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Praises Liberals efforts

Canada’s economy was ranked second in the G7 in 2018, topped the growth of the G7 nations in 2022 and is ranked first in growth of 35 countries in the Americas, yet Conservatives continue to complain about trivial things, in particular some of the youthful follies of (Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau.

Everybody has lapses in judgement. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

It has been stated our grandchildren will pay for current government expenditures. Nonsense. Our grandchildren would pay much more for infrastructure repairs and replacement if the deterioration is not addressed now while costs and interest rates are lower.

For too long, all political parties have kicked the infrastructure can down the road to future generations in order to get votes. The day of reckoning had to come.

Also, CPP payments are a set formula, but contribution rates can be determined by a majority parliamentary vote. Trudeau has done this, raising both the employees’ and employers’ share of CPP contributions with minimum financial impact to employees. This will ensure a much better CPP payment in the future.

The Liberals have also greatly increased veterans pensions and benefits for deserving members. Remember, it was the Conservatives who challenged the benefits in the courts. The Liberals had to wait for the court judgement, which they did not challenge. Some veterans try to use the system to obtain benefits to which they are not entitle. That is a fact well-known to military members. We used to call them “the sick, the lame, and the lazy” in the regular forces.

It is apparent that (Conservative MP and leadership candidate) Pierre Poilievre and his supporters have no concept of the “common good”. Balancing the budget is the main objective, no matter the needs of the less fortunate. The Conservatives have attempted to do this repeatedly by slashing social programs and will do it again.

Poilievre preaches “freedom” and “get rid of the gatekeepers”. Freedom to protest, no matter the cost or inconvenience to others? The “gatekeepers” are the provincial authorities that ensure immigrants have the same qualifications we require to work in Canada. Get rid of these standards? “Freedom” from vaccination? What about the common good?

I agree many residents of the Okanagan prefer ethical, well-thought-out programs with costing, but at what cost to the less fortunate amongst our fellow citizens?

Only Conservatives complain about social programs, despite that only the wealthy have seen tax increases under the Liberals.

The Conservatives ensured corporate tax breaks and tax breaks for the wealthy and will do it again, given the opportunity. History does repeat itself.

This is not the Progressive Conservative party of my youth. It is, and always will be, (former prime minister) Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

Patrick Macdonald



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