Prairie Tory

As Dominion Day dawns tomorrow, there have been numerous newspaper pieces on our history, report cards on our progress since Confederation, and reflections what we’ve accomplished.

A big part of every celebration is the focus on our immigrant-rich society, and how we’re able to live and let live with people from every walk of life. While that is truly enriching, and something to be very proud of, it always reminds me of America Alone by Mark Steyn.

We all love immigration for the way it enriches our cultural experience, the greater diversity of foods, religions, clothes, etc. What we don’t think about is how it underlies a great structural weakness – that being we don’t reproduce anymore. I would appreciate the benefits of immigration more, if I didn’t fear that eventually our society is going to disappear due to falling birthrates.

I hold out hope that we’ll recapture the reproductive spirit because its in our personal, and national self interest to have kids.

Wow. Unbelievable. I don’t think that being the first doctor in Canada to open an abortion clinic, or to fight in court for the right for women to have an abortion qualifies you to receive this award. I hope that there is a movement against this among Canadians, and their MPs. We all need to e-mail or, better yet, hand write a letter to your local MP protesting this decision by the OC Advisory Council.

If this goes through, what a truly embarrassing way to mark Canada Day tomorrow. Shameful, just shameful.

This is from the Tax Foundation website, which I believe is based in the United States. They linked to this cartoon from a Canadian cartoonist. I thought it was funny.

Sometimes you need a little humour to lighten things up, when they feel grim or overwhelming.

Energy prices now sit on par with the economy on the list of issues that concern Canadians. This plays right into the hand of Stephen Harper. If Stephen Harper could’ve hand-picked an issue, or two to fight re-election on I think the economy would certainly have topped the list.

Energy prices? Maybe not so much, but with Dion’s carbon tax proposal, he’s swung the door wide open for the Conservatives to march right up the moderate middle, proposing realistic remedies to the problem of rising fuel costs, like a cut to the federal excise tax, or the gas tax. As well, the current government could also propose to eliminate whats been called ‘double dipping’. Double dipping is when you pay for gasoline, you not only pay the excise tax, but you pay the gas tax, plus you pay the GST on top of both of those. Its a tax on a tax on a tax. Cutting one of the taxes on gasoline by a percentage or two, plus eliminating the tax on a tax would provide Canadians with some tangible price relief. When you contrast that with the increased prices people will pay by adopting the carbon tax, I think Harper will cruise to victory in the next election, if thats the issue.

The wider problem of world energy prices isn’t really something that Canada can solve on its own. I think that in terms of production, we’re already doing our part, and working hard to do more. Energy prices won’t drop substantially until the United States committs to – as Newt Gingrich says – “Drill here. Drill now. Pay less”. The only way to substantially reduce the price of gasoline is to increase marginal supply. Its pretty basic market economics when you think about it.

For all the talk among the chattering classes about the difficulty Stephen Harper would have forming a majority government, the issues seem to aligning to deliver him just that. They have a strong record to run on, and the issues that people care about right now, are issues that generally are perceived to be Conservative strengths.

If Stephen Harper has trouble with anything, it will be deflecting the criticism that the economy declined on his watch, and that he failed to act. I think he can reasonably rebut that charge by pointing to the ‘07 fall fiscal update, and the tax relief that was offered to Canadians. I think he can point to the transition assistance thats been offered to Canadian workers who’ve been displaced by the auto plant closures in Ontario, and the Domtar closing in Prince Albert, SK.

John Ward of the Globe and Mail has a good column out today on the impending resignation of Chief of Defense Staff Rick Hillier. The General steps aside on July 1st. I haven’t been following federal politics too long, but he’s easily the most recognizable military figure that my generation of Canadians has seen.

Rick Hillier’s chief accomplishment (as Ward points out in the column) is raising the public profile of the Armed Forces and reconnecting Canadians with their soldiers. His work has resulted in Red Friday rallies that happen across the country. Canadians now take pride in their soldiers, and the work they do. Its unfortunate that Gen. Hillier is leaving, but he leaves a legacy greater than probably any Chief of Defense Staff since the end of the Korean War.

The current government is going to miss the politically savvy salesman that Hillier was. He sold the Afghan mission better than anyone inside the PMO, or the PM’s cabinet. Hopefully the Prime Minister can find someone competent to replace Hillier. Luckily for the next guy, they only have to build on the foundation that General Hillier laid. And, if they turn out to be as outspoken and straightforward as Rick Hillier, then thats all the good too.

I love these two videos. Christopher Hitchens is one of my favorite authors, although I disagree with his opinions on Christianity. Hitchens gives me hope that there are people left-of-centre who aren’t bound by political correctness and official multiculturalism.

Prime Minister Harper has taken another morally correct stand, this time against the Mugabe government in Zimbabwe. I’m pleased that the Harper government is pressuring the United Nations to take action against this corrupt, murderous tyrant. I only wish we had the capability to take it one step farther and use military force to overthrow this dispicable dictator.

I guess I’ll just have to pray that the United Nations grows a spine and chooses to act.

Even though the Canadian Human Rights Commission has dropped its case against Mark Steyn. The British Columbia HRC has decided to pick up the slack. This is unreal.

I sure hope Gordon Campbell awakes from his environmental stooper, and amends, or better yet dismantles this ridiculous tribunal that sees fit to criminalize regular, human conversation. Sure, what the comedian said may have been mean, but I don’t recall us only having a right to nice speech. Do you?

I know that this is a little dated, but I think its important to point out how principly pro-Israel the current government is, and how it contrasts so starkly from previous governments.

Well, I guess this had to be expected with Guy Giorno coming in to replace Ian Brodie. Stephen Taylor has the scoop.

I think a replenishing of the Prime Minister’s political staff is a wise move at this juncture. Working in a senior advisor role to any senior politician (ie. Head of State, or government) is a 24-7 grind that yields a very high turnover rate. The fact that Sandra Buckler lasted 28 months is an accomplishment in itself.

I think that without this change, the government was going to risk being seen as ‘tired’ and ‘old’. The new faces should bring new energy and enthusiasm to the government, and the next election. It also guarantees that Harper won’t campaign exactly as he did in ‘06, which will help keep the Liberals off-balance.

UPDATE…

It turns out that Ms. Buckler has been battling thyroid cancer (h/t: Uncommon Truths). I wasn’t originally aware of this because I first read it at Stephen Taylor.ca. May Ms. Buckler enjoy a speedy recovery. My prayers are with you, and your family.