Editor:
Why are there so many sweeping changes to environmental protection and regulation, natural resource development, immigration policy, Old Age Security, the federal fisheries act plus a multitude of other changes being proposed in the Conservative C-38 budget implementation act?
Why is the government burying these important issues that are not related to the budget in a budget bill?
What happened to procedure, accountability, transparency and parliamentary democracy that was promised by the Conservatives?
Unfortunately, the present Conservative government is unbending in their pursuit to ram through a bill that will have profound consequences for our environment and the lives of Canadians across the nation.
The official opposition has proposed this massive 425-page Bill C-38 be split into separate bills to permit study and debate. The Conservative government rejected this proposal. What are they trying to hide?
I would like to remind citizens what then MP Stephen Harper stated regarding the Liberal omnibus Budget bill in 1994: "In the interest of democracy I ask: how can members represent their constituents on these various areas when they are forced to vote in a block on such legislation and on such concerns?"
Mr. Harper - we agree!
In Bill C-38's present form, it is impossible for MPs to fairly represent their constituents and vote on these issues separately. Mr. Harper, we urge you not to go forward with Bill C-38 and have respect forour democratic process.
Larry Koopman
Elphinstone
