One has to wonder about Tony Clement. You see his mouth moving, but it’s hard to tell whether the words are his, or if they are coming from the (unelected) Conservative Control Centre in Ottawa.
Surely he doesn’t believe national programs like the Experimental Lakes are worthless just because they don’t do anything immediate for Muskoka? Or does he?
There is no question the Conservatives (forget any semblance of Progressive Conservatives - they’ve all been purged or rehabilitated) have total contempt for anyone or anything that might provide facts or advice that question the party ideology. But to say that “the experimental lakes have served their purpose” when local experts like Judi Brouse say this is untrue; to say that “it’s usually up to the universities to decide” when virtually every academic and scientist in the country and worldwide is begging the government to change its mind?
Where does he get his facts? He says that any research that would affect Muskoka has already been done. Years ago. Period. No risks from climate change, invasive species, diseases, or pollution here in pristine Muskoka, I guess.
More and more people are coming to realize that this government is executing a systematic project to disassemble national institutions (and our national reputation) that have taken three-quarters of a century to establish. They replace them with a mean-spirited, often petty, beggar-thy-neighbour approach to policy and governance, devoid of
any sense of obligation to the future. They understand the cost of everything, and the value of nothing. Even Preston Manning, one of the architects of the party, is publicly despairing of the direction being taken. Regrettably, our MP has been front and centre in the process.
The Conservatives are no longer the principled party of times gone by. Let’s pray Tony and his colleagues fail in their effort to devastate everything beyond repair before the next election.
Perry Bowker
Port Carling