I have to take some exception to Todd Whitcombe's myopic view of Canadian politics and the Conservative government.
In his column in The Citizen on Sept. 14, he starts off suggesting that wannabe politicians should concentrate of the three Rs, recession, refugees and readiness.
He then goes on to basically trash the government in power and basically ignores the Opposition party (NDP) and the Liberals.
So he immediately implies that the Conservative government and Harper led us into the past two recessions, however note that the word he uses is "led."
Even Todd knows that the Conservative government was not responsible for the past couple of recessions in Canada, as everyone knows that it was the world economy, and the falling price of oil that was responsible. In fact, Canada fared better during these recessions than a lot of other countries. So using the term "led" implies that somehow the Conservative were responsible.
Much like saying he led us to the river. That does not mean that the leader created the river, it merely means that he led people to it.
Todd then goes on to blame Harper and the Conservatives for the Free Trade Agreements which in his mind gutted our manufacturing sector. He fails to mention that the Liberals vowed that they would scrap the Free Trade Agreement if elected, but in fact kept it and they even suggested that the Conservatives did not go far enough in establishing Free Trade Agreements.
Nor did he mention that the Liberals suggested that they would scrap the GST if elected, but in fact kept it. It was Harper who reduced the GST from seven per cent to five per cent, which meant considerable savings to the average Canadian.
He then suggests that our economy increasingly relies solely on the exportation of oil, conveniently ignoring other aspects of our economy.
He then suggests that good economic leadership would have pushed for
economic diversification in an increasingly flat world.
We already export wood products, pulp and paper products, agriculture and food, fish products, metallic mineral products, vehicles, cattle, fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment, plastics, and of course oil and natural gas.
Manufacturing is down because of world competition. So what does he suggest we diversify to?
Todd then denigrates the government's attempts to bring in a reasoned refugee program, while at the same time ensuring that people are properly screened.
Then it's on to the question of readiness. He then at least makes reference to Trudeau and Mulcair, but only in passing as he once again goes into criticizing the government and Harper.
So in closing I suggest that Todd looks at these three Rs: Revisionism, Rambling, and Regurgitation.
Eric Allen
Prince George
