Editor:
Re: Looking back on Harper, Jan 6 column; Show some respect for past PM, Jan. 20 letters.
I applaud columnist Tom Fletcher and letter-writer L. Young for their perceptive comments on our prime ministers, Stephen Harper’s tenure and currently Justin Trudeau.
Many of my friends and I saw Harper as a quiet, rather retiring figure who often walked away from the spotlight rather than into it. However, we had great respect for his dignity and wise decisions.
After the recent reversal of Bill C-377 (Tories continue to defend Hiebert’s bill, Feb. 10), who is going to hold union management and First Nations’ leaders accountable for the funding they receive from their members or the government.
We have seen First Nations people crying out for decent water and sewer systems while revelations of just a few who complied with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act showed leaders who were collecting excessive funds at the expense of their people. Trudeau preached transparency to the cameras but even suspended sanctions on those who refused to comply with the act.
Now we are told we are likely faced with a $90-billion deficit by the end of Trudeau’s first term. That is debt that our children and grandchildren will continue to face for years. They won’t even be able to pay off the interest with the big taxes that have to come.
Compare this with Harper’s policies of balanced books and even paying off our current debt.
We Canadians are so quick to forget that it was the Conservative government’s policies and good legislation governing our banking system that brought us through the 2008 financial crisis. We had worldwide respect in floundering nations, including the U.S.
Again, in immigration and refugee matters, the Conservative government before the election already had promised to bring in 10,000 refugees and they put in place the screening process to ensure our safety and entry of the most vulnerable first. Enter Trudeau in front of the cameras to take the credit for doing what the Conservatives had already put in place quietly behind the cameras.
Wake up, fellow Canadians, consider the factual history and give our former PM Harper the respect he deserves for his accomplishments. You might not agree with all of them or dislike the Conservatives, but we should at least recognize the facts.
Mary Bruce, White Rock
