Harper visit has campaign feel

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 14, 2014
Adam Martin-Robbins

The federal election is more than a year away, but hundreds of Conservatives flocked to Vaughan last night for what looked and sounded a lot like a campaign rally, featuring Prime Minister Stephen Harper as keynote speaker.

There was a lot of talk about the importance of supporting the party through financial donations and volunteering for candidates.

And there was a lot of talk about Tory “accomplishments” during this term in office, including lowering taxes, introducing the Victims Bill of Rights, the free trade deal with the European Union and a plan to balance the budget next year, among other things.

“Think about that at the federal level. We will have a balanced budget, the lowest tax burden in 50 years, increased funds for job creating investments all at same time,” Harper told the huge crowd gathered at Ignacy Jan Paderewski Park, off Hwy. 27, near Major Mackenzie Drive.

“And for making much of that happen, friends, we should give one more round of thanks to our late colleague, the honourable Jim Flaherty.”

Harper also emphasized the government’s strong support for Israel in its fight with Hamas in Gaza and for Ukraine in its battle against Russia.

And, of course, he took a few shots at the opposition parties, with much of the focus on Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

“After Jim Flaherty’s last budget, Justin Trudeau was asked a serious question: How is it with all of your spending promises you would balance the budget? His answer, I quote, ‘The budget will balance itself,’” Harper said, touching off a wave of laughter. “I don’t need to add anything to that.”

The event, billed as an annual barbecue for Conservative Party members, comes about two weeks after Veterans Affairs Minister and Vaughan MP Julian Fantino’s office distributed flyers slamming Trudeau’s proposal to legalize marijuana.

The flyer, which is similar to ones handed out by Tories in other ridings, claims Trudeau has been on a cross-country tour speaking to “elementary school students about the benefits of marijuana.”

The Liberals responded by calling that claim “character assassination.”

The event in Vaughan also comes on the heels of media reports that veterans Canadawide are organizing a campaign to oppose the Conservatives during next year’s election.

The campaign was touched off by a meeting that turned sour in Ottawa, back in January, between Fantino, who is currently out of the country, and a group of veterans.

The focus of the meeting was the government’s plan to close several Veterans Affairs Canada regional offices.

Fantino arrived more than an hour late, scolded one of the veterans for pointing a finger at him then argued with others before growing visibly frustrated and walking out.

Many veterans are also enraged about the New Veterans Charter, introduced in 2006, which changed financial benefits for those seriously injured during battle from lifetime support to a lump-sum payment.

“The New Veterans Charter is giving (veterans) a fraction of what they should be given and it’s the only pension system in the country that works in such a way,” said Bruce Moncur, an Afghanistan war veteran who is among those in Ontario looking to block the Tories from getting re-elected.

He said the veterans’ campaign will be modeled on the Anything But Conservative (ABC) campaign launched by Danny Williams, former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, in 2008.

“We want to send the Conservatives a clear and concise message,” Moncur said.

It’s not just veterans who are looking to stop the Tories from winning the next election.

Marijuana activist Marc Emery, who returned to Canada Tuesday after spending four years in the United States prison system for selling pot seeds, has vowed to campaign across Canada for Trudeau in order to help the Liberals form the next government.

“I do believe that they are sincere that they will legalize marijuana,” Emery told reporters in Windsor Tuesday. “I know it’s the most uncool thing in the world to have to say, especially to young people, that voting is the answer, but it is. It absolutely is.”