Much has been said of late about the Harper dictatorship. However, Canadians have failed to notice that Stephen Harper is waging an unrelenting war on medicare. Linda McQuaig writes:
Under Harper, taxes as a percentage of the economy are at their lowest level in 70 years. But 70 years ago, governments weren’t providing the extensive public benefits and services — in areas like health care, education, pensions, public transit — that we want and expect today.
As a result of Harper’s cuts to the GST, personal and corporate taxes, Ottawa now collects about $45 billion less revenue per year. No wonder we’re told we can’t afford anything but austerity.
That is why the prime minister has informed the provinces that, if they want to maintain medicare, they will have to keep it going:
Harper has quietly put in place the mechanism for deep cuts to federal support for public health care. There was, of course, no proclamation pointing that out. His government simply announced, just before Christmas in 2011, that there would be no negotiations to renew the expiring health accord with the provinces.
Instead, it unilaterally imposed a new formula — which will cut federal support for health care by an estimated $36 billion over the next decade, leaving the cash-strapped provinces scrambling to cover costs, with private, profit-seeking health entrepreneurs buzzing at their doorsteps.
As a result, few Canadians seem to realize that, as things stand, our medicare system — an institution cherished by millions — faces serious spending cuts starting in 2017.
Few Canadians seem to remember that Harper used to head the National Citizens Coalition -- an organization which came into being to fight public healthcare. He has swung a wrecking ball at the most cherished institutions in this country. And, McQuaig reminds us, we let him get away with it.
12 comments:
What are you talking Owen Steve is not just waging a war on Medicare he is waging an all out war on Canadians because he hates them even though he is one. I hope he falls hits his head and wakes up in the loonie bin. Oh well...
If he's going to fail, Mogs, he better do it soon.
Harper is a one trick pony for his subsidized carbon spewing oil and gas corporations. Despite all the economic fantasy he preaches it is all just a means for his wrecking ball management of Canada. His continued throttling of all Canadians future prospects needs to be seen for what it really is.
Haven't we seen enough of his failed leadership and string-puppet con-party governments actions to rise up, unite and totally reject all his failures and return Canada to a promising potential for all its citizens.
That's the seminal question at the heart of the next election, Bill.
McQuaig is really reminding all of us, Owen, that Harper's dream for Canada is everyone else's nightmare.
Precisely, Lorne. We're being led by a man who believes that in the real world it's every man and woman for him or herself. But, of course, that law doesn't apply to the man himself.
It makes me gag evry time Harper says? He is a devout Christian and *preys* for guidance every day. Harper is nothing other, than pure utter evil.
Stalin, Hitler and Mussolini have nothing on Harper. He is just as insane as they are, just not as extreme as they were. But, their chacteristics are vey similar.
We are totally at fault for, permitting that vile monster Harper, to stay in office. Harper the craven coward who, locks himself in bathrooms and won't come out until he gets his own way. Harper the craven coward, who locks himself in broom closets, to save his own miserable hide and to hell with everyone else.
In the next election, we can do something about that, Anon.
Tom and Justin should meet and decide three things Canada needs to know.
1) would be the topic of this blog
2) would be Harpers folly and bad management of the F35 file. A fighter plane that cant shoot and only holds 185 bullets. He wants to pay $50 Billion for this turkey?
3) The oil superpower disaster for Canada.
All three of these issues speak to Harper's incompetence, Steve. They shoot holes in his argument that he's the best person to run the country.
Owen. Harper knows exactly what he's doing. Privatizing mediacare along with other government services is a big part of his neolliberal agenda.All of this done for the most part out of view from Canadians eyes. Social democracy needs to be sabotaged when creating markets where government services once existed.
If he gets 4 more years, we are in serious trouble.
We are in deep trouble now, Pam. Harper is on what he feels is a moral crusade. Such men are dangerous.
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