By Stephen J. Gray
��my vision of incremental conservatism means endorsing even very small steps if they are in the right direction�� (Tom Flanagan.)
Let us look then at the �right direction� that �incremental conservatism� has taken.
Funding still remains in place for the Status of Women and a news release of November 1, 2007, had this to say: �The Honourable Jos�e Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages,� stated, "Our Government is working to advance women's participation in the economic, social and cultural life of Canada and we are doing so at record levels of funding,�" (emphasis added)
http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/newsroom/news2007/1101_e.html
Funding has also been given to a wealthy family who own a media conglomerate. The Winnipeg Sun of November 3, 2007, stated, �Ottawa has already committed $100 million to an Asper-family project, the proposed Canadian Museum for Human Rights.� More info on this �human rights museum� at:http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jul/070712a.html
Lifesite news of August 25, 2006, ( http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/aug/06082503.html ) had this headline: �Conservative Government Continuing Pro-Abortion Extremism at United Nations� the article went on to state, �The switch to a Conservative Government seems to have had little effect on the pro-abortion activism of Canadian representatives at the United Nations. While pro-life Canadians did not expect that the Harper government would be pro-life, it did have hopes that the radical promotion of a global right to abortion by Canadian delegates at the UN would cease.�
And the UN and the �conservative� government were mentioned in this story. The Interim of March 2007 ( http://www.theinterim.com/2007/march/02gayrights.html ) had this headline, �Canadian representatives continue to push gay �rights� at the UN � the article went on to say, �The statements on behalf of Canada by Stewart are the latest in a series by Canadian delegates, indicating that little appears to have changed under the Conservative government in terms of Canada leading the advocacy of forcing social radicalism through the United Nations.�
Still, it is not only at the UN that �social radicalism� continues. A good example of this was the farcical vote on so called �same-sex marriage� in the Canadian parliament. Sexual orientation and its illegitimate offspring �same-sex marriage� were never in the Charter, yet we had the silly spectacle of a �conservative� government introducing a motion on this that they knew would be defeated. A government with principles would have used the not-withstanding clause to return sanity to this country. But unfortunately P.M. Harper is on record as saying, regarding this nonsense called same-sex marriage, "I will never use the notwithstanding clause on that issue."
Another issue the �conservative� government goes into raptures over is Quebec, as witness this newspaper quote about Quebec earlier this year. �One thing is clear from Monday's budget: The Conservatives are wooing Quebec with the rest of Canada's tax dollars� ( Vancouver Sun, March 20, 2007). And the Calgary Herald of March 20, 2007,
had this to say, �If there ever was any doubt, it's clear the Conservatives have changed places with the Liberals as Quebec's dance partner in the waltz to win votes� Hoping to win votes is fine but when it comes at the expense of �the rest of Canada's tax dollars� then this smacks of favoritism. Could this be called most favored �nation� status for Quebec under the banner of �incremental conservatism?�
I believe, based on the evidence we have seen to date �incremental conservatism� is just an empty slogan and the main reason why many real conservatives are not buying this liberal brand of �incremental conservatism.�
Stephen J. Gray
November 4, 2007.
[email protected] website: http://www.geocities.com/graysinfo