The anti-conservative bias in the Canadian media over the last few days seems to be just plain petty, if not downright misleading. For example, Kevin Donovan suggests in today’s Toronto Star that Canadian taxpayers are picking up Tory ministerial expenses so that the party can raise money. If that were true I would be all over the government’s case as well because I too expect accountability. But, to suggest that it is always wrong when federal members of parliament — no matter which political party they represent — combine public duties with party duties, is clearly over the top.

For example, Donovan writes:

“When then-Indian affairs minister Jim Prentice flew to Nova Scotia to meet with provincial chiefs, he headlined a Conservative fundraising dinner in Prince Edward Island. Taxpayers paid for the trip.And when Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn jetted off from a Quebec fisheries forum to attend a government meeting in Manitoba, he also guest-starred at a local Tory fundraising banquet. The federal Conservatives – elected on promises to be squeaky clean – are using government resources to help fill their election war chest.”

I will repeat what Donovan said: “The federal Conservatives — elected on promises to be squeaky clean — are using government resources to help fill their election war chest.” What misleading poppycock and a non sequitur!

What exactly is the Star suggesting? That when any federal parliamentarian travels anywhere in Canada on business he or she can’t do anything else why he or she is there? Does that also apply to Liberal Leader Stephen Dion and NDP Leader Jack Layton? Does that mean that if Dion travels the country this summer, he can never speak to party officials while he is travelling — because to do so would be the same as being subsidized by the taxpayers? Because, if the government is ”not squeaky clean” when they combine events, then neither is the opposition. Who holds them accountable? The Toronto Star? The Parliamentary Press Gallery? (PPG) 

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It used to be that if someone didn’t want to attend university, it was suggested they “do something with their hands.” Thank heavens that is no longer the case. In fact, having some “trades” in my own family, I would have to say there is a lot more to working in the trades than working with ones hands — particularly given the many uses of computer technology today and the fact that most are entrepreneurs and self-employed business people.

In fact, I would go so far as to say those in the trades are ”salt of the earth” people. They work very long hours and without the cushy benefits enjoyed by many in the social sectors like teaching and accounting. And, when they take vacation time, they are not paid.  The bottom line is that we simply cannot manage without them — particularly when we need them in an emergency.

Well, it seems Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the federal Conservative government agrees with that view as well. Yesterday, for example, the PM participated in the Sarnia Construction Association’s 41st Annual Construction Apprentice Graduation. A total of 100 graduates were on hand to hear the prime minister say:

“You’ve made a great career choice. In the coming years Canada is going to need hundreds of thousands of skilled tradesmen and women. Without skilled trades people, you can’t build the factories, plants, schools, housing and other infrastructures we need to keep our economy growing and our country strong.”

And, the Conservative government has invested in the trades. For example, as the PM’s media announcement states:

“Since taking office the Government has undertaken several initiatives to support trades apprenticeship programs. They include: The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, which provides $1000 per year to help apprentices pay for education and training during the first two years of an apprenticship program.”

There is also an Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit — which provides employers with a tax credit of $2000 per apprentice for each of the first two years of their contract. Moreover, there is a “tools deduction” worth up to $500 of the cost of their tools.

So, to any young people who don’t know what they want to do with their lives, look at one of the many trades available because they are a great career choice.  No matter which trade — carpenters, drywallers, framers, siders, brick layers, welders, pipefitters, electricians, plumbers, auto mechanics and collision repair and others – all are the backbone of our economy.

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Yesterday, Barbara Yaffe wrote in the Vancouver Sun that neither of the main parties were doing much to impress the voters. I sent her an e-mail questioning her comments. Although I can understand that Canadians are not impressed with Liberal “gotcha” politics and their desperation to get back into power to be “entitled to their entitlements,” the notion that the Conservative government isn’t doing much is ridiculous and misleading. Perhaps if the media got the message out about exactly what the governing party WAS doing or HAS DONE, Canadians would indeed be impressed!

So, I will remind all mainstream journalists, here are some of the things the Harper government has done so far.   I will also remind mainstream journalists that this list of accomplishments does not contain any spin or promises. It is reality. Moreover, there is no manipulation or misleading of the facts because the only sources I used were from government websites and government search engines and the mainstream media itself.

The bottom line: The conservative government has been in power only a little over two years. If Canadians are not impressed, then I challenge the media to get the message out explaining exactly what the Harper Conservatives have done.

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C/P at Jack’s Newswatch.

As some of you may know, my granddaughter and her husband are expecting their first child in September — obviously my first great-grandchild. Since I just retired, I am lucky to be a youngish great-grandmother and I look forward to the four generations.

In any event, she and I have been trying for weeks to get concrete information about the rules for her taking a maternity leave from her employment. She went to the EI office to speak to someone but no one would speak to her. They simply gave her a booklet and recommended she read the website. We have looked online at such at sites as this one and it is extremely complex.

Then, just this week, she used the 800 contact number to get “further information” and was given confusing and conflicting information. For example, this page on the website states that a woman can take up to 17 weeks before the due date if you live in Ontario. Yet the public servant (a male) on the other end of the phone line said it was actually only 10 weeks.

So, what is the truth and what are the steps that must be followed?

If anyone has gone through this process, of their partner has, I would very appreciate some more useful information — which I will then pass on to her.

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