Pubdate: Tue, 03 Aug 2010
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Page: 6
Author: Willow Arune

TORIES' TRUE COLOURS SHOW THROUGH

The true colours of the Harper government are rarely displayed in 
public. Two recent events have shown those true colours in 
ideologically-driven decisions.

The first concerns Insite, the needle exchange program in Vancouver. 
All peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies show that this 
clinic has reduced incidents of drug overdosing and other such 
problems. The benefit to users of the clinic - and thus to us as 
taxpayers is proven. The recent Vienna conference confirmed this to 
be true internationally. Even studies by the RCMP support the clinic. 
Yet due to the bias of Harper and his supporters, our government is 
attempting to close this clinic and prevent further such clinics in 
other cities.

Now we have the census. There was no need to change the former system 
- - it provided reliable information necessary in so many decisions. 
The experts supported it, the public made nary a complaint. But 
Minister Clement determined that the good system had to be replaced 
by a poor one, all in aid of a political ideology that is rarely 
given voice in public. Rather than admit a mistake, Clement digs in 
with the stubbornness of an old root.

There have been other such decisions by this government, motivated 
not be reason or sound judgment but by blind ideology.

Let us return to a pragmatic government, one motivated our common 
good and not rigidly by some religious or political ideology. The 
Conservatives have shown that they prefer to make decisions behind 
closed doors, blind to all evidence. It is time for a change.

Willow Arune

Prince George
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart