinty cancel the unpopular gas plants just before the 2011 election? Obviously, he did win five Liberal seats in Oakville, Mississauga and Etobicoke as a result of his decision, but at what cost? Why was there a Liberal dominated committee examining the Liberal decision to scrap power plants in Oakville and Mississauga before the 2011 election? Sure, they hold the majority, but if they have nothing to hide wouldn’t it be more democratic to have a committee equally represented by all parties? Their report last week made no reference to an ongoing high-profile Ontario Provincial Police probe into the deletion of emails related to the gas plants affair. An opposition member called this committee report a “cover up of a cover up.” The matter is now in the hands of the police.
Why has a parliamentary watchdog repeatedly been stonewalled in his efforts to get information about the costs of Canada’s military mission in Iraq? A frustrated Jean-Denis Fréchette, the parliamentary budget officer, says the Department of National Defence rebuffed nearly all attempts by his office to get details about the costs of the ongoing mission. The budget officer, a post created by the Conservatives to boost accountability, now says legislation needs to be amended because the lack of co-operation by the government is undermining his watchdog role.
Why, before being elected, did Stephen Harper campaign to have the Child Tax Benefit increased to $5,100 per child, but once elected, he instead increased the Child Tax Credit, which does absolutely nothing for the poorest children whose families have no taxable income?
Why are politicians in all parties seemingly more interested in getting re-elected than working honestly for the good of all taxpayers?
Why?