Hamilton: Canada's socialist paradise?

As the Hamilton Spectator so proudly proclaimed this morning, Hamilton is apparently the 'NDP capital of Canada'. While this alone probably caused a city-wide shudder amongst those who lived through the Rae years and skyrocketing deficits, the biggest issue alone is that Hamilton is now considered the capital of Canada's fourth party. Folks, let's have a parade!

I kid, of course, because this is absolutely nothing to be proud of. Great, we have a combined total of 5 members of Provincial and Federal Parliament and at least 3 city councillors who prescribe to old-style tax and spend socialism in the 21st century. What has this brought to Hamilton? Nothing but empty rhetoric and consistenly stubborn opposition to important government measures, including every budgetary item up for voting.

The Spectator saw it fit to spill endless, and probably very valuable given their current business situation, ink on the election of Andrea Horwath as the new leader of the Ontario NDP this past weekend. It's all well and good that Hamilton is home to a leader of a political party, but seriously, the Ontario NDP? The same party that has trouble keeping official party status and has to rely on the benevolence of the PC and Liberal parties to keep them in Queen's Park. Let's not kid ourselves here, Horwath's victory is shared by a select few unionists and far-left leaning sympathizers. The media would have you believe she is the second coming of Tommy Douglas...in a pantsuit. Horwath is a capable organizer and advocate for the hard-done by, but as leader of a party with fewer members than a peewee hockey team, her impact will be minimal. Hamilton's net gain here is the money spent by the convention delegates at local eateries and pubs. In terms of actual political gain, we went backwards at a time when other areas are looking forward.

The irony of the past week's events in Hamilton is not lost on this concerned citizen though. It was hardly a surprise, but nonetheless shocking, when US Steel Canada announced the 'temporary' shut-down of Hamilton's former Stelco plant and Nanticoke operations. The members from the federal Conservative and provincial Liberal governments went right to work to help those who will be out of work and push for answers from US Steel, who may have violated key agreements with the federal government that allowed for the purchase of Stelco in 2007/2008. Stimulating the economy with infrastructure spending and investing in Canada will bring some of the lost jobs back, but we should be prepared to deal with adversity. Every generation gets knocked down, it takes a great generation to get back up and be stronger.

What did the NDP do in response to the US Steel announcement? They were content to complain and take the easy way out by criticizing the government for not doing enough, even though they opposed every single measure that would have helped support the already failing US Steel Canada operation. The best the NDP could offer was token quotes in Question Period and more rhetoric but no action and no results for Hamilton. On the weekend, they gathered for a convention and congratulated themselves for being in opposition as proud socialists! Their hypocrisy is getting old and the many thousands of people who voted NDP in the last election can look in the mirror every morning to get the answer of just how we got here.

Hamilton needs all the help it can get from the respective levels of government but we will forever be left speechless at the podium when the best we can muster is 3 MPs and 2 MPPs from the NDP. Thankfully certain blocks of voters have seen the light and elected members to sit in government or Hamilton would be totally shut-out from relevant political discussion. The quintet of Charlton, Christopherson, Marston, Horwath, and Miller all bear a certain level of responsibility for the mess Hamilton finds itself in. It will take the combined efforts of Hamilton's other elected representatives to move this city forward because we already know where the fourth party opposition is: asleep at the wheel behind their broken-down '87 Volvo.

Hot off the Press

In tomorrow's Hamilton Spectator 'Weekend Reader' section, editorial letters, the following will appear...

Dear Editor,

Re: Tory budget passes with Liberal support (February 4, 2009)

With Liberal MPs from Newfoundland permitted to break from party lines on an issue of importance to their constituents, surely Hamilton's NDP MPs can learn from their coalition cousins. Breaking ranks from their caucus to stand and support the budget in the interests of Hamilton would have been both politically smart and a show of co-operation at a time when people want their politicians to work together, not against each other.

When the federal government introduced its 2009 budget last week, the expectation was that there would be significant stimulus programs designed to kick-start Canada's economy. The budget did indeed deliver with billions of new infrastructure spending for cities such as Hamilton. Coupled with measures such as the extension of EI and the renovation tax credit to help families upgrade their houses and contribute to the economic turnaround, the budget will indeed set Canada on a positive path going forward.

I was optimistic that Hamilton's NDP MPs would see this budget as beneficial to the city, knowing full well that there are several areas of need that could be served by new federal investment. However, in short-sighted fashion, NDP politics took precedence over community need and the 'old city' MPs rejected the budget before it was even tabled in the House. There are many benefits for Hamilton in this year's budget and for the city's NDP MPs, it's time to stop adding to our problems and start working together with the government to contribute to solutions for all of us.

Alex Buck, Hamilton

I'm sure the angry responses will flow from the 'Dippers next week.

Second Annual Federal Budget Letter

Consider this my return from an extended break, and we're back with a vengeance from the holidays and NFL playoffs with my Second Annual Letter to the Editor criticizing the NDP. Feedback welcome, as always.

Editor,

When Hamilton voters thought it wise to return 3 New Democrat MPs to Ottawa last October, they did so because they wanted those members to be responsible and advocate for our city. As to be expected, Hamilton's NDP MPs have once again turned their backs on the city when it needs help the most by voting against this year's federal budget and its stimulus measures.

It speaks to the hypocrisy of the NDP that they would vote aganst real action on the economy during these tough times. Prior to the budget, the NDP were all too happy to contribute to a hijacking of Parliament with the forming of a coalition government-in-waiting, assuming they would do a better job of leading the nation. Instead of working with the government to put people first and leave politics aside, Hamilton's NDP MPs were more concerned with partisan games. Jobs are at stake, families' futures are on the line. This is not the time for Hamilton's NDP MPs to cling to their old, tired ideology. Hamilton needs federal dollars for infrastructure projects. The NDP opposition to this federal budget shows yet again they cannot be taken seriously when they claim to campaign on behalf of hard-working families.

As we hear of daily job losses around the world, Hamilton voters would do well to consider the following: If there are any jobs to be lost in these economic times, it is those of Hamilton NDP MPs, who should be part of the solution to our economic woes, and not working against the very people who put them in office.

Alex Buck, Hamilton

Hamilton needs immediate help from all levels of government. Whether it is through infrastructure projects, job creation measures, or investment in our future, this budget will turn Canada around and kick-start our economy. Partisan games are yesterday's politics. Today and tomorrow require co-operation, something the NDP cannot understand. Hamilton voters need to remember this next time around when they think that their MP is actually working for them.