Dear Editor
They talk about this at a time when they are being completely untransparent and fiscally irresponsible.
The Conservatives want to spend 9 billion dollars (parliamentary budget officer says more) on new prisons in Canada, as part of their tough on Crime agenda. When asked why we needed this , Stockwell Day had no answer (great transparency), and later the government pointed to a census poll that is six years old that said people are not reporting crimes as much as they used to.
This is most likely because the the poll asked about only certain crimes, none of which would result in jail time anyway. Is this the same government that said we don’t need a mandatory census because any information that is five years old is useless? Crime in Canada has been decreasing for years, so when these prisons are empty, will the government point to them and say their tough on crime plan is working?
This government has yet to explain why the buying of new fighter jets at the cost of nine billion dollars is a sole source contract, instead of open bidding. Great transparency and fiscal responsibility there!
Then there is the cost of the G8 and G20 summits, we still don’t know the whole cost, but we do know it was well over one billion dollars. It will take an inquiry to find out the entire cost, which will be more costs, due to the fact that our government is not open, transparent, or fiscally responsible.
The scraping of the long form census and delivering of a shorter census that is not mandatory to more Canadians to get less quality information will certainly cost much more, but again they don’t tell us how much!
This government is talking out of both sides of their mouth. They talk about openness, transparency, and fiscal responsibility, but then spend, spend spend, and don’t give the Canadian people any answers as to why, or how much.
(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of the Cornwall Free News, their staff, or sponsors.)
What is NDP take on transparency? Past expereinces on a provincial level is to add fees but never prove how they are distributed.
Way to tackle the issue Smee! You hammered her good! Since the NDP did it before, it clearly gives the Conservatives the right to do it now. The logic is flawless, and the execution perfect. Possibly your best post yet!
No where did I say anyone had the right to repeat what the NDP had done before.
The problem with our political system is not one of them have a better way, each time we elect someone they carry out exactly the same procedures by using their own political methods.
Therefore we pay twice as much.
I still say Darlene has a look in her eyes that depict there is something inside, a brain and the ability to use it. Ulike Laozon which is glazed over and should be sent to the glue factory, and Bernadette who thought youthful and fresh blood reminds me of a brunette Paris Hilton.
Can some of the blame be put on the unelected public servants? They provide advice etc.
Hey smee, you have never looked into my eyes…there’s no phoniness here!
I call it as I see it. And your right, politicians need to be accountable and the voter needs to hold them to it.
I have read most of Tammy’s letters/blogs. She is a Harperite. When the people we elect to office are put under a gag order not to speak with the media, our elected officials are working for the Prime Minister, not his/hers constituents. My vote will go to Darlene Jalbert.
Well Smee, if you can see it in her eyes it must be true! The eyes don’t lie! And the Bernadette/Hilton comparison also rings true. She is always talking about how “hot” things are, and carrying dogs in purses, and acting like a spoiled brat. I don’t care how old you are, you are wise beyond your years.
PS…I think Tammy likes you.
I agree with Darlene. While promising fiscal responsibilty, this government has spent recklessly on several projects, mostly without merit or any real explanation. And now we find out that their “make work projects” are in need of more money. Where did all that stimulus money go anyways? We will never know.
Why do politicians spend their time putting down, criticizing other parties instead of coming up with real workable solutions and being a true leader.
Darlene stop pitting the other parties down and instead simply tell me what solutions you can provide
Darlene is not putting the other parties down. She is just telling it how it is.
She still needs to give real solutions though… of which I hold an extremely faint hope for any party to put forth.. our system is just too messed up.. needs a total revamping..
We need some serious change in this country, as right now, we are missing a lot of opportunities… And all based on a couple of individuals ideals as well.. how ludicrous is that???
Harper needs to go… Baird will be not much better… but if anyone is better then Harper it will be Baird.. but honestly, I think we need all fresh faces in parliament.. fresh faces that will actually do for the voters that put them in place..
Unfortunately, through massive social engineering, many of us are trained to think a particular way.. and thus we have what is going on today.. I cant blame anyone for that in particular since this was the way it was expected to be over time.. its just a massive social hack and people are falling for it..
But those pointing out the BS, are where the winds of change start to come from!
