A Conservatives’ perspective as articulated by Mr. Pierre Poilievre, MP, and Leader of the Official Opposition Conservative Party
By Zile Singh
Canada, once celebrated for its multiculturalism, diversity, and strong Charter of Rights and Freedoms, finds itself at a crossroads. However, the situation during the last few years has changed a lot for the worse. More than five million people, 8% of the total Canadian population, today are living in poverty.
The skyrocketing prices are the highest in many years. Today, the writing on the walls is that the Liberals and the NDP have betrayed blatantly the Canadians, especially the youth who cannot even dream of having a two bed- room house to live and raise a family. People are sleeping on the streets.
More than two million people use the Food Banks facility. Deaths with overdose and in drug related rivalry has become a daily affair. Lately, the car jacking and calls for ransom and extortion are matters of deep concerns for businesses and men on the street. The situation has given rise to mental illness and stress. If proper steps are not taken before the time runs out, the situation may turn from worse to the worst.
Mr. Pierre Poilievre, MP, and the Leader of the Official Opposition Conservative Party addressed these issues during his several public meetings in Metro Vancouver on January 21st and 22nd. He touched upon all these issues at length and expressed his great concern. He, unequivocally, blamed the ruling party for such a state of affairs and put forward his Commonsense Agenda to take out Canada from this morass.
According to him, the immature and egomaniac policies of the Liberals and National Democrats have been instrumental for the woes of the common man, especially the middle-class workers.
He particularly mentioned about the deficit budgets, one after the other, threats to the freedom of the press, funding the CBC for personal benefit, invoking the Emergency Power Act, and allowing influx of immigrants, international students, and refugees without proper infrastructure.
He elucidated his remarks with facts. Democracy does not flourish via WE Charity and the SNC-Lavalin Affair. He criticized the ruling party severely. He is being referred to as the Conservative Party’s ‘attack dog.’
In February 2022, Pierre Poilievre declared his intention to run in the Conservative leadership election. Mr. Poilievre is junior to Mr. Trudeau in age but senior in political experience. Since 2015, Poilievre has been a shadow Finance Minister. As Minister of Democratic Reforms in Stephen Harper’s government, Poilievre has to his credit the Elections Reforms Act and the Power, Budget, and Accountability Act. Without accountability, power, and budget (money) corrupt absolutely.
Let us come to the next federal elections. Keeping in view the above-mentioned scenario, it is imperative to vote for a change. We all are Canadians, whether Citizens or Permanent Residents. All of us want a healthy and happy life for ourselves and for our children. Change is the Law of Nature. They rust who do not change. Winston Churchill said, “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
According to the Canadian Charter of Rights, we all are equal. But, in practice, some misuse the democratic system for their own benefit. They do not care for democratic ethics. For them vacations become avocation. For ulterior motives, the political parties go for a marriage of ‘convenience’ which, eventually, comes to a pretty pass. It runs into wedlock.
In this process, a situation arose when the involved political parties started saying, “I cannot live with you.” in one breath. In another, “I cannot live without you.” According to a report, the NDP was ‘Proud’ of and also ‘unsatisfied’ with the Liberals.
Zile Singh is a columnist, author, poet, human rights activist, golfer and a vipassana meditator. He can be contacted at [email protected]
