Right in the centre - The right answers
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- Published on Friday, January 10, 2020
By Ken Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press
The upcoming leadership race for the Conservative Party of Canada will prove to be a fascinating political event. The generally liberal media can hardly wait to pounce on every word and facial expression spoken or displayed by the candidates. The ones who show themselves to be the most at odds with the mainstream media will suffer the worst. After all, we must realize that the CBC and their gaggle of mindless media followers are the real rulers of Canada.
Any candidate who seeks their blessing will have to bow down at the alters of political correctness, mindless climate panic and untamed government spending. The easily offended will cause waves of outrage unless the candidates properly bow to the media’s wishes.
Due to the short timeline (June 2020) and the high admission fee ($300,000), the field of leadership candidates will be restricted to those who can access money within the fairly restrictive rules. It certainly won’t be anywhere near the multi-million dollar insanity that exists in the United States and that is likely a good thing.
So what should a prospective Conservative candidate say on the campaign trail? Here’s some questions that are likely to come up and a suggested response.
Q. What is your stand on a woman’s right to choose?
A. A woman has the right to make the decision to have an abortion, but it needs to be an informed decision. The number of abortions in Canada is dropping and that is a good thing. All abortions result in the death of a baby. All abortions have significant physical and emotional consequences for the mother, be it short term, long term or intermediate term. No woman should ever feel pressured to have an abortion. Anyone who objects to abortion by harassing or demonstrating are short-sighted and misguided and should devote their money and efforts towards supporting women who decide to birth their babies and may need various kinds of help. It should also be noted that there is no term limit in Canada for an abortion and when term limits were voted on at the CPC Montreal convention, they were defeated 50.5 per cent to 49.5 per cent. (I know, I was there).
Q. Where do you stand on same sex marriage?
A. If people want to get married, they have the legal right to do so in Canada. If a faith-based group chooses to not sanction certain marriages (same sex, divorced etc.), then they should have the right to do so. Marriage is a faith based sacrament and shouldn’t even be required to be licensed or approved by the government anyway.
Q. But what is your personal view on these issues?
A. My personal view is just that, my personal view. If a question comes up for a vote in parliament, I will vote according to the wishes of the majority of my voters. If my personal view can’t come along side on a particular issue, I will tell my voters why I made a decision and let them decide if they want to re-elect me in spite of our difference of opinion, if there is one.
Q. What do you think about governments bailing out businesses such as SNC Lavalin and Bombardier?
A. As a Conservative, I don’t believe that governments should bail out businesses and if elected, I would work towards phasing out any and all government bail-outs and subsidies.
Q. Do you believe in climate change?
A. Yes, I do. The climate has always been changing. Western Canada was once covered by glaciers (and lakes) and now ranges from farm land to deserts. Carbon dioxide is not harmful to the environment, but is essential for plant growth, which in turn is essential for the release of oxygen into the atmosphere. Without carbon dioxide, we don’t have plants, so both the meat eaters and vegetarians die of starvation.
Q. Don’t you believe in cleaning up the environment?
A. For sure I do. We need to have good environmental regulations and an excellent recycling program, neither of which we have right now.
Q. Where do you stand on First Nations issues?
A. The First Nations communities were messed over badly in the last two centuries. The Indian Act needs to be abolished. First Nations people need to be deeded the land their houses are on and if they want to stay, great. If they want to move on, they should be allowed to sell. Until all people are able to own their own homes if they wish to do so, there will continue to be huge social problems. Owning a home, a farm or a business is essential to maintaining our economy.
Those are the answers Conservative leaders should be able to speak out and if they do, they stand a chance of getting elected. If they can’t or won’t speak out these answers, they are only Liberals in costume.
Disclaimer: The writer serves as a volunteer chair of the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association. The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the MCNA board or Banner & Press staff.