My letter was meant to simply point out the fact that what the Conservative government says and does are not the same thing. But to take it a step further and let you know where I stand on these issues, first of all, I am all for getting tough on crime. I truly believe that when you take a life, you should get life. Not parole. The rest of your natural life should be spent behind bars. Sentences should be tougher for violent crimes. Now if this was to happen, we would have a need to spend money on new prisons, but until then I fail to see how building new prisons will make people report crimes that they are not currently reporting.
Secondly, not one person has ever been jailed for not filling out the long census form(the excuse Harper is using to change it) I would leave it the way it is. We get better information, which is used to form policies for all levels of government and many other groups. It would cost more to send a shorter version to more people. I understand that people do not want to fill them out, but when you think about it, only 20% of Canadians get it, so this means every five years you are required to take 20 minutes of your time filling it out. I feel the benefits of this is worth the effort.
Thirdly, I believe all government contracts should be open bidding.
Lastly, the G8 and 20 summits, the cost is outrageous. In the world of technology we live in, these summits could be done via teleconference, with very little cost , and the same results.
I hope this clears up what I would do. Folks, I am a very practical person. I pay taxes just like you, and it drives me crazy to see OUR hard earned money going to waste.
Best Regards,
Darlene Jalbert
Your NDP Federal Candidate
Tammy *l* do I sound like a person with no accountabilty or do you think I would ever hide things from people *l*
Thus the pseudonym, it has been my experience that though people ask for the truth and information often well like Jack Nicholson said and no truer words have been spoken
You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ’em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.
Thank you for your opinions on these matters Darlene.
Now, what to do about them? got a game plan?
I love movies! This is one of my favourite quote type thingies. From “No Country For Old Men”
Anton Chigurh: What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss.
Gas Station Proprietor: Sir?
Anton Chigurh: The most. You ever lost. On a coin toss.
Gas Station Proprietor: I don’t know. I couldn’t say.
[Chigurh flips a quarter from the change on the counter and covers it with his hand]
Anton Chigurh: Call it.
Gas Station Proprietor: Call it?
Anton Chigurh: Yes.
Gas Station Proprietor: For what?
Anton Chigurh: Just call it.
Gas Station Proprietor: Well, we need to know what we’re calling it for here.
Anton Chigurh: You need to call it. I can’t call it for you. It wouldn’t be fair.
Gas Station Proprietor: I didn’t put nothin’ up.
Anton Chigurh: Yes, you did. You’ve been putting it up your whole life you just didn’t know it. You know what date is on this coin?
Gas Station Proprietor: No.
Anton Chigurh: 1958. It’s been traveling twenty-two years to get here. And now it’s here. And it’s either heads or tails. And you have to say. Call it.
Gas Station Proprietor: Look, I need to know what I stand to win.
Anton Chigurh: Everything.
Gas Station Proprietor: How’s that?
Anton Chigurh: You stand to win everything. Call it.
Gas Station Proprietor: Alright. Heads then.
[Chigurh removes his hand, revealing the coin is indeed heads]
Anton Chigurh: Well done.
[the gas station proprietor nervously takes the quarter with the small pile of change he’s apparently won while Chigurh starts out]
Anton Chigurh: Don’t put it in your pocket, sir. Don’t put it in your pocket. It’s your lucky quarter.
Gas Station Proprietor: Where do you want me to put it?
Anton Chigurh: Anywhere not in your pocket. Where it’ll get mixed in with the others and become just a coin. Which it is.
[Chigurh leaves and the gas station proprietor stares at him as he walks out]
Now that was cool.
Well cool things happen in Coen Brothers movies. I refer you to Barton Fink….
Gotta be Fargo. Great movie.
I’m not the biggest fan of Fargo. I prefer Barton Fink or the Big Lebowski. I even kinda prefer Miller’s Crossing.
The Dude abides.
All Coen Brothers fims are great films. But there is that one scene in Fargo. The overhead camera shot, one lonely car in a parking lot, a snow storm. The William H Macy character trudges out, alone. Scrapes the snow off his frozen car. Alone. Beautiful.
@ grimalot: are you waiting for darlene to give us some real workable solutions? I am too. lol…
Darlene is currently on holiday in the Maritimes for some well deserved time off.