To the Editor,
Canadians are making up their minds about which candidate to choose. If our democracy is of any value to them, surely they would reject the Conservatives.
In his book, Party of One, Michael Harris provides compelling evidence that Stephen Harper has taken all the power in the office of the prime minister to advance his own vision of what is best for Canadians. He does this without consultation with his cabinet ministers or caucus and he certainly doesn’t invite ideas from the public service or the opposition leaders. Harper believes that Harper knows best. I can’t recall a single law the Conservatives have enacted that look like a wise move to me. Most of the time I’m furious.
Harper’s omnibus bills, in which he stacks dozens of proposed laws into one dense package and then imposes a time limit on debate drew criticism from Sheila Fraser, the former Auditor General.
Do we want a dictator as our prime minister?
Arlene FekeNanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: Election polling a numbers game, Editorial, Sept. 29.
If polls accurately predicted results, we wouldn’t need to hold elections.
But this time around in the newly created riding of Nanaimo-Ladysmith there’s a polling twist, a ‘déjà vu’ version.
The NDP has been handing out pamphlets using ‘back then’ 2011 polling results to indicate a ‘right now’ two-party race between the NDP and Conservatives.
Is the NDP trying to take advantage of ‘Harper must go’ feelings to steer potential Green and/or Liberal votes their way? Difficult to say. No Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidates ran in 2011 because ‘back then’ this riding didn’t exist.
Whatever the result, hopefully this election attracts a record number of voters who send a Nanaimo-Ladysmith candidate to Ottawa who will be an effective spokesperson for this riding, not merely a mouthpiece for whatever party they represent.
Edwin TurnerNanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: It’s important that we vote, for the whole country’s sake, Letters, Sept. 29.
I disagree wholeheartedly with the letter writer’s generalized impression of the average voter. Many people that we know have intelligent discussions about candidates and parties, discussions based on factual information. Some voters read or hear misinformation, believing it to be true, then make decisions based on well co-ordinated attacks containing mistruths (aka lies) in TV and radio ads.
So when I hear and read those mistruths, I often wonder why, indeed do I bother to vote. Yet, I do. I take the time to read and listen to the promises and the accusations, and then make up my mind. Why would I vote for any party that wants to get my vote fraudulently?
I would urge all voters to use their right to vote, however, each voter should do so based on information, not what has been fed to you in print and/or over the airwaves. Voting has consequences, and one consequence should be that parties realize that deception is not the way to form a democracy.
Dana J. McComberNanoose Bay
To the Editor,
I have heard enough from the ‘everything’s wrong with the Conservatives’ crowd. Always negative, never seeming able to grasp the huge potential of our Island paradise. So here is a sample of the kind of investment in our local future that has been made by the Conservative government:
Together with the province, contributed $6.9 million toward Nanaimo Airport expansion. Contributed $4.65 million from the Federal Asia-Pacific Gateway Program to the Nanaimo Port Authority’s international ocean container operation. Nanaimo’s Pacific Biological Station received $2.9 million. Grants to Nanaimo Volunteer and Information Centre Society, Nanaimo Family Life Association, Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre, People for a Healthy Community.
These investments were made on our behalf by a government which knows how to manage our economy and distribute its dividends right here in Nanaimo. Looks like a winning formula to me, so I am voting Conservative.
Michael HunterNanaimo