Link to Harpers 1997 Speech

[Pike]

What do you all think of it?

Im voting NDP!
http://www.breakthesilence.ca/politics/December%2005/Harper1997Speech.htm

 

[zoziw]

I am glad someone finally posted the full speech.

Overall, it was a reasonably good description of the Canadian political spectrum back in 1997. The 'northern european welfare state' comment came at the beginning of the speech and given the context could have been some early speech humour...I would need to hear the audio to determine if that was the case.

Given the moderation of the CPC and Stephen Harper over the past few years I question the relevancy of many of his comments today, especially the reform of the Canadian political system and his views on healthcare.

This is one of those things that isn't likely to change the mind of a CPC supporter or their critics.

 

[GAPCanadianChristian]

What do you all think of it?

Im voting NDP!
http://www.breakthesilence.ca/politics/December%2005/Harper1997Speech.htm

scary

 

[GAPCanadianChristian]

Given the moderation of the CPC and Stephen Harper over the past few years I question the relevancy of many of his comments today, especially the reform of the Canadian political system and his views on healthcare.

He appears to be as conservative as ever to me.

 

[.Mikha'el.]

What do you all think of it?

Im voting NDP!
http://www.breakthesilence.ca/politics/December%2005/Harper1997Speech.htm

If you want to vote for the New Democrats, go ahead. I will not stop you.

 

[draper]

zoziw may be right that some of it may have been satire, but unless all of it was satire, there is a great deal of alarming material in it...

The establishment came down with a constitutional package which they put to a national referendum. The package included distinct society status for Quebec and some other changes, including some that would just horrify you, putting universal Medicare in our constitution, and feminist rights, and a whole bunch of other things.

Regardless of the political/legal context of the Accord, he seems to be speaking very...condescendingly, about these ideas -- which is not a good thing.

 

[zoziw]

I think he was pandering to the crowd on the issue of "feminist" rights because the Charter already disallows discrimination based on sex and the Charlottetown Accord, while using somewhat different wording, basically provided the same thing.

Again, the CPC isn't going to eliminate women's rights, but it is promising to add First Nations peoples to the Canadian Human Rights Act as there is currently a loophole in the system that leaves some people out.

I disagree strongly with the wording in the Charlottetown Accord on adding universal and publicly administered healthcare to the constitution. Doing so would put the Canadian economy in a potentially disastrous position as healthcare costs increase. At some point it would either force us to run permanent deficits, face regular tax increases, cut back other programs or a combination of all three.

With NAFTA, we have to be very careful with our tax rate as businesses (and the jobs they provide) will be more than happy to head south of the border if our taxes are too out of sync with the US.

Don't get me wrong, healthcare is important, and publicly funded is preferable, but some degree of flexibility is important if the cost of such a program begins to effect the general economy.

 

[Speeza]

zoziw, putting universal healthcare into our constitution will not put our economy into danger, it will force us to reevulate our prioities if we are faced with finanical difficulties. And considering Canada is the healthiest, finanically, country in the G8 we aren't even close. Running a deficit isn't in Canada's future (unless, of course, the Conservatives win) when we are running with billion dollar surpluses.

We can afford healthcare. We can afford healthcare because we want to and because we budget accordingly. Healthcare IS important to the general economy, the healthier the population...

 

[zoziw]

zoziw, putting universal healthcare into our constitution will not put our economy into danger, it will force us to reevulate our prioities if we are faced with finanical difficulties. And considering Canada is the healthiest, finanically, country in the G8 we aren't even close. Running a deficit isn't in Canada's future (unless, of course, the Conservatives win) when we are running with billion dollar surpluses.

We can afford healthcare. We can afford healthcare because we want to and because we budget accordingly. Healthcare IS important to the general economy, the healthier the population...

How did we get rid of the deficit in the mid-nineties? Paul Martin cut social transfers to the provinces and the largest chunk of that cut was healthcare.

If you think we would be able to afford constitutionally protected universal healthcare and that it wouldn't create the situations I described above then you are entitled to your opinion, but I disagree.

 

[Svt4Him]

What do you all think of it?

Im voting NDP!
http://www.breakthesilence.ca/politics/December%2005/Harper1997Speech.htm

Wow, you're like...the second person I know who's voting NDP. Can I buy you lunch and then you'll become liberal?

And if I was to post a speach I made in 1997, I'm sure the mods would give me a warning for language.

 

[CCGirl]

This is still relevant today! People, wake up! Harper is scary, and I live in the belly of the beast, ALberta

The CPC is the Reform Party in disguise .

 

[Victrixa]

And if I was to post a speach I made in 1997, I'm sure the mods would give me a warning for language.

You know, I don't understand also why anyone would want to refer back to a speech or a person's opinions dating back so many years ago.... People change, their opinions change. I know, mine have over the last 10 years for sure and will continue to change. What's wrong with that?

Refering to an old speech is useless, in my opinion.