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Issues Pages:
Will anything change if the Conservatives lose in 2015?
Sat, 2014-10-18 13:11
#1
Will anything change if the Conservatives lose in 2015?
Sat, 2014-10-18 13:38
#2
That's the question posed by Thomas Walkom, and it deserves serious discussion IMO:
[url=http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/10/17/stephen_harpers_legacy_fat... Harper’s legacy fated to endure[/url]
The opposition Liberals and New Democrats slam Stephen Harper’s policies. But if elected, how many would they scrap? [...]Even if Harper loses the next election, much of his legacy seems fated to remain.
Harper’s Conservatives have changed much in this country. They have shrunk government social programs while increasing government surveillance. They have reconfigured the penal and judicial systems.
They have continued the process, begun under the Liberals, of scaling back the welfare state.
Mulcair or Trudeau could begin to reverse these changes if either were to become prime minister a year from now.
But would either do so? That is another question.
Of course, Walkom left out lots. Taking Canada into war (ostensibly opposed by both Libs & NDP). Criminalizing sex work (same). Being the absolute bff of Israel (but they kind of are too). The Wheat Board. Countless other things.
Should the opposition parties speak out, or be pressured to speak out, and say what they will reverse if they win power - especially, those actions which they condemned while in opposition?
Perhaps we can start a list of items?
Sat, 2014-10-18 13:45
#3
Serious discussion? What some of us have been talking about for years isn't exactly a lark you know.
Sat, 2014-10-18 13:48
#4
Should the opposition parties speak out, or be pressured to speak out, and say what they will reverse if they win power - especially, those actions which they condemned while in opposition?
Perhaps we can start a list of items?
That's a great idea although I doubt we would get answers. The MSM won't force it out of them. Look how they side-stepped what they would do about prostitution. They won't answer on completely reversing Harper's legacy because they would have to raise taxes by a lot. They would have to reverse the GST cut and reverse all the corporate tax cuts.
Sat, 2014-10-18 13:57
#5
laine lowe
So much damage, where to begin
Refugees and Immigration
- Reinstate family reunification policy
- Reinstate medical coverage provisions to refugees
- Return decision-making powers to an arms length Refugee Board (and out of the hands of the Minister)
- Remove favoured state provisions denying certain refugee claimants' rights (i.e. Roma, LGBT)
- Abolish or overhaul Temporary Foreign Workers Program and replace with more generous immigration policy for migrant workers
- Abolish cabinet or minister(s) power to revoke Canadian citizenship to dual citizenship Canadians
- Overhaul provisions for deportation to ensure due process and case-by-case considerations
- End immigration detention
- Abolish the security certificate mechanism
- Stop promoting a culture that demands shaming Muslims (do we demand Christians apologize whenever McVeigh or Lords Resistance Army commit acts of terrorism?)
So that's all I can think of under that topic.
Sat, 2014-10-18 16:00
#6
The Nineties prove that not only won't the Liberals, if they get a majority, undo ANY of the damage done by Harper, they will actually keep moving policy further to the austerity and inequality Right, especially on the social wage, workers' rights and the role of corporations in Canadian life(the issues that actually affect most people). They still think Paul Martin was right on all his toadying to Bay Street.
Sat, 2014-10-18 17:52
#7
alan smithee
Clearly there'd be change but just how much?
War on drugs,sex work and the war (s) itself would change...well,pot and sex work...I wouldn't hold my breath on peace.
It's a start I suppose.
Sat, 2014-10-18 18:59
#8
bagkitty
Sat, 2014-10-18 19:00
#9
Good idea re; compiling a list. Take the pension 67 plan for instance. Any movement from the opposition on that one?
Sat, 2014-10-18 21:20
#10
Good idea re; compiling a list. Take the pension 67 plan for instance. Any movement from the opposition on that one?
I recall Mulcair promising to reverse that, shortly after it was adopted. That's probably one of the rare exceptions. I'll go look for a source.
ETA: That didn't take long:
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tom-mulcair-vows-to-restore-old-age-secu... Mulcair vows to restore Old Age Security eligibility to 65[/url]
Sun, 2014-10-19 06:45
#11
There are of course many details associated with hitting the reset button on Harper's plan around OAS. It would be important to know what Mulcair has in mind because without those details promises are vague at this point.
Sun, 2014-10-19 11:10
#12
bagkitty
As interesting as this is, I am not sure it is something to campaign on... the roll call of "what the NDP will repeal/overturn/toss into the dustbin". It strikes me as coming across as an essentially negative campaign. So long as the party is on the record of intending to repeal/overturn etc., focus on what new items will be brought forward.
But if a list is going to be compiled, I would start off with a reversal of all the "changes" the Cons have made to the electoral process itself... their entire Orwellian democratic reform platform.
Sun, 2014-10-19 11:38
#13
I tend to agree with bagkitty. In an electoral campaign you want to frame the CPC and its policies as "Yesterday's News", - and the change to come as modernizing, moving the country forward.
A good place to start would be on the whole case for evidence, science, rationality in policy making ... what is generally called "evidence-based policy-making", - rather than CPC's more favoured "policy-based evidence making".
So renewing the census, unleashing scientists to speak, etc. Its more 'setting the tone' than immediately substantive, but it would be a great place to start with some potentially powerful symbolic value. And prepare the ground for a whole raft of much-needed policy changes re climate change + the environment, criminal justice system, etc.
Sun, 2014-10-19 11:51
#14
As interesting as this is, I am not sure it is something to campaign on...
I wasn't thinking of advising these parties how to run their campaigns. I was seriously interested in what changes Conservatives have made, and which ones we want to pressure the opposition to overturn if elected. Because the past is a pessimistic guide to the future in that regard.
...the roll call of "what the NDP will repeal/overturn/toss into the dustbin".
Nor was my interest confined to the NDP. I think progressive folks need to pressure all parties, all unions, all organized forces in society to effect change. In talking about 2015, I think it's essential to ask questions and seek commitments from the NDP, Liberals, Greens, Bloc - everyone - about the OAS eligibility age (to take SJ's important example) as well as countless other fundamental crimes Harper has committed against the nature of our society.
But if a list is going to be compiled, I would start off with a reversal of all the "changes" the Cons have made to the electoral process itself... their entire Orwellian democratic reform platform.
To be honest, while of course I agree with you about the Orwellian changes, I think that's probably a "negative" approach that I would avoid. It can only distract attention from the need for real electoral reform - a positive platform to promote proportional representation in some form or other. The NDP pays lip service to it - though their record shows no backbone in that regard (certainly not provincially, but not federally either). Perhaps it's time to seek some commitments?
Sun, 2014-10-19 11:52
#15
There are of course many details associated with hitting the reset button on Harper's plan around OAS. It would be important to know what Mulcair has in mind because without those details promises are vague at this point.
What "details"? The age 67 doesn't even start coming into effect before [url=http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/services/pensions/oas/changes/age/ind... 2023[/url]. All that's needed to "hit the reset button" is repeal Harper's change. We have 8 years to figure out how to do it - and I think we've done it already.
So, name one "detail" that we need to worry about, and I'll get Mulcair to address it. Promise.
Mon, 2014-10-20 05:35
#16
What "details"?
The GIS for low income seniors is included in the two year delay. People might be interested to know what might be included in opposition plans to repeal Harper's changes to OAS eligibility.