Dear editor,
Two weeks ago we organized a presence of more than 300 persons and many more who could not attend.
This group of people peacefully stood in front of MP John Duncan's office in Courtenay, asking him to support amendments to the omnibus budget bill.
The presence was supportive and positive and occurred in tandem with such demonstrations in hundreds of localities across Canada. The RCMP presence, which was there to keep us in order, was supportive and positive. In fact, they made it easier for us to be in the street by blocking traffic while we stood and while we marched.
The fact that we heard nothing from Mr. Duncan or from any of the Conservatives surprises me.
We do live in an open democracy, do we not? No matter how each citizen has voted, the MP does represent all members of the constituency, not just Conservatives. It seems that the Harper government does not allow MPs to speak on their own.
Over the past year of this majority Conservative government there has been much cause for concern. From gutting environmental regulations to restricting debate in the House of Commons, this government has changed the way we do things in Canada.
The Conservatives' budget Implementation Act C-38 includes changes to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the Kyoto Implementation Act and the Fisheries Act, while undermining the Species at Risk Act.
In addition to a destruction of thousands of skilled jobs, such as the loss of all the scientific expertise in parks and many of the rangers in parks, this bill will directly diminish the living standards of thousands of families in Canada.
The Harper government's victory call in the past election was budget-related. They promised to keep Canada in good financial shape.
I still receive regular Conservative advertisements in my mailbox, promising employment, wealth and a safe old age. For some reason, such talk wins votes, even though so many people are becoming "redundant" in the workplace and being forced to choose lower-paying jobs.
It is time that this government is taken to task. The damage they are doing to the Canadian identity is being noticed across the planet.
Canada used to be a respected nation in the world. We are no longer.
A. Jessie Kerr,
Comox Valley