Stephen Harper must not yield
Manning Centre for Building Democracy fellow John Williamson thinks it is time to support Stephen Harper because Canada finds itself at crossroads. One path takes us toward lower taxes, a less intrusive federal government and an aversion to deficit spending
John Williamson - December 7, 2008
It can be infuriating watching the Conservatives govern, whether it is political bluster in Parliament, empty assurances of fulfilling a fiduciary duty to taxpayers while running up federal expenditures, or gimmicky tax proposals that undercut the country's economic potential. One is frequently reminded of the games played by the former Liberal government.
And yet, it is necessary to put all that aside. It is time to support Stephen Harper because Canada finds itself at crossroads. One path takes us toward lower taxes, a less intrusive federal government and an aversion to deficit spending. Canadians know this road well. It is the one our country has been following for the past two decades.
That journey began in the 1980s, when Brian Mulroney began reigning in federal spending, implemented free trade with the United States and reformed the tax code. These were necessary steps to control the vast appetite of the state and make Canada more economically competitive.
Jean Chretien was ultimately responsible for putting Ottawa on a sound fiscal footing by balancing the federal budget and ending a generation-long era of deficit-financed spending. His government expanded free trade and lowered business taxes and cut all personal income tax rates.
Prime Minister Harper is an extension of this sensible fiscal tradition and has moved Canada forward. He cut the GST by two percentage points (a policy aped last month by Britain's Labour government), provided childcare support to parents with young kids and enacted a five-year plan to lower the country's business tax rate.
But these actions are not solely why the Prime Minister should remain in office. Yes, his budget update went too far in a minority Parliament by proposing the elimination of subsidies paid to political parties. Big deal, get over it already. He has embarrassingly reversed himself on that policy and all others the opposition found objectionable. But surrender for that? Hardly.
Canada needs a prime minister willing to push the envelope from time to time. Mr. Harper has successfully done so, despite the political odds being stacked against him. A Throne Speech last year declaring the Kyoto Protocol targets as unattainable won the support of Parliament, as did tougher crime legislation, an immigration reform bill, extension of the Afghanistan mission and -- the crown jewel -- a dramatic cut to business taxes. When these proposals were first announced, the opposition declared each one unacceptable.
No, Mr. Harper should only consider stepping aside when he stops taking calculated risks. That will be the time for him to go. Not before that and certainly not now.
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