- Harper: What I Say is Right Because It's 'Right', Truth Plays No Part

Posted: 11:21 AM on December 5, 2010
Stimulus cash didn’t create many jobs, budget watchdog concludes, Bill Curry, Globe and Mail, Dec. 02, 2010
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/stimulus-cash-didnt-create-many-jobs-budget-watchdog-concludes/article1821112/

You Simply Can't Rely On Harper to Give the Right (Morally, That is) Information.

The one thing I can feel comfortable with is that I shouldn't take anything Stephen Harper, Jim Flaherty or any of the Con's for that matter, at face value.

Everything they say is spun, twisted, obscured, obstructed, muddied, be-fogged, etc., etc., etc., for crass and blatant partizan political purposes.

If they don't like what someone says instead of hard, rational proof, they simply attack their integrity, honesty and character.

In stark contrast I can see no motivation for Canada's Parliamentary Budget Office, Kevin Page. He has no partizan interest.

Parliament of Canada Act:

79.2 The mandate of the Parliamentary Budget Officer is to
(a) provide independent analysis to the Senate and to the House of Commons about the state of the nation’s finances, the estimates of the government and trends in the national economy;

In fact, if anything, knowing that anyone who dares say anything that Harper doesn't like is in for a rough ride and has likely numbered their days in the post, the motivation might be to put the binders on, focus his tunnel vision, and see only what Harper wants him to see. And that is, of course, exactly the type of impact the viscous character attacks are intended to have.

So, cheers to Page, for having the moral fortitude to do the job he was appointed to do.

Oh, by the way:

"Kevin Page was appointed Canada's first Parliamentary Budget Officer on March 25, 2008. Mr. Page has 27 years of experience in the federal public service. He has worked extensively in the economic and fiscal community at the three main central agencies, including Finance Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Privy Council Office. He has also worked for other departments including Fisheries and Oceans, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

Mr. Page has a Master’s Degree in Economics from Queen's University and an Honour's BA in Economics from Lakehead and Simon Fraser Universities. "

Perhaps Flaherty could set out his credentials - other than being an right-wing extremist Con, who wants to stay in power, that is.

Page's report is transparent in exactly how he arrive at his results and they are using very intuitively and tried and true methodologies.

Flaherty, on the other and, simply states that his way is scientific and then explains that he is relying on private sector reports, such as The Conference Board of Canada. There was no offer of transparency or methodology so that Canadians may test its credibility.

Wouldn't the scientific approach be to lay everything out in clear and transparent terms for all to understand and decide for themselves, as opposed to what we say is right because it's 'Right' and the truth is irrelevant.

Shouldn't Flaherty, as a public servant and entrusted with Canada's economy, say "thanks Mr. Page, we will consider your report very partizanly carefully".

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html