By John H. Redekop  

THIS report card evaluates the last six months of the Conservative Party’s performance in Ottawa. The mark in the brackets is the mark awarded after the first year.

On balance, they earned a somewhat lower mark this time.

Cabinet

The Prime Minister has a mostly strong team. Defense Minister Gordon O’Connor has serious credibility problems, especially after his misstatements about the Red Cross overseeing Taliban prisoners held by Canadian troops. John Baird is doing well in Environment, as is Jim Flaherty in Finance. So far, no scandal!   B (B+)

House of Commons

The record is uneven. Stockwell Day and John Baird (despite the latter’s occasional bellicose manner) performed well. Peter MacKay again hurt his party, this time by announcing that no Conservative MP would be punished for voting against the budget; one did, and was kicked out of caucus. Defense Minister O’Connor was unimpressive. House Leader Peter Van Loan sometimes avoided the truth.

Prime Minister Harper lost ground by asserting the Opposition Leader’s criticisms lacked credibility because he had not been in uniform. Neither was Harper! Harper also lost ground by suggesting the Liberals opposed an extension to the Anti-Terrorism Act because Liberal MP Navdeep Bains was on an Air India bombing witness list. An apology would have been appropriate. The MPs need to understand that scoring cheap political points in Question Period does not score points with the electorate.   B (A-)

Social policies

Achievements include pension income splitting, two extra years to put money into an RRSP, removal of limitation on RESP contributions, $2 million given to BC to prevent gang violence, and numerous family-supportive tax initiatives. Despite the $612 million Wait Times Guarantee Trust, surgical wait times remain long. Also, we see no new commitment for social housing, little improvement in processing foreign credentials, and little progress in child care for those truly needing it.   B+ (B)

Economic policies

The income trust crisis was not handled well. Simply terminating income trust formation might have created fewer problems for the government than a clear breach of promise. The action was endorsed by Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge; but most voters seemed unconvinced.

Praiseworthy budget commitments included the removal of 180,000 low income earners from the tax rolls; the $1,000 a year working tax benefit; a $2,000 tax credit for children under 18; $2.2 billion more in health and social transfer payments to provinces; another $1 billion for farmers; $9.6 billion in debt repayment; $38 billion in tax relief over two years; and $39 billion for ‘fiscal imbalance’ over seven years.

The key criticism is that the increase in spending was the third highest since 1987. The incentive to buy efficient cars discriminates against North American companies, given that the average new Canadian car produces only 1/37th as much pollution as a 20 year old car.   A- (B+)

Foreign affairs

Although the Harper government reinvigorated foreign policy and operated with principle and conviction, it lost crucial support in this area. The Afghanistan policy, apparently based on the dubious assumptions that democracy trumps Islamic intolerance and that moderate Muslims will oppose the extremists, alienated many voters. Present policies could cost the Conservatives a majority – perhaps even a minority – victory.

The inadequate processing of passport applications angered many. Positive elements include the $900 million increase in foreign aid over two years; and a strengthened presence in Europe and Latin America. Significantly, King Abdullah of Jordan urged Canada to play a larger role in the Middle East peace process. C (B-)

National unity

Much progress was made in addressing the alleged fiscal imbalance. Quebec gets almost half of Ottawa’s annual transfer of $11 billion to the provinces. The Atlantic Accord imbroglio was regrettable; Ottawa did the right thing, but made the wrong promise. All provinces now run a surplus. Newfoundland’s Danny Williams alleges betrayal by the Tories. He should remember 58.7 percent of his revenue comes from Ottawa!   A- (A-)

Continue article >>

Environment

Harper has altered his stance: “The science is clear that these changes are occurring. They are serious – and we must act.” While many climate change programs deleted by the Tories have not been replaced, policies have changed. The $1.5 billion EcoTrust is key. Many budget items addressed pollution.

The Tories allocated $400 million to fight pine beetle infestation, and $225 million for conservation groups to buy ecologically sensitive land. They finally cracked down on cruise ship sewage disposal. However, oilsands are exempt from pollution curbs.   B- (C)

Crime & justice

Bills outlaw street racing, restrict conditional sentences, raise the age of sexual consent, and require automatic prison terms for people using guns to commit crimes.

Unfortunately, the Liberal majority in the Senate has prevented enactment of some bills. The record is uneven on reform of gun registration. Crime prevention should receive more attention. The handling of the RCMP problems has been satisfactory.   A- (A)

Military policies

The $900 million allotted to the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative was widely viewed as a sound investment in aerospace technology. A full 97 percent of Canadians approve the $4.3 billion investment to defend Arctic sovereignty. The government promised six new ships for west coast use by the Canadian Coast Guard. Creating a Veterans Ombudsman Office and a Veterans Bill of Rights filled important needs. Allegations of mistreatment by Canadian soldiers of Taliban prisoners created serious problems for the Harper government. Also, many Canadians are asking whether the government is focusing too much on the military.   B (A)

Parliamentary reform

Little has been done in this area during the last six months other than projecting additional allotment of House of Commons seats to B.C., Ontario and Alberta. The challenge to House of Commons supremacy if the Senate is transformed into a second politically responsible chamber has not yet been addressed.

The promised improvement in House of Commons decorum has not  happened. The government sets the tone – and must accept responsibility.   B (A)

Specific initiatives

Positive initiatives include: the $100,000 allotted to develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine; the appointment of a judicial inquiry into the 1985 Air India bombing; the $591 million for the Pacific Gateway Initiative; the $1.5 billion allotted for Toronto traffic improvement; several new programs to improve aboriginal health; and the establishment of the Canadian Mental Health Commission.

Problem areas include awarding a contract to a former Quebec separatist minister, to review Liberal polling; and disallowing deductibility for corporate offshore financing costs.   B+ (B+)

Electoral promises

The Conservatives have kept most of their major promises – other than reducing surgical wait times, which is mainly a provincial responsibility. But promises were made; only marginal improvement has been achieved. There have been delays in providing the 2,500 additional police officers.   B+ (A-)

Overall leadership

Prime Minister Harper impresses as a solid and usually principled performer in the House of Commons, a good communicator, a strong team leader and a straightforward spokesperson. He was an effective performer at the G8 Summit, and has generally been effective in international involvements.

Unfortunately, he is sometimes excessively partisan and undignified in Question Period repartee. Considerable muzzling of most cabinet members continues.

Prime Minister Harper must be held accountable for his party’s decline in public opinion polls – to the point that the Conservatives are virtually tied with the Liberals, whose leader has not evoked widespread affirmation.   B+ (A-)

Overall mark for the last six months:   B (B+)

John H. Redekop is adjunct professor of political science, Trinity Western University.

September 2007