rabble.ca Canadian federal election blog

It’s the Economy, Stevie

by John Cartwright

With the announcement of record job losses in July, it is no wonder that Mr. Harper was desperate to call an election. Ontario is being devastated by a jobs crises that is far deeper than the highly publicized auto industry woes. The current economic model is failing central Canada - with blind loyalty to bad trade deals, deregulation, outsourcing and export of raw resources.

As plants shut down and move to Mexico or China, all Harper and Flaherty can offer is more tax cuts. Thousands of working families are wondering about their future, while big oil celebrates record profits and new trade deals are being consummated.

The record this government will NOT run on ranges from dismantling the national childcare program to massive increase in militarization. Mimicking nearly every policy of George W. Bush has discredited Canada on the world stage, and betrayed the desire of most Canadian to tackle climate change.  NOR will they talk about recruiting the Mike Harris wrecking crew, in case the memories of the common sense revolution scare the Ontario public.

Of course, the governing Liberals have been guilty of pursuing much of the same. They oversaw the gutting of EI coverage for the jobless, signed NAFTA and sacrificed the Auto Pact. Enough of them voted with Harper that we are still in Afghanistan providing foot soldiers for the “Commander-in-Chief”. Nobody should be under any illusions that their policies aren’t determined by corporate Canada, with its overwhelming interest in continental integration and global free trade.

In spite of saturation advertising and spin doctors, the debate needs to be on decent jobs in a sustainable economy. Without naming and challenging the current globalization model, we are destined to get more of the same. Let’s see if we can make the October 14th ballot question about Jobs and Justice.