People have short memories, failing to remember the previous Liberal government that was vilified for having to implement austerity measures because they'd spent like drunken sailors and the credit agencies downgraded them and Canada was being buried by debt. They forget how difficult those times were for many, but how necessary they were in order to correct the careless spending that was crippling us, by both Liberal and Conservative governments in the 80s and 90s.
Many on the right, myself included, credited Finance Minister Paul Martin for brutally bringing Canada's finances under control and when he ran for Prime Minister we supported him, however, he was unable to control and recover from the corruption of the former Liberal Prime Minister, Chretien, he served under and he was replaced by Harper. As I said above, in my view, Harper's done a good job.
As for healthcare, it's a Provincial responsibility so any bitching about it rests with the Provincial governments. The Federal government can only provide funding to the Provinces and they then determine how it's used under legislated guidelines. The Federal government under Harper has consistently increased healthcare funding transfers but has indicated that in the future the growth of those transfers will be limited. There have been no cuts in healthcare because of Federal funding.
Harper may be called a war-monger by some who are ignorant. He has stood up on principle against Putin and Iran and been a staunch ally of Israel. He has also been a strong ally of the US in the fight against ISIS, while the other parties, particularly the Liberals, want to let others do the hard lifting and want Canada to go back to peacekeeping, sending blankets and coats to those being slaughtered.
I'm embarrassed by what many in my country have become and how they are willing to abandon principles that define Canada in order to feather their own pockets and to live off the government teat. It's truly disgraceful.
