Editor,
Re: New MP David Wilks says he will make Trans-Canada top priority, News, May 11
I would like to congratulate Mr. Abbott on his retirement from politics. While I can’t think of anything he has done for Revelstoke (except to continually remind us of the gun registry) in the almost 20 years he served, I am sure he will enjoy his pension. That reminds me of the Reformers’ promise; weren’t pensions the issue that Jim and his original Reformers set out to change? Were they not the ones who were going to opt out of the that lucrative trough, that abuse of taxpayers’ money?
Also I would like to congratulate Mr. Wilks on his win. Can we hope for him to pay more attention to Revelstoke? If his campaign is any indication I suppose not. Maybe once he feels safer driving on our highways he will stop by for a visit.
Apparently the local Rod and Gun club President is elated with the Conservative majority as now the long-lived promise of ending the long gun registry may become a reality. I am not really sure what that will change for sport hunters unless they what to change the prey they hunt to humans, but, hey, optics is a wonderful political tool. Now maybe in the next election the gun owners can return to voting in their economic interests instead of their emotional interests. Many gun owners I know are also union members and we now have what may be the most anti-union government in Canadian history – careful what you wish for my union friends – you might get it.
On a positive note, Mr. Harper had to learn to appeal to the Toronto elite to earn his coveted majority. In doing so he has brought back what was once known as the Red Tories. Now he has to decide who to govern for. The people who made him the leader of the Conservative party or the people who made him Prime Minster of this parliament. Sadly, though, we still had 60 per cent of Canada voting for progressive leadership and ended up with regressive leadership. The problems in the world and Canada cannot be solved if we revert back to tried and failed Conservative ideas.
Dave Hickey,
Revelstoke
