verbena-19

Canada's Election 2006 -- A Few of my Thoughts ...

Although the MSM pundits yesterday gave week two of the campaign to Stephen Harper, I would be more prudent in my humble appraisal. I think the Liberals and Conservatives are running fairly head-to-head with their proposed -- although different -- approaches to child care, which is a hot issue with younger voters who have small children and also with child care workers.

While Harper's proposal sounds better on the surface, I have some problems with it being a fixed $1,200 per year for each child up to the age of six ($100./month). My problem is that this is a 'blanket amount', regardless of the economic circumstances of the parents (or parent). In my opinion, those who are in the higher income brackets should be exempt. They do not need this paltry sum. Instead, those who really need it should get more, as $100./month is very little toward child care costs, although admittedly, it does help.

Martin's proposal to fund and build more day care centres makes sense also, although from what I've been hearing, people are quite cynical about "more broken promises for childcare assistance from the Liberals." More day care centres have been promised in the past, but have largely remained merely "promises".

However, not being a parent of a small child, neither proposal affects me directly, except in the pocketbook, as a taxpayer.

Jack Layton stayed away from this issue for the time being, focusing instead on the softwood lumber dispute and the environment, coming up with some good proposals to cut green-house gases. (Apart from the 'fisheries', Harper did not mention the environment, that I'd heard of anyway.)

Martin also got into the environmental act, as apparent from this CBC story:

" MARTIN PROPOSES CENTRES TO STUDY CLIMATE IN N.L.
The extreme weather in Newfoundland and Labrador should be taken as an
opportunity to study the impact of global warming on climate and
fisheries, Liberal Leader Paul Martin said on Monday."
FULL STORY

Read more about CBC's Canda Votes: 2006 here.

Meanwhile, in my house mailbox I've received two cards in the last two days from Harper's campaign, showing his volunteers have been very diligently going mailbox-to-mailbox in the bone-chilling cold we've been having.

The motto on both cards is: "Stand up for the Trades -- Stand Up For Canada. Let's Build Canada through the Trades". Then, Harper quotes, "It's time to stand up for the trades and build a stronger Canada." He also promises to provide an "Apprentice Incentive Grant", an "Apprentice Job Creation Tax Credit" for businesses, and a "Tools Tax Deduction".

I must admit Harper's team is doing an admirable job thus far, even venturing into the skilled trades realm, not usually a Conservative stronghold. Also, I commend his tireless campaign workers. I may not agree with the Conservative Party on most of their principles, but a good job is a good job, regardless of who is doing it.

As an added note: I strongly believe that with 6% (so far) showing in the latest polls, the Green Party's Jim Harris should be allowed to partake in the debates. Not allowing him is unfair and shows a crack in the structure of our democratic, 'fair' system. Perhaps Harris and Layton should join forces? .... Just a thought :-)

posted by Annamarie at 9:24 PM