- Harper Filling the Conservative Leadership Vacuum in North America

I submitted the following Comment to:
WSJ, ‘Stephen Harper A Resolute Ally in the War on Terror’, 28 Feb.’09
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123578347494598289.html


Being Canadian, the most important part of your article is your statement ” There is a vacuum in conservative leadership in North America and on the world stage, and Mr. Harper is stepping into it”.

I have no doubt that Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party’s overall objectives are just that. However, for many Canadians, and I suggest a majority of at least 63% (those that voted against him being Prime Minister in the last election), this is not a good thing. Harper was obviously a puppet to President G.W. Bush while he was in office and is a George wanna-be now. One need only consider Harper’s statements just prior to the Obama visit to Canada regarding the Harper and Conservative government’s position on Global Warming (and I will let your readers do the research) – essentially it was a Mea Culpa blaming G.W. Bush, in effect saying (although for clarity not actually saying) “the devil made me do it”.

Also, I take exception and I have no doubt there are many Canadians that are of similar view, to your statement “…this prime minister and his Conservative Party have restored Canada's international prestige by increasing military funding and tenaciously supporting Canada's dangerous NATO mission in the Afghan province of Kandahar”. Canada has had for many years and especially since Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson considerable international prestige as peacekeepers and international mediators (and again, I will let your readers do the research). We have been very proud of this. Increasing military spending may be the American way but not the Canadian way and hopefuly it never will be.

Lloyd MacIlquham, Nanaimo, BC