Former Prime Minister Joe Clark characterizes himself as a “political orphan,” and the Harper government baffles him. It’s reported in today’s Globe and Mail
There are two million former Progressive Conservative voters who have no natural home. The Green Party -- fiscally responsible and socially progressive -- is a comfortable home of an increasing number of former PCs.
Yesterday I was in Guelph campaigning in what is a very, very exciting riding – one of the Greenest ridings in Canada. (In the Ontario provincial election the Guelph Greens won 19.5%)
At a packed public meeting last night, I pointed out that the Green Party would cut the $1.4 billion in annual subsidies to oil and gas interests. Why do the most profitable companies in Canada require public taxpayers’ money???!!
With oil having broken $135 a barrel – the highest ever – why do petroleum companies need subsidizing?
Given that the Green Party would cut these subsidies we are more fiscally responsible than the Conservatives who are committed to continuing them. After all, Stephen Harper relies on winning each of the 28 seats in Alberta.
At the same time more than 1.1 million children are living in poverty. Their families don't know whether they'll be able to put food on the table at the end of the month. The Green Party is the only party proposing a guaranteed annual income supplement.
So we're more fiscally responsible than the Liberals and Conservatives who believe in subsidizing oil and gas interests, and we're more progressive than the NDP as we're the only party talking about a guaranteed annual income supplment.
You can see the Globe and Mail article at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080527.CLARK27/TPStor...