Conservatives

Crime and punishment : Harper’s punitive approach

arij — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:23:58 +0000

Though the conservatives never hid their intention to get tough on crime, the punitive approach they advocate is relentlessly denounced by criminologists and jurists. It seems also likely to exacerbate the overrepresentation of Indigenous women in Canadian prisons.

Since the conservative party acquired the majority in the House of Commons, five different bills related to the criminal justice system were passed. By itself, the omnibus bill C-10 on « safe streets and communities » targets over 200 criminal provisions.

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Media Say 3% Lead Is a Tie

bsichel — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:31:54 +0000

Grasping at stats to keep results "right"

A recent opinion survey (April 26-30) showed the Federal NDP outpolling the Conservatives 33%-30%, yet it was reported widely as a tie.

Canadian Press and Harris-Decima did the poll and spun the results.

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Breaking the silence

katie.toth — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:33:10 +0000

Years of federal funding instability and centralized, politicized decision making have led some activists to speak out

On May 2, 2011, in response to a Conservative majority government, the Honourable Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney said that the party would now "actually be able to implement our platform."

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Election taste test sans slogans

HBeaumont — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:19:02 +0000

Nova Scotians may need blindfolds to grasp provincial politics

Picture this: you’re blindfolded. A deep voice commands you to choose your favourite of three glasses of wine. Your anonymous tester places the first in your hand and you take a tentative sip. Immediately the taste of rural grapes tingles your tongue, but the drink has a distinct deficit of sugar. You pinch your nose and swallow.

A second glass enters your hand. It smells fresh, so you slurp it down. Uh oh. Maybe you shouldn’t have trusted its sweet aroma. You throw the glass down and gesture frantically for the third.

The musty scent of a more educated vine enters your nostrils. You down the wine while thinking it would pair wonderfully with Atlantic lobster from your local fishery.

“I’ll have another glass of that,” you say, reaching to untie the blindfold.

“You chose the Nova Scotia Liberals,” the voice booms.

“Uh oh,” you think again. “I’ve never voted Liberal in my life.”

Since it was called on May 4, the 2009 Nova Scotia election has forced voters to question their tastes. The Conservatives began the trend with an odd promise to spend liberally, while the Liberals and New Democrats followed with conservative spending strategies. Meanwhile the NDP have strayed from their socialist and environmental-leaning roots to a more right-winged approach.

Shifting party lines might be one reason Nova Scotians could see an NDP government when the sun rises tomorrow; the latest polls show Darrell Dexter poised to win a majority.

Does it matter if you’ve never voted Liberal? This is the election to challenge traditional loyalties; the three major parties have already challenged their own. So whether you’ve made up your mind or not, it couldn’t hurt to don a blindfold before marking your ballot today.

Below is an analysis (sans slogans) of the three main parties’ commitments to four major issues this election: health care, education, the environment and the economy. Some party priorities may surprise you.

Party A:

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