To the editor:
Dear Prime Minister Harper:

In the beginning I had so much hope for you and the new Conservative Party. A fresh look with politics, new faces, young and full of grace out to change the face of Canada. WE were going to get a change in how government was to be run, how Parliament was to operate, a new beginning. With the scandals of the Liberal Party, many of us changed and became New Conservatives with you and now with our support. You made some mistakes right off but that's politics and to be considered and taken at face value. You accomplished some of your new election promises and began to make us feel good about ourselves again. You inherited some 12 billion dollars from the previous government, reduced the GST by two percent, made some changes in our laws, did your level best to bring about change especially for the citizens of western Canada.

It was not long before things started to crumble around you. The Premier of Newfoundland/Labrador decided that you were going against a promise made to them and said you could not be trusted. He had his reasons with little effect on the rest of us. Our dollar looked the American green back in the face and pulled itself up to his best in many a year, lots of jobs and good times were now and in the future. My how times have changed. Seems we Canadians and the rest of the free world are tied to the US economy. We quite possibly are in a recession and it looks like we are headed in that direction too but you insist we keep the faith and continue on as we are now doing. Let me be clear Mr. Harper, you are leading us down the garden path to a recession.

I listened to you and your many remarks during this campaign and became disenchanted with your "stay the course" attitude. You mentioned in an interview with CBC that you understand how it is to be in the present situation since your mom is concerned about her investments and so are you. I doubt it very much making the money you do if you really know what impact it has to your citizens to have a dollar now worth 90 cents buying produce from the United States. Avocados are up 20 cents a piece, onions are up 20 cents each, gas at the pumps saw a huge increase to a $1.47 a ltr, inflation rose and you still did nothing. The government projected a little over 2 billion dollars surplus for this year and more than likely will remain there as gas dropped in price still far above the cost per barrel of crude oil. This amount of money will not put a dent in our economy if things continue to decline as they are today. We need money for rainy days.

Many of my friends have lost thousands of dollars on the stock market. Most of them are seniors hoping these funds would help them in their older age. How long do you expect them to continue to lose money at its present rate and at what point do you expect them to stop the carnage and with draw their principle investment. You even stated that there are some good deals in the market now. I can tell you that with our CPP and OAS we will all just run out there and buy up these good deals. Who are you kidding with such a statement?

Why did you give dollars to families so that their children could enter sports and promise more funding so that children can enter art courses when monies could have been spent more wisely for families who children need eye glasses, teeth fixed, shoes, clothing and so on, especially with the winters we experience here in Canada. Three hundred million dollars for this election for a possible minority government?

You also stated words to the effect that you will not raise taxes like others will and I am sure you were referring to Mr. Layton and Mr. Dion who both have publicly stated they will not raise taxes either in the NDP camp or with the Neutral Carbon Tax Liberals yet you fear monger by saying they will raise taxes. Based on what information? You took advantage of a really bad photo of Mr. Dion and applied it to one of the Conservative adds showing Mr. Dion throwing up his arms and looking somewhat confused and another with a bird crapping on his shoulder. Funny you looked somewhat confused and non-caring with your answers to Peter Mansbridge on CBC TV telling Canadians to stay the course. WE can't afford to Mr. Harper.

I feel so sorry for my member of parliament for Kelowna, quite possibly the best MP we have had and he is powerless to say anything against Party Policies. You have promised a great deal of money in your campaign speeches yet you say you will not go into debt but if we citizens follow the other parties they will raise taxes and could put us in debt. Just where are you going to get this money to cover your promises? Perhaps as other Governments over the years, from the Veterans Pension Fund surplus? It's been used before to the tune of some 32 billions dollars and why not continue? I am not confused anymore as to who I will support in this election but that's politics isn't it? No hard feelings.

Mr. Harper you called this election with the hopes of forming a majority or at least getting a mandate to govern again. If you receive a minority position again you have caused Canadians to loose 300 million dollars for the event which we cannot afford right now. Monies better spent elsewhere and not on a lame duck election but again, that's politics.

Dale Dirks, Veteran