A recent trip to the hospital got me thinking about who I can trust, for my health care and other things.
In hospital, a variety of doctors, nurses and technicians helped me.
It was easy for me to trust them. They displayed thoughtfulness and professionalism. They listened to my story; they found answers to my problems.
What would have happened had I not been able to trust those people?
I would probably be in no better shape then when I went in. I might be worse.
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Who can we trust in our society? Who can we trust as we try to build a more fair, more just “community of Canadians”? Who will help build a moral economy and society?
I’ve been disappointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his colleagues. It seems they play pretty fast and loose with the truth; I feel I cannot trust them.
First, Harper’s Conservatives promised Saskatchewan better equalization treatment, by removing nonrenewable resources from the equalization formula. While the Conservatives did change the formula, they capped equalization payments, cutting Saskatchewan out of an estimated $800 million each year since 2008.
Second, the Conservatives promised, during the 2006 election, that they would not change taxation of income trusts. Once elected, they passed rules taxing income trusts as if they were normal corporations. Many Canadians lost money through added taxation.
Third, Harper’s government ended the compulsory completion of the long-form of the Canadian census. Ministers claimed this was because of a massive number of complaints. It turns out there were hardly any complaints at all.
Fourth, the Conservatives ended funding to a well-known international aid organization, KAIROS. The minister in charge, Bev Oda, said the recommendation had come from her department. When the documents surfaced, they showed the department had recommended KAIROS receive funding, but Oda had the document changed.
Fifth, key Conservatives have been charged with financial misspending in the last election. Their trial dates have not been set.
The Speaker of the House of Commons has found the Conservatives in contempt of the Commons, or in breach of privilege, on three occasions. That’s almost unheard-of in Canadian politics.
How can Canadians build a society based on justice and equality – a moral economy – if governments and politicians will not behave in an honest and honourable manner?
Rob Brown is an ethics student in Saskatoon.
