Harpercritical - My new word for today.

Harper·crit·i·cal (harper'-krĭt'ĭ-kəl) pronunciation
adj.

1.The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness.

See also hypocrite.


Well, as some of you may know, Canada has recently elected a new government. Our new Prime Misister, Stephen Harper, spent a lot of time telling us how bad the previous Liberal government really was - and how they were going to fix all the problems.

He was sworn in on February 6th, 2006, and the government was assembled in early April.

So, since the first month is about to wrap up - let's see where we stand here in Canada. It's a timely review of the political process, and a chance to see the solid foundation that this country is now be governed on.

Harper was quite convincing when he spoke of the departure of Brenda Stornach,one of his party members that crossed the floor and joined the Liberals before the election.

Harper said some members feel ''devastated'' and ''betrayed,'' but added he is ''relieved that we've at least gone through this before an election.''

''There's no grand principle involved in this decision, just ambition,'' he said.

That's quite understandable, seeing as how she left his party for the Opposition. Hard to blame a guy for that...

Then again, the election votes were barely counted - and we all found out to our amazement that a Liberal candidate had switched parties to join his.

"I asked David Emerson to join Canada's new government and he accepted."

Harper's comments are being viewed as hypocritical since the Conservatives were up in arms last spring when Belinda Stronach crossed over to the Liberals and was put into cabinet.

At that time, Harper was asked what he thought about MPs who crossed the floor and why did most join the Liberals and not his party.

"We don't go out of our way to romance MPs to get them to cross the floor," Harper said. "The Liberals will do anything to win. We are trying to create a principled party where people act in a principled way.

"We're fairly cautious about encouraging party jumping because I think that's the kind of thing that generates cynicism and frankly when somebody jumps once you're not sure to trust them that they won't jump the next time.

"So I will always handle with an extraordinary degree of caution."

As trade minister, Emerson will be Canada's point man on the softwood lumber file.

Before entering politics in 2004, Emerson was an executive with the lumber company Canfor.

That's being Harpercritical....

"I believe it's better to light one candle than to promise a million light bulbs."

Stephen " one lux" Harper

Then, after that rather shakey start to a new age of Enlightenment, we were treated to Mr Prime Minister dropping his children off at school - and shaking their hands. I guess Dad is a little formal with the kids.

In Quebec, that clip made headlines. His supporters claimed it was ok, and that it was unfair to place all that attention on his children...the same ones Harper had been using in ads all during the campaign.

Then, in a rather timely gesture, he roared off to Afghanistan to visit our troops. Unlike most leaders, he actually stayed overnight with them at their camp. I almost got a little optomistic when I heard that.

They got a chance to meet him, and he got a chance to get a photo op.

He is a big supporter of the military.

Four Canadian soldiers were killed in an IED attack by insurgents last week. Two of those men had served as part of the security detail that protected Harper while he was visiting.

His government banned journalists from the military base when their bodies were brought back home, and he refused to lower the flag in their honour.

I guess he supports the military only when they are alive.

He was also very vocal in his attacks on political appointees during the campaign.

Today in Vancouver, Stephen Harper released the Conservative plan of Democratic Reform which will see elected senators, fixed election dates and a cleaner nomination process.

Dec.2005

Once elected, a month later, the co-chair of his election commitee Michael Fortier is appointed as a senator, and minister of public works, even though he does not hold a seat in the House of Commons.

He named Gordon O'Connor, a former defence industry lobbyist, as minister of defence. During the election, Harper vowed to curb the influence of Ottawa lobbyists.

he appointed Conservative MPs as chairs of Commons committees. Among them was Saskatoon MP Maurice Vellacott, who will chair the aboriginal affairs committee. In 2004, Vellacott was heavily criticized for defending two Saskatoon policemen convicted of dumping a drunk aboriginal man on the outskirts of the city in minus-25 degree weather.

While in Opposition, Harper was so critical of the Liberals for appointing committee chairs that they allowed committees to elect their own chairs

He introduced his ethics and accountability package, one of the five priorities he says he intends to act on during this session of Parliament. But he shuffled the access to information part of the package, which could have had the potential to allow Canadians easier access to government documents, off to a Commons committee for study.

In May 2004 while Opposition leader, Harper promised to eliminate the GST on any part of gas prices above 85 cents a litre. Last week, he dismissed the pledge because it "was made two elections ago."

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1145657412408&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795

Just today, we all heard of the deal in the softwood lumber dispute. The USA owes us five billion dollars they are holding on to, in violation of the Nafta Free Trade Agreement. We have gone before tribunals, and won our case that this is illegal .

During the campaign, Mr. Harper was the Iron Man of the North about how tough we were going to be with the Americans. We were going to stand proud and strong, and fight for the return of what was rightfully ours.

Harper said the U.S. had accepted Canada's key conditions. The agreement provides Canadian producers unrestricted access to U.S. markets under current market conditions, he said, meaning there is no overall cap on the Canadian share of the U.S. market.

With prices at the current market, this means no quotas or tariffs, Harper added.

Price drops will lead to export restrictions

But, if the price drops, certain export restrictions will kick in. Producers would have to pay an export tax of five per cent if there's a small drop in price. If it's aa larger drop, they would have to pay as much as 15 per cent.

"There is no quota; there is simply an export tax at the bottom of the market," said International Trade Minister David Emerson.

However, exporters who don't want to pay the tax will have to limit their volume of exports.

The U.S. would also return $4 billion of the $5 billion in duties it has collected so far on Canadian lumber imports, Harper said. But $1 billion will remain in U.S. hands.

He said the U.S. has agreed to a seven-year deal with the possibility of a renewal.

So, they keep a billion of our dollars - and get to impose quotas. Thank GOD we were playing hardball. Oh yeah, we signed a seven year deal.

And the main man responsible ? Emerson, the Liberal that switched parties, and used to be a lumber company executive.

I'm delighted to announce that we have reached an agreement," Harper told the House of Commons.

"This is what Canada wanted. This is what Canada got. This, colleagues, is a good deal."

It's a good deal for Harper's corporate friends.

Well, quite a first month in power - and who knows what awaits us in the future ? It seems like Little Stevie Blunder has finally ripped of his mask, and showed us all the great lie that got him elected.

Harpercritical, my new word for today.