Think Twice on January 23

This is a good list of reasons to Think Twice about a Conservative Government. We need to elect MPs that will work for us, in the interests of the average Canadian. It is very clear to me the Liberals are going to get a time out, that they have lost their way. Its important to elect MPs that have a record for standing up for us. The Conservatives may win, they may be the largest party in the House of Commons. If that happens we will need more of these people. They have managed a good deal of progress for Canada, think what they could do if there were more of them in Ottawa.

Think Twice Coalition

Representatives from the child care, Aboriginal, women’s rights, health care, equality rights, environmental, arts, trade union, and advocacy groups have a message for all Canadians.

What would Conservative policies mean for Canadians?

• They mean privatization and deregulation, and more cuts to social programs.


• They mean the end of the national child care programme, and the rollback of the $5 billion deal between ten provinces and the federal government. This is the beginning of the first new national social programme since Medicare, but Harper says he will cancel it in exchange for a dollar a day sent to Canadians, burdened with securing and financing their own childcare.


• They mean abandonment of the agreement just achieved with First Nations at the Aboriginal Summit, and reneging on promised spending to alleviate a housing and health care crisis for some of Canada’s most vulnerable citizens, women and children.


• They mean more greenhouse gas emissions, the end of the domestic Kyoto plan to reduce emissions by 2012, and moving Canada from a strong supporter of further emission cuts to supporting George Bush’s camp.


• They mean a health care system based on commercialization, not patient needs; based on competition between health care providers, not collaborative practice; a health care system that would allocate public health care dollars to for-profit business, rather than improving primary health care for our families; and a continuing absence of national standards for home care and inadequate long-term care for our seniors.


• They mean the loss of at least $1 billion for affordable housing, and the potential loss of a Canadian housing framework.


• They mean no commitment to the income measures and services needed to reduce poverty.


• They mean abandoning efforts to protect workers’ wages, pensions and benefits in cases of corporate bankruptcy.


• They mean massive tuition fee increases for university and college students.


• They mean greater trade and foreign policy integration with the U.S., particularly joint military ventures (including participation in foreign conflicts and space based military systems).


• They mean new risks to Canadian women’s right to reproductive choice and access to abortion.


• They mean abandoning plans for new pay equity legislation.


• They mean abandoning plans for a new national strategy for people with disabilities.


• They mean less government support for the arts and for public broadcasting.


• They mean re-opening the debate over equal marriage rights for same sex couples, and the introduction of unconstitutional legislation.


• They mean re-opening the Charter to protect private property rights, which have major implications for environmental protection, labour rights, and equality rights.


• They mean big tax cuts for corporations, and less pollution regulations.

We are very concerned about the future of our country. Many of the victories Canadians have achieved over generations, and many important new programs and initiatives that are poised to become reality, are very much at risk.

We ARE standing up for Canada. We want a Canada with strong social programs, environmental protection, and fairness for everyone. Canadians need to think twice.

Endorsed By:

Canadian Auto Workers
Canadian Coalition for Health and
Environment
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
Canadian Federation of Students
Canadian Health Coalition
Canadian Research Institute for the
Advancement of Women
Cathy Crowe, Street Nurse, housing advocate
Centre for Social Justice, Toronto
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada
Council of Canadians
Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, Environmental
Health Educator
Egale Canada
Elizabeth May, Environmentalist & Officer of the Order of Canada
Leilani Farha, Housing Advocate
Lorraine Rekmans, Anishnabe K’we
National Action Committee on the Status of Women
National Association of Women and the Law
Prevent Cancer Coalition
Shelagh Day, Human Rights Advocate
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter


Election, Liberal Party, Jack Layton, NDP, Canada, Politics, Conservative Party of Canada, Stephen Harper