HARPER'S TAKE ON DEMOCRACY INACCURATE
Editor:
It is interesting that Rob Zandee , Conservative candidate in the last election, accuses the opposition parties in Parliament of seeking power by all means possible, but ignores Stephen Harper's efforts to hang on by his fingernails.
Mr. Harper has been at great pains to accuse the opposition of undermining democracy.
He has been heard to say that the Canadian government has always been chosen by the people “ presumably implying that coalition governments are illegal.
Did he study politics somewhere south of the 49th parallel where voters elect the president directly and where coalition governments do not exist, democratically or otherwise.
He certainly implies, in his speeches, that he doesn't believe that Canadians have studied their own political system.
The fact is that neither Mr. Harper nor any other Canadian prime minister in history has ever been ELECTED to that position.
Every voter in Canada – following the Westminster system of government -votes ONLY for a candidate seeking a House of Commons seat to represent his constituency.
After the election the Governor General calls on any group of MPs showing promise of being able to command the confidence of Parliament.
The leader of this group then becomes prime minister.
Usually “ but not always – this is the group which gained the largest number of seats.
If this first group loses the confidence of the House, the Governor General is obliged to call on any other group showing promise of being able, or willing, to command the confidence of the House.
If no such other group exists the Governor General is then obliged to dissolve Parliament and call an election “ but not before.
In this respect, and in our present political situation, it is a political obligation of another group to try to govern if the last election has occurred too recently.
The second point on which Mr. Harper, and those siding with him, should bear a load of shame is in their treatment of the Bloc's participation in the efforts to build a coalition.
To the best of my knowledge the Bloc is still a legitimate political party in Canada and all Quebecers,
whatever their political stripe, are still legally Canadians.
Until Mr. Harper proves they are not, a Quebec party can, and should, participate in what goes on in Ottawa.
Perhaps, now, every thinking Canadian will realize the dangerous precedent the governor-general has set.
Every future prime minister will now be able to delay any vote of confidence which shows
dubious prospects of success.
It does not bode well for democracy.
Bill Watamaniuk,rnOsoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 10, 2008
COALITION WILL LEAD TO ANARCHY
Editor:
This is what we the citizens of a democratic country are facing thanks to the antics of the, for lack of a better word, three political thugs in Ottawa and Quebec, namely Dion, Layton and Duceppe of the Separatist Bloc.
I fear we are headed for very troubled waters.
They have chosen to OVERTHROW the government which was voted in by the people of Canada to govern.
This is anarchy bordering on treason.
No matter how they word their actions, it remains that they intend to overthrow the government and form their own without elections by appointing each other to positions of power.
There must be something inherently wrong with a Canada and those Canadians that could even entertain the thought that this is how we want to chose our governments.
The provinces here in the west pretty much voted for the government that was chosen.
It now appears that we are not welcome in the Canada known as Ontario and Quebec.
One province doesn't even want to be part of Canada.
This is not right!
Quebec is the only province in Canada that is not bi-lingual, runs candidates only in Quebec during a FEDERAL election, and is second only to Ontario in numbers of seats in our federal parliament (Ontario “ 106, Quebec “ 75).
Next comes Alberta “ 36 seats, and BC “ 28 seats.
Basically, Quebec holds a provincial election within their province during a federal election, thereby having it paid for by the citizens in the rest of Canada.
Strange!
I was born in B.C. and but for a brief stint in Saskatchewan have spent my time in B.C.
I have always been proud when travelling abroad to say, I am Canadian.rn
However, the events of the last couple of weeks begs the question: What is happening to and in our Canada?
We must raise our voices and let it be known, WE WILL NOT SUPPORT ANARCHY!
Fred Cawdell,rnOsoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 10, 2008
COALITION ABOUT ADDRESSING ECONOMY
Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to address the issue of the proposed coalition government.
Although to some, this may seem as a political power game, please believe me when I say that this is not the case.
The idea of a Liberal/NDP coalition with support from the Bloc has come about because of the sense of urgency facing our country.
Please, let me take this opportunity to waylay your fears.
I realize that the Conservatives have put a lot of misinformation into the public domain by creating a fear-mongering campaign with respect to this coalition and the Bloc.
I would like to clarify that this is not a merging of the three parties but rather is a joint effort between the Liberals and the NDP to address the economic crisis facing all Canadians by immediately injecting an economic stimulus package.
For the greater good of all Canadians, the Bloc has agreed to support and also promise that they would not bring down this coalition during votes of confidence (Throne Speeches or Budgets) until June 30, 2010.
Please be assured that each political party will remain separate and will continue to uphold their party policies and independence.
Although not everyone shares this sentiment, they cannot ignore the fact that during this time when Canadians need help the most, that the initiative to take action is far better than inaction.
Ultimately, history will be the final judge; in the meantime, it is time for action.
Alex Atamanenko,rnMP, B.C. Southern Interior
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 10, 2008
DO HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
Editor:
Did you receive a nice big flashy newsletter from DO this week?
I did and after a quick perusal I noticed it was long on adjectives but rather short on verbs.
I don't think I got my $72.00 worth of tax money from what they had to tell me.
I was also rather surprised to see they contribute financing to several projects around town.
Where do they get the money?
I see they proudly proclaim getting the additional hotel taxes implemented.
Funny, I thought the idea was to make this an attractive destination.
It's already expensive and as pointed out during the election, needs a lot of room upgrading to remain a viable attractive destination.
They made improvements to the visitor info centre.
How did that actually help tourism operators in this town?
They still don't have a pay phone for bus passengers to use when DO is closed.
Worse still, they seem to be in bed with MJO Communications which is not an Osoyoos business.
Ads in the magazine or no help from us seems to be the business plan.
Operating a radio station.
Very nice, but for the other nine months of the year visitors are at home.
So what does it achieve?
Publishing the Osoyoos visitors guide.
It's a nice book but the advertisers pay for that.
You get a better bang for your buck with the Osoyoos Times tourist guide because it's available all over town.
Growing the number of visitors to Osoyoos.
First, I'd dispute the numbers of visitors they claim in town.
Roughly 17,989 visitors through their doors in one month?
That's the entire summer population when this place was booming several years ago.
From what I have heard from many tourists is they only support the Nk'Mip campground and all others get no mention at all.
Don't the other campgrounds help support the town's businesses and deserve a mention?
Purchase of a beach cleaner.
Who gave them the money?
Seems to me they have no need of $320,000 in taxpayers' dollars from the town each year.
Now we have a new mayor and council with little baggage and they can do it tomorrow.
We'll save a bundle and DO can continue their good works without our money.
If they could actually point to firm dollars and permits and development they took complete responsibility for, I'd be more impressed.
Call me cynical but the money to DO should stop.
The residents really see no benefit at all.
David Eastbury,
Osoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 10, 2008
