The Wait is Over … All of Canada
is In!
January 26, 2006
Finally.
Monday night marked a new, exciting stage in the incredible
journey that began almost 20 years ago when a small group
from Prince George-Peace River joined with other concerned
citizens across western Canada to change the way we “do”
government in Canada.
Now, the new federal Conservative government, led by
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, will finally make it happen!
We can now begin to put in place the policies, values
and ideas we communicated clearly to Canadians during
the election campaign. A platform that obviously appealed
to voters from coast to coast.
As I told constituents who joined me in Fort St. John
on Election Night, we have now entered a new era of rebuilding
the trust that must exist in a democratic country …
the trust between a government and the people.
In fact, Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper re-iterated
in his victory speech that his first order of business
will be the Federal Accountability Act, which will clean-up
government and make it more accountable and responsible
to YOU! The rest of Canada will soon realize that their
decision to join the West in rejecting the tired, arrogant
and corrupt Liberal administration was a great leap forward
for our nation.
Voters from Atlantic Canada, Quebec (where the Conservative
Party won a surprising 10 seats), Ontario, the Prairies,
(where Alberta painted itself completely “blue”),
and of course voters here in British Columbia, signalled
it was time for change.
Monday night was a time of celebration – well deserved,
especially for all those who persevered as our party evolved
from Reform to Canadian Alliance to the new, united Conservative
Party. But now it’s time to get down to business.
People ask me ... “Why will this minority Parliament
be any different than the previous Liberal minority?”
I believe there are at least two reasons why.
First, the new Conservative government will not be plagued
with the “residual arrogance” that the Liberals
found impossible to shed following their three successive
majority governments.
Second, our new Conservative government will not be mired
in scandal after scandal. Prime Minister Harper and his
ministers will be completely focussed on governing the
nation, rather than daily political survival.
For these reasons, and more, I am optimistic that this
next Parliament can, and will, be productive and forward
looking … working together to build a better future
for all Canadians.
We want to implement the Conservative commitments to
cut the GST, reform government, combat crime, make it
more affordable for families to raise their children and
establish patient wait time guarantees. To do so we will
have to employ a careful combination of strong leadership,
cooperation and collaboration with the other political
parties, and continued consultation with Canadians.
Thank you Prince George-Peace River for your continued
overwhelming support. I am honoured that 60 percent of
voters here marked an ‘X’ beside my name.
For five consecutive elections you have put your faith
in me and waited patiently for the day we would be able
to bring about change in Ottawa. That day is here!
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