Well of course Ontario and Quebec don’t want to pay for Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s anti-crime legislation. That’s because it doesn’t make sense.Some estimates have the new laws costing as much as $2.5 billion over five years. Who wants to pay that when crime rates, largely due to aging demographics, are declining markedly? Who wants to pay for unnecessary legislation when government deficits are at high levels and health care is consuming huge amounts of money, again largely due to aging demographics?
Harper’s legislation is a triumph of ideology over practicality. The PM says Canadians voted for these measures. Well they also voted for smart government too and let’s not forget they also voted for the Ontario and Quebec governments who disagree with you but will have to pay the bills for your unneeded new laws. Sounds like the downloading on municipalities that we saw during the Harris years in Ontario.
The Ontario and Quebec governments don’t want to pay for the Safe Streets and Communities legislation because our streets have never been safer and our communities more secure.
If the Harper government wants to retain its majority, it must create legislation that is smart and appeals to the Canadian centre. This mess doesn’t do it and will cost our provinces dearly. Focus on the real problems in communities, not on ideology and rhetoric.
Origin
Source: Ottawa Citizen
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