Harper's Agenda and Playbook

Well, I wish I had of been wrong, but it all adds up so far. I'm sure more will show up, in terms of graft, when cracks finally show up in Harper's government.

First, do yourself a favor and read Federal Documents Spark Outcry by Oil Sands Critics.

In the document, environmental organizations and aboriginal groups are shown as "adversaries." Industry associations, energy companies and the National Energy Board – which is supposed to serve as an independent body evaluating new projects – are listed as "allies."

Now lets rewind all the way back to the Chaquita Banana nonsense.

This is a fantastic way to change the debate to an issue that doesn't really matter. Has anyone seriously thought that we would not be able to sell our oil? Come on. This is much ado about nothing. Actually, I'm sure the outrage has more to do with the fact the claim is based on the carbon footprint reasoning than anything else.

Soon we hear about a National Energy Strategy that may be in the works.

This answer to this question is simple. So that either BC can be forced to accept a pipeline, the government of BC can be given a means of avoiding blame, or most likely provide a means of funneling enough money around to ensure public opinion is ignored.

Before long we start to hear the government use Radicals as a description for pipeline opposition.

Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade. Their goal is to stop any major project no matter what the cost to Canadian families in lost jobs and economic growth.

The whole issue turned into the foreign interests nonsense by Ethical Oil and Our Decision - a pair of government front groups.

Now, as you know I've been stating that it's obvious that Ethical Decision (really, why pretend they are truly different organizations) is a government shill wrapped in the pretense of being a grass-roots organization. If you were paying attention a few weeks ago you would have seen clear synchronization between Harper, key players, and the Ethical Decision team.

Recently Harper spoke at the Crown-First Nations Gathering and I think you can read between the lines a bit.

I've ignored you completely, ignored the Kelowna accord, and now that I'm leading a majority government I have the ability to deal with you from a position of strength without having to worry about the collapse of my government. This bodes well for me.

And, tonight, coincident with the first story, Harper has unveiled his Grand Plan at Davos.

Although short on details, Mr. Harper’s speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday made clear the sweep of his ambition. He will change how Canadians finance their retirement. He will overhaul the immigration system. He will make oil and gas exports to Asia a “national priority” and aggressively pursue free trade in India and Europe.

Our government has a plan born in the days of conflict between East, West and a Federalist Ottawa. Harper, a product of the West's anger over that period is now rewriting Canada in a West first manner. I have no desire to condemn the West but I don't think any one region should be the basis for a national grand plan.

The Harper government is on the wrong side of history. We are facing climate change issues and now is the time to start getting ready for the issues that we can already see on the way. We don't need to cut corporate taxes. We don't need to build prisons. We don't need to dismantle the things that brought Canadians pride for generations. We don't need to import right wing thinking from the USA.

I want my Canada back. I've been calling the Tar Sands the Prime Minister's undoing, his Moby Dick. I hope I'm right. We've got to dump this "grand plan" and get things back on track before we've gone completely over the cliff.  A massive shift to corporatism is not what we need. The world is starting to question the merits of capitalism in its current form while we are about to embrace it more tightly than ever before...