The Harper majority turns one year old

Four days ago Canadians celebrated the one year anniversary of the election of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s majority government. Approximately one year ago Canada elected its first Conservative majority government in twenty-three years. The Prime Minister deserves much of the credit for this. He successfully guided Canada’s Conservative Party through the wilderness of division back to the promise land of government. For that he should be commended. Parties become lazy when they do not face challenges, and for the first time in more than a decade Prime Minister Harper gave the Liberal Party of Canada a challenge. Ironically, it has been Harper’s time in government that has inflicted Conservatives with the same problem that once ran ramped through the Liberal Party. This is a party and a government that has become lazy.
The impact of a government that does not face challenges can be soon throughout this government. Constantly plagued with spending scandals, this is a government that has ballooned Canada deficit and debt while failing to meet all its promises regarding excessive taxation.

Recently Canadians have seen Bev Oda, Minister of International Development, as the face of this government’s inability to control the spending of money on behalf of the Canadian taxpayer. However, readers would be remiss if they did not talk a moment to recall the scandalous actions of Tony Clement, a former leadership candidate and current President of the Treasury Board, and Peter Mackay, a founding father of the modern Conservative Party and current Minister of National Defense. These scandals have come together to cost the Canadian taxpayer billions of dollars.
The Prime Minister first took his oath in 2006 as the leader of a minority government. It was here that he learned that if Conservatives wanted to win they would have to buy their votes. Engaging is social engineering experiments like paying Canadians to play sports, join a gym, or even engaging in music lessons; this Prime Minister embraced the notion that a Conservative does not necessarily have to be a conservative. He extended this theory into the 2011 election that would see him attain his much sought after majority government.

This has been a primary problem for this government. It is why Canada’s nation debt currently stands at more than $583 trillion dollars. For those counting that breaks down to approximately $17,000 per Canadian. What this amounts to is a tax on Canada’s future. Some might call this odd for a government and a party that campaigns on its fiscal prowess; but the lack of any competitive opposition party has left in a government with absolutely zero reason to restrain its spending habits.

Whether Canadians like it or not, it seems the Harper majority is here for at least another three years. That includes all the growing, debt, deficit, and taxation that come with it. Buckle in. It is going to be a bumpy ride.