Editor:
The Conservative government has spent a decade staying on-message about its superior ability to manage the economy. It is evident the country’s economic capacity has been mismanaged. The Conservatives, in this election year, need a new message to distract voters. This government has turned seven successive years of surpluses under the Liberals into a continuing and growing deficit. Harper placed all his ideological eggs in a single economic basket — Alberta oil exports and questionable free trade deals abroad.
The message of economic management engineered by this “trained” economist, turned prime minister, isn’t convincing. Therefore, the brain trust, in the PMO, has come up with a new message for Canadians to swallow and digest during the campaign — there is a terrorist threat to ordinary Canadians.
The same people who gave us the “trust us with the economy” message are just the people “to save us from terrorists.” The country must have an anti-terrorist bill to ensure our security. Who can argue?
There is nothing wrong with security. We have ample already. We have the military, RCMP, and the Canadian Intelligence Service. The new anti-terrorist bill would require a significant reduction in civil rights to protect us. If a law can be passed to further protect Canadians, let’s have it. If the law does not provide immediate and comprehensive oversight to secure existing freedoms, then we should oppose it. When this bill goes to committee, the Liberal Party has promised to present amendments to guarantee oversight.
If the legislation provides civil protection then Canadians might really be more secure; if not, then we will have given away too much. We should not be convinced by more election rhetoric.
Peter Smith
Williams Lake
