I watch with distress and dismay the scheming machinations of Stephen Harper. I never ever thought anyone could be so unprincipled.
Here we are in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and what is his aim? A carefully thought out program of financial aid and job creating programs for the suffering citizens of our country? A harmonious union of all the parties in the pursuit of solutions to this economic disaster? Showing the kind of statesmanship that would inspire and encourage the nation to tackle problems under the wise guidance of our government? Oh my, no.
His program is to manoeuvre, plot and scheme to create the most caustic parliamentary atmosphere ever witnessed in our country. He tells world leaders that he sees the necessity of government programs to create jobs by investing in the infrastructure of our country. Then he crawls back into his den in Ottawa and gnaws on the bone of contention, instructing his mindless aping bully boys in the art of confrontation and issue avoidance.
He then antagonizes the opposition by stopping the meagre payment to the parties based upon votes received; a conscious move to weaken and destroy burgeoning parties and financially strap the others. It won't hurt the Conservatives as the tax-avoiding wealthy and corporations seeking (and getting) favourable tax shelters will happily swell their coffers. Harper is a blot and a disgrace to Canada.
Jim Armitage, Newmarket
No one is fooled by the opposition parties' claims that they are seeking to replace the duly elected government with their coalition for the good of Canada. The only interests that the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois parties are out to protect are their own – in this case, taxpayer subsidies. If they were so concerned about a so-called lack of a stimulus package, why did they not vote down the Throne Speech?
During the last election, Stéphane Dion flatly denied the possibility of a coalition with the NDP. Why is he willing to climb in bed with them now? Why are both the Liberals and NDP willing to enter a coalition with the Bloc Quebecois, whose sole purpose is to facilitate the breakup of Canada through Quebec separation? Pure self-interest at the expense of Canada's best interest. Shame on these self-serving politicians.
Robert Cohen, Ottawa
I am appalled, angry and disgusted with the idea of a coalition government, particularly when it embraces the Bloc, the party that wants to destroy Canada.
Norman H. Gutsell, Elmvale
The hubris of Stephen Harper and his neocons is astonishing in light of having garnered only 37 per cent of the popular vote in the recent election. Playing a game of chicken with the opposition parties at a time when Canada is in an economic crisis is foolhardy and juvenile.
Gary Cousins, Gananoque, Ont.
"King Stephen" has no clothes! Although "elected" by a minority of Canadians, a delusional Harper continues to govern as if he had all the seats in the House. Conservative vendettas, idiosyncrasies, stubbornness, partisanship, disregard for parliamentary rules, a continual disregard for what Canadians need most at this time and blatant brinkmanship appear to have come to the surface once again, and the country is thrown into turmoil.
If the other parties can form a coalition and propose an immediate, comprehensive package to help all Canadians, then I hope the governor general will ask them to form the next government.
Mario Bonifacio, Wasaga Beach
The people of Canada have spoken, twice. Canadians do not want another election. Stephen Harper is doing a fine job in spite of the mean-spiritedness of the opposition. Why can't our parties work together instead of against each other.
Judith Brown, Toronto
Stephen Harper's bungling last week was startling. The flaw that runs through Harper's entire career, since his right-wing think-tank days, is that he is almost, but not quite, as smart as he thinks he is. And periodically he out-smarts himself. But the government's panic-stricken reaction on the weekend raised the bungling to a whole new level – one that makes it apparent Harper has lost not only the confidence of the House, but his confidence in himself as well.
The withdrawal of the party funding provision from the government's legislative proposals makes them look scared and amateurish. Politics is often compared to theatre, but too often it's just low comedy, or farce. What we are witnessing today is art, worthy of Aeschylus, or Shakespeare. Stuff for the ages.
Jeffery Ewener, Toronto
In a Parliamentary democracy, we don't elect a king, in the form of a Prime Minister, to rule us for four years. We elect representatives who serve us in the House of Commons. So when the representatives who two-thirds of Canadians voted for decide that they must form the government, it is perhaps the finest example of democracy that we have had in a very long time.
Brett Hodnett, Gatineau, Que.
Harper's promise to behave more civilly has disappeared faster than a speeding bullet. He appears incapable of good faith dealing.
Martina Wood, Mississauga
You could almost see Finance Minister Flaherty's nose growing as he explained why, alone on the planet, Canada will not be running a deficit. What he didn't say is that this means that regular Canadians – workers, pensioners, the young, single moms, public service employees – will be made to pay the price of the extreme view that deficits are prohibited by their political ideology. Now is the time to stimulate our economy by means of a manageable deficit.
John L. Fryer, Victoria, B.C.
Harper has squandered his opportunity to provide the leadership we need in the face of major crises. Let's hope Dion and Layton do not squander theirs.
Arleigh Luckett, Gravenhurst
Just imagine what the Tories would have done with a majority – it's scary to think.
Ian McNeilly, Toronto
One thing that is evident to me is that Jim Flaherty has to go.
Gary MacDonald, Toronto
