PUBLICATION:
National
Post
DATE:
2004.12.13
EDITION:
National
SECTION:
Financial Post: Comment
PAGE:
FP15
BYLINE:
Stephen Harper
SOURCE:
National Post
NOTE:
Stephen Harper is the leader of the Official Opposition.
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Canadian
conservatism is alive and kicking
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Terence
Corcoran wrote on Nov. 30 that conservatism is dying in
In
fact, on the vast majority of issues, the Conservative party remains distinct
from the other three parties in the House of Commons in defending conservative
principles.
On
economic issues, we are the only party consistently advocating tax reduction for
Canadians. We have called the Liberals to account for their dishonest
manipulation of surplus forecasts to falsely argue that they cannot afford tax
relief.
We
have continued to call for wasteful government spending to be reined in, moving
to reduce the estimates for excessive spending in areas like the gun registry,
government polling, and the Governor General's travel budget.
We
have not changed our general position on corporate subsidies. We continue to
believe that the best way to spur economic development is broad-based tax relief
for all companies, not subsidies for a chosen few. As recently as Nov. 15, I was
on my feet in the House attacking the unacceptable 3% repayment rate on the
money "loaned" out under the Technology Partnerships Canada program.
On
health care, far from our role being one of "cheerleaders" to the
Liberals, we have seen the Liberals adopt policies closer to our own. We have
long called for the government to provide adequate financial resources to the
provinces to administer health care, while allowing the provinces flexibility in
running their own health care systems without federal micromanagement.
The
2004 Health Accord does precisely that, providing significant new health care
resources without creating barriers for the provinces in experimenting with
much-needed health care reforms. This includes allowing the growth in use of
alternative private health care delivery in the public system -- something Paul
Martin had pledged to end.
In
matters of security, we have been consistent in calling for a stronger national
defence, and were the only party to vote for a motion recently that called for
proper training, equipment and support for our combat and peacekeeping
operations.
We
stand alone in promoting a criminal justice system that protects victims and
punishes the guilty. We continue to advocate the elimination of automatic
statutory release under our parole system, the elimination of conditional
sentencing for serious violent and sexual offences, and the elimination of all
legal loopholes for child pornography.
We
continue to believe strongly in democratic reform. Even before Parliament met we
used our role as Official Opposition to bring together all the opposition
parties to force through significant democratic reforms -- rule changes to
ensure Parliament is more effective and the voices of Canadians are heard.
The
Speaker is now more independent, committees more powerful, and MPs able to vote
on important issues because of these changes. More recently, we have demanded
that the prime minister move quickly to appoint to the Senate those elected in
the recent Alberta Senate election.
We
allow our MPs to have diverse views on moral issues, and we continue to believe
that Parliament, not the Supreme Court, should have been allowed to resolve the
definition of marriage. Our attempts to hold a free vote on preserving the
traditional definition of marriage were blocked by the other three parties.
Specifically,
Mr. Corcoran objects to some of my recent statements related to
I
continue to believe strongly in the equality of all Canadians and the equal
legal authority of the provinces. But within that framework, the conservative
tradition of Western populists and "community of communities" Tories
alike is to let the provinces respond to their own needs -- including the unique
linguistic and cultural realities of
As
a new national political party, but one rooted in the Canadian conservative
tradition, we must be open to new ideas, advancing the aspirations of the many
diverse groups that make up this country, while at the same time remaining true
to our conservative roots.
At
times, this is a difficult balance to achieve, but I believe that our party and
caucus have by and large managed to do so.
Our policy
convention next March -- the first time that the new Conservative party will be
able to meet in convention to debate our policies and principles -- will mark an
important step in defining a vision for Canada that is modern and open, yet also
conservative and principled.