Stephen Harper has unveiled his platform and as expected it is modest but somehow fitting with the economic downturn the country is taking. A lot of what is contained in his platform was what he stated over the course of the past week or so, so it comes as no surprise. The “big show stopper” was the $730 million Diesel tax cut. Here are some highlights for those who don’t want to flip through the 44 page PDF of riddled with photos meant to tug at our heartstrings.
- further mention of the $900-million Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative and the $250-million Automotive Innovation Fund
- $75-million venture capital fund, to be administered by the Business Development Bank of Canada, which will allow late-stage technology companies to move from research and development to commercialization stages of business
- increase support for science and technology by $850 million by 2009-10
- establish a task force to report within one year on unnecessary federally appointed positions that can be eliminated, with a target of reducing federal appointments by 10 per cent overall
- require all federal departments and agencies to produce detailed quarterly financial statements
- implement legislation, obstructed and delayed in the previous Parliament, which would prevent candidates for federal political office from taking out large private loans on non-commercial terms
Not much hooplah about this, but it it hard to argue with Senate reform and the consultation of electors:
The Conservatives and Stephen Harper believe that the current Senate must be either reformed or abolished. An unelected Senate should not be able to block the will of the elected House in the 21st century.
As a minimum, a re-elected Conservative Government will reintroduce legislation to allow for nominees to the Senate to be selected by voters, to provide for Senators to serve fixed terms of not longer than eight years, and for the Senate to be covered by the same ethics rules as the House of Commons.
I can’t believe that his platform is the least frightening. Considering the downturn of the economy, the other candidates sort of frighten me.
2 responses so far ↓
Mark-Alan Whittle // October 8, 2008 at 10:27 am
Stephen Harper is the “safe barbour” Canadians need to weather the world economic storms. Like my mom says, “When in doubt, it’s always better to dance with the one that brung ya.”
Wise words are these.
blogoffanddie // October 8, 2008 at 9:39 pm
only days to go and the Conservatives finally have a platform. I never thought they’d get around to having a reason for existing.
Top 10 Stephen Harper election promises.
Number…
10. Free “lawn mounties” with every purchase of a snow shovel.
9. Steve promises not to take any more political advice from George Bush or Mayor McCheese.
8. Free beer for every Canadian who says “eh” after every sentence, eh?
7. Steve promises to work the words, “Kiss me, I’m Canadian” into our national anthems’ lyrics.
6. Sell Quebec to the Japanese for billions by telling them its Euro-Disney. (Ooops, sorry. That’s one of Steve’s Top 10 ways to sell out Canada).
Number 5. Steve promises not to start his next re-election bid at least until the end of the month and, he also promises to give up his Bob Barker haircut.
4. Nothing for the kids… er¼ make that free beaver rides for the kids!
3. Longer hockey games. Introduce an extra 4th period of hockey.
2. Steve promises never to call an election he promised he wouldn’t call and then introduce his platform at the last minute after the opposition leaders reminded during the debate that he should have one if he wants to be like a real Prime Minister. Naw, forget that. That’s just incredibly stupid.
…and finally, the number one Stephen Harper Conservative Party platform plank…
1. Steve will create a new cabinet post, Minister of Tim Horton’s
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Steven Harper, doing for Canada what George Bush did for America.