Login / RegisterStephen Harper promises to govern for people who didn't vote Conservative
Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered an olive branch to those who voted for other parties in Canada's 41st federal election.
"For our part, we are intensely aware that we are and we must be the government of all Canadians, including those who did not vote for us," Harper said in his acceptance speech in Calgary after winning a majority government.
Harper praised the "remarkable tenacity" of NDP Leader Jack Layton's campaign. He also described Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff as a "worthy opponent", and saluted Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
"We shall be faithful to the trust you have reposed in us," the Conservative leader declared.
In his speech, Harper also promised "comprehensive measures to reduce crime and make our streets and neighbourhoods safer".
The Conservatives won minority governments in 2006 and 2008.
He closed his speech with his trademark "God Bless Canada" message, adding the line, "glorious and free".
Iggy's mistake was believing voters had a brain - they obviously don't. That big screen TV from Walmart and the Simpson's has radiated their grey matter out of existence.
The best possible strategy is to elect Charlie Sheen as leader.
We once laughed at the US Repug voter of which only 25% believe Obama was born in the USA.
Now we find Canadian voters are even more stupid reelecting a demonstrated fascist cabal which will change Canada to a horrid neofascist state - George Bushes dream.
What's worse Canada's dimmest voters the BC electorate didn't learn a thing when they elected the fascist Campbell, then had to give him the boot a year later. They did it again supporting the Harp in huge numbers.
seth
Steve doesn't have to conceal his evangelical side now. Remember this is the politican who said Canada will have a role when Armageddon happens.
Ignatieff's mistake was remaining head of the party. No one likes him, and the polls just showed that. But we all knew that before the election. Had the liberals had someone else at the helm, it would have all gone much differently. But when people are forced to vote conservative or NDP, things are left very polarized. Ontarians old enough to remember are still hung up about Bob Rae--crap that happened 25 years ago.
It is Canadian voters that are the idiots. We just re-elected someone who has shown a complete disregard for our usual democratic processes and was found to be in contempt of parliament. Ironically, we did it such that it's irrefutable. Apparently the majority of Canadians don't care about being lied to and having the rules manipulated in any which way.
Well, he got his majority. Time for him to live up to all of those promises he was making should this be the case. I'm not holding my breath. He is a rotten man that puts a terrible face on a party I'd otherwise be indifferent about.
"One by one, Mr. Harper congratulated his rivals, including Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, whom he lauded for 12 years of service in federal politics. 'You have contributed to strengthening this country.'
"He also lauded NDP Leader Jack Layton, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe and Green Leader Elizabeth May.
"Mr . Layton, I congratulate you for speaking out on behalf of ordinary working people and their families ... Mr. Duceppe, I congratulate you for mounting a vigorous campaign," he said.
"We profoundly disagree about the future of our country," he noted, but said he hoped the Bloc and Tories could work together for the good of their shared economic interests.
"He said he will try to work for the interests of all Canadians, regardless of whom they supported."
Then, barely 2 weeks after the election, and despite lacking a majority in Parliament, Harper went on the offensive by using a so-called economic statement to rip up political and social rights without a word of warning. More specifically, he planned unilaterally to abolish the per-vote public subsidy to political parties, a key element of the election financing regime established in 2003 with all-party agreement. He also proposed to abridge collective bargaining rights for federal civil servants, including pay equity rights for women. Meanwhile he turned a blind eye to the recession by proposing no economic stimulus measures while forecasting a budget surplus for the year--a prediction that was derided by every leading economist.
Now that Harper has his coveted majority, expect the worst from this unreconstructed right-wing ideologue. Canadians have 5 long years to regret their folly.
Note that Harper's abuse of power in proroguing Parliament the previous December only bought him time. The Liberals still had it in their power to despatch the Harper regime for its post-election treachery and its subsequent abuse of Parliament. We all paid a heavy price for Iggy's craven capitulation.
thanks to all those who voted conservative. you just voted away your rights like the american's did with bush. dumbasses.
My Alberta born grand parents also would have killed every non white, non European immigrant and any pot smoking critical free thinkers if they could have gotten away with it.
Harper would have been their man.
How perfect a scenario can you ask for?
Maybe at least a few people will realize this is the choice we've always had. Control freaks who suck at math vs. control freaks who suck even worse at math. All of them failures in history and science. Vanilla slavery or mint-chocolate-chip slavery? The glorious monumental choice is yours!
Statism is a joke. Stop worshipping the state, you don't need them. (Unless you work for an over-leveraged bank that requires repeated bailouts, or work at a state-funded eco-propagandist NGO)
This has been a great little lesson on the futility of begging your master for freedom.
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