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Harper’s Legacy “RCMP refugee screening a $16M flop”
5-17-2016
A recent article published by CBC last month, referencing, “Harper Era” headlined, “RCMP refugee screening a $16M flop, says an internal report.” This should not come as surprise to anyone. If you google Harper era fiscal mismanagement, economic record, or wastages, these sort of headlines by notable national media outlets are a common place, netting more than 76,900 results. Simply stated, it would take more than a lifetime for a person to read all the goof-ups committed and absolute wastage of tax-payers money, by the Conservatives under Stephen Harper’s government. Worst yet, it would take several generations of Canadians to undo the lasting negative impact left behind by Harper’s Legacy!
It is important to discuss this wastage of public funds because the governments’ internal report that had been obtained by the CBC under Access to Information Act points out that “Then Prime Minister Stephen harper said Canada had to proceed cautiously in accepting Syrian Refugees so that Canada’s screening process could weed out terrorists.” In reality, the report concluded, “30 Mounties were tied up for four years on duties that did little to enhance Canada’s security.” In addition, “the screening project delivered information too late, strayed beyond its mandate, and in the end did almost nothing to catch refugees who might be linked to criminal or terrorists groups.”
In essence, The Guardian newspaper’s October 14, 2015 article, Canada’s real barbarism? Stephen Harper’s dismembering of the country, just about sums up Mr. Harper’s Legacy. – “They scheme to impose their values, attractive only to a minority, on a majority of Canadian people. They have carefully veiled their true selves but their agenda is unmistakable: to erase the country’s achievements in security and fairness. This threat comes not from a handful of niqab-wearing Muslim women. It has always come from Canada’s Conservative party."
Why is it so important to discuss this matter now? Simply because, although our current PM, Mr. Justin Trudeau's liberals are enjoying high popularity ratings, it is also facing growing criticism, especially over its recent budget, and the deficit and its long term effects. The critics are focusing on one aspect, without discussing the causes.
When in fact, it is the past decade of Conservative government, which in reality is a repackaged, and refurbished old right wing neo-conservatives, and some may even go as far as racist, Reform Party of Canada, whose principle policy maker was none other than our former PM.
Whether it is bungled up refugee screening process, or elimination of the long form, or shutting down academic libraries, silencing the public servants, cuts to universal healthcare, reducing funding for the public broadcaster, CBC, etc, were all designed to achieve one goal – dismantle Canadian institutions – thus in long run limiting public's access to information. The less people know the better it is for those who govern. Expanding state's power and authority over its citizens, by keeping everyone occupied with smokes and mirrors trickery.
Fortunately, the Canadians were able put an end to Mr. Harper's dark era and opting to rebuild the nation based on our shared values of respect, kindness, compassion, and of inclusiveness. However, rebuilding and restoring institutions that were massacred by the previous Conservative government under Mr. Harper will take years, not to mention requiring money, facing further deficits.
So precisely what kind of damages Mr. Harper's Conservative were able cause to Canadians in general? Well it’s a long tale of fiscal record or mismanagement, but it could be summarized in few simple words, such as "Catastrophe" according to an online journal, iPolitics, labeling it as "Fantasy Economy."
On one hand Conservatives spent millions of dollars of tax payers money on partisan ads, such as "Economic Action Plan." When in fact the the exact opposite was taken place. The Liberal Era, Chretian and Martin times gains or surpluses were replaced by eight consecutive deficits under Mr. Harper.
The Toronto Star claims, "Harper's economic record worst in Canada's postwar history." Canada's leading Magazine, Macleans while comparing the past three PM's concluded, "Chrétien and Martin must share the honour of best fiscal manager."
Clearly, doing away with Mr. Harper's Legacy is serving Mr. Trudeau well, and Canadians have no qualms about incurring deficits, if that is what it would take to undo Mr. Harper's atrocious legacy.
As we stated earlier, it would take decades to clean up the mess the previous Conservatives have left us in. It is a long, arduous, and costly process. A process which we all must undertake if we wish to rise, once again as a great nation.
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