jacqueline944

You want evidence of Harper's caucus? Let's look at some of what they've been saying on everything from a woman's right to choose to homosexuality to immigration. I, personally, find their comments at best regressive (we're going to open up the ancient debate of capital punishment??) and at worst intolerant: "Sir, you can go home now, we've cleaned out your cage." (Harvey Grigg, Vancouver East Conservative Candidate, responding to a question on affairs in the Middle East, when a member of the audience heckled him, June 9, 2004, CTV News) On Sexual Orientation and Hate Crimes Frank Luellau (Kitchener-Conestoga) “Luellau called homosexuality ‘unnatural behaviour,’ and said the government should provide counselling for gays and lesbians. "I know people who have changed their ways," Luellau said of gays who have received counselling. (The Record, Waterloo Region, Thursday, June 10, 2004) Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) “The danger in having sexual orientation just listed is that encompasses, for example, pedophiles. I believe that the caucus as a whole would like to see it repealed.” (June 5, 2004 CTV News) On Abortion Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast) Kenney said: “If they say they’re personally opposed to abortion but they don’t want to impose their opposition on society, ask them if they’re personally opposed to child abuse, ask them if they’re personally opposed to slavery.” (Canadian Catholic News, May 24, 2004) Rob Merrifield, Conservative Health Critic, (Yellowhead) In an interview yesterday, Rob Merrifield said independent counselling would be "valuable" for women contemplating abortion because "people who take part in it may only be seeing one side of it. "I would think that they [should] have all of the information in front of them. I think [with] any procedure that's a valuable thing for them to have," said the Alberta MP, who is opposed to abortion. (Globe and Mail, June 1, 2004) Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK) “Maurice Vellacott believes we need to oppose euthanasia and end tax funding for medically unnecessary abortions.” (Campaign brochure, June 2004) On Immigration and Refugees Dean Martin (Halton, ON): "As all of the new communities pop up (in Halton), there's a greater issue with crime and sentencing, and security locally and nationally." (Milton Champion, May 28, 2004) Paul Forseth (New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC) "Canada needs to decide who its refugees are by more actively going to the camps and deciding on our own who can be a success in our country. ... We do have a process of going to these places and trying to figure out who can have some English capability and perhaps some education background and some social supports, but we don't select enough of those." (CKNW Radio, June 3, 2004) On the Death Penalty Jon Carey (West Nova, NS) “I personally support capital punishment. I think it’s justice, quite honestly.” (Halifax Daily News, June 3, 2004) Tom Jackson (Hamilton Mountain, ON) “I personally do support capital punishment … for premeditated murder.” (Toronto Star, June 3, 2004) Peter MacKay (Central Nova, NS) Alliance-Conservative Deputy Leader “I believe personally, the option should be there for the worst of the worst.” (Halifax Daily News, June 3, 2004)

Maybe it is coincidence that jacqueline944 and liberalpaulmartin registered the same day - or maybe it's more likely that it's representative of the groundswell of support out there AGAINST Stephen Harper. People are finally starting to wake up about what this guy represents. He and his racist, homophobic, pro-life caucus are NOT what a progressive Canada needs. Paul Martin is.

Yes, I am just as mad as anyone over the sponsorship scandal, but I'm not prepared to flush down the toilet all the great work they've done and replace it with the regressive economic and social policies of Stephen Harper. Economists across the country have all said that Harper's 'tax cut/increased spending' scenario would put us back into deficit, while not having any real impact on our social foundation. Canadians right now have it so freakin' good they don't even realize how good they have it! Canada is now poised to take on the world - we are the envy of many developed countries because of our strong economy and solid social programs. Do people think that we arrived to this point merely by accident? That it would have occurred naturally?? No!! When the Liberals were elected in 1993, they inherited a $42-billion deficit from Brian Mulroney. That is now wiped out and we are saving $3 billion a year in interest payments. Thanks to Paul Martin as finance minister, we also paid down our debt by $50 billion and created three million jobs! We have the lowest interest rates ever, and the lowest unemployment rate in years. Now Martin wants to take us FORWARD into the 21st century with national day care, national home care and better health care. If you find yourself thinking along the same lines as Stephen Harper in terms of regressive economic policies - and social policies that will only instill homophobic and racist sentiment in every whacko just waiting for the chance to pounce - then, fine, vote for the guy. But if you're looking to vote for him simply because you're pissed at the Liberals, you'd better be prepared for the consequences. It is YOU who will be responsible for the demise of this great country

The Liberals were strapped with a $42-billion deficit when they were elected in 1993, left by Mulroney. They wiped it out. That has meant an additional $3 billion in interest payments each and every year that they've put back into our social programs. They have paid down $50 billion in debt, produced seven consecutive budgets (the first time that's been done since Confederation and the only G7 country to do so last year and this year) and they created three million jobs. The Liberals' claims that they have brought this country to the forefront of developed countries economically are backed by clearcut FACTS!

Let me see - Paul Martin wiped out our deficit, put in economic policies that have given us the lowest unemployment and mortgage rates ever, and created three million jobs. He has turned us into one of the greatest developed countries in the world. And now he wants to make us even greater by putting billions into our social foundations that are recognized the world over as amongst the greatest of any nation. By contrast, Stephen Harper wants to put us $50 billion in the hole with unrealistic tax cuts and spending promises that don't even work (not to mention buying more freakin' military crap) AND he wants to build walls around his home province, work with the separatist Bloc, put all the power into the hands of the provinces (we all know what great track records they have!), and open up the door to banning abortion and instilling homophobic attitudes about our country's gay population. Gosh, what a choice. Paul Martin or Stephen Harper Yes, I'm just as peeved about this whole sponsorship scandal as anyone, but I'm not about to throw my entire country down the toilet because of it. Paul Martin still has time to make it right in my eyes.