The Harper Government’s Abuse of Ideology
analytical Essay
2457 words
Our Canadian federal political system is predicated on the existence of a variety of parties which operate under their respective ideologies. There are the Conservatives, the Liberals, the NDP, the Greens, the Marxists and a number of smaller parties. Arguably, this multi-party system is helpful to voters in determining for whom to cast their ballots. Our system allows us to vote for the group that most aligns with the ideology that we have developed as a result of our values and beliefs. Oxford Dictionaries defines ideology as a “system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic and political theory and policy.” Ideology forms a foundation for understanding the world and deciding what our priorities are as a society. The Harper Government operates with a Neoconservative ideology that supports limited government involvement in regulating the economy, limited social welfare, maintenance of traditional values and strong law and order. Though all parties operate from an ideological foundation, the Harper Government seems to be especially focused on dogma that is not amenable to change; this, however, is based on the idea that if social change should happen, it must be slow. This is not very practical in leading a diverse and changing electorate but does resonate with a fair portion of Canadians and, thus, translates to success in Canadian politics. Wente points out how Conservatives are more successful in politics by appealing to a large number of God-fearing Canadians who believe in loyalty, authority and punishment rather than harm-reduction and fairness. About 25% of the Canadian population, based on the federal Conservatives’ nearly 40% share of the approximately 60% of eligible citizens who v... ... middle of paper ... ...ba/blastemail/pdf/10_reasons_to_oppose.pdf>. Wente, Margaret. “What Liberals Can Learn From Conservatives.” Globe and Mail 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. liberals-can-learn-from-conservatives/article4101563/>. “What Worries Critics About Omnibus Crime Bill.” CBC News 14 Mar. 2012. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. . Wherry, Aaron. “The Insite Ruling.” Maclean’s 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/30/the-insite-ruling/>. Zlotorzynska, Maria, et al. “Supervised Injection Sites: Prejudice Should not Trump Evidence of Benefit.” Canadian Medical Association Journal 185.15 (2013): 1303-1304. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Nov 2013. files/uploads/news/releases/cmaj130927.pdf>.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the canadian federal political system is predicated on the existence of a variety of parties which operate under their respective ideologies.
- Argues that opportunism is not the noblest choice for a leader. the harper government uses ideology to inform policy and retain their base of voters while subjugating the rights of vulnerable populations.
- Analyzes how the harper government pushed the safe streets and communities act through parliament with limited debate and ignored recommendations from experts.
- Analyzes how stuart's arguments against bill c-10 were made clear in the media. the bill would result in larger prison populations, which might give illusion of public safety, but would create more hardened criminals.
- Analyzes how the harper government challenged the legality of insite, the safe-injection facility in vancouver, based on its anti-drug policy, which is informed not by scientific evidence or professional medical advice but conservative social values.
- Argues that if government-defined moral values and their assumed support from the population are the central basis for policy, we run many risks.
- Argues that anti-discrimination legislation should be enacted and education provided for the general public to affirm transgender and transsexual civil rights.
- Opines that transgender people deserve to have their rights written expressly into law.
- Argues that the "bathroom bill" will result in non-transgendered sexual predators taking advantage of this constitutional loophole to enter any washroom and assault others.
- Opines that policies that put vulnerable groups at risk in order to satisfy the base want for punishment and adherence to old-fashioned social values are an abuse of ideology.
- Cites ccpa-mb and john howard society of manitoba's "fast facts: bill c-10: the truth about.
- Explains that challenges canada’s drug laws. canadian medical association journal 182.13 (2010): 1440-1444.
- Describes the concerns of critics about the omnibus crime bill.
- States that the canadian medical association journal 185.15 (2013): 1303-1304. academic search premier.
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- Trudeaumania for a Just Societyanalytical essayHumans are natural philosophers; it is in human nature to pose questions about the unknown. If humans were indifferent to issues, questions, the sort, then religion would not exist; for, what does religion do other than attempt to give people explanations for phenomena that science cannot explain. There are few people, however, that fall into the category of ‘good philosophers’ because to be a good philosopher, one must be able to accept the truth, no matter what emotions it crosses. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, once known as the Canadian ‘Philosopher King’, was a philosopher that was able to do just that. He is used as an example of a person who revolutionized Canada, and is studied for his philosophical ways of thought. The many changes he made to this country have given it the identity Canada has today; it was his theory of a just society that keeps his name alive. In order to understand Pierre Trudeau’s theory of a just society, however, one must first examine who Trudeau was, what his philosophy was, and what the positive and negative impacts of his ideas were on Canada.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how pierre elliott trudeau, the canadian 'philosopher king', was a philosopher who revolutionized canada.
- Explains that pierre trudeau's reputation as a hard worker started after he graduated from the university of montreal and practiced law, specializing in labour and civil liberty cases.
- Opines that the just society will be a united canada, united because all of its citizens are actively involved in the development of the country where equality of opportunity is ensured.
- Explains that trudeau was a strong believer in equality. he believed in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor.
- Analyzes how trudeau's views and changes have had both positive and negative impacts on canada. while his theory was honourable, he was human and prone to mistakes.
- Analyzes pierre trudeau's philosophical approach to issues that can be deemed honourable. he separated himself from the traditional way of politics, and dove right into a new era of change.
- Explains that pierre's invitation proved to be a victory; he won in the election that same year, and was given the title of the minister of justice.
1298 wordsRead More - Nationalism in Quebec and Canadian Politicsanalytical essayDuring the twentieth century, Canada as a nation witnessed and endured several historical events that have had a deep and profound influence on Canadian politics. The most influential and constant force in twentieth century Canadian politics has been the increasing power and command of Quebec nationalism and the influence it has had on Canadian politics today. Quebec nationalism has shaped the structure and dynamics of Canadian federalism from a centralized to a decentralized form of federal government (Beland and Lecours 2010, 423). The decentralization of several sectors within the Canadian government has been a direct effect of Quebec nationalism. Decentralization has led to more autonomy among the provincial governments, especially in the province of Quebec. This paper will argue that Quebec nationalism has affected Canadian politics through decentralization. Most importantly, the decentralization of Canadian politics can be determined constitutionally, institutionally, and politically.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that quebec nationalism has affected canadian politics through decentralization.
- Explains that quebec nationalism is rooted in the preservation of the francophone language and culture.
- Explains that decentralization was constitutionally inscribed in canada. the british north american act had a set of provisions that entitled several exclusive powers to provincial governments.
- Explains that the charter of rights and freedoms was revolutionary in canada because it gave the judiciary political power, taking power away from federal government.
- Explains that canada was heavily centralized in social policy, a fact that quebec didn't like. the creation of the welfare state was influenced by devastating effects from the great depression.
- Explains that lester pearson, the prime minister of canada from 1963-68, thought that the only way to tame the emerging separatist movement in quebec was to accommodate their demands.
- Explains that quebec refused to sign the newly repatriated constitution in 1982. the push for independence in quebec had never been greater. quebec took advantage of asymmetrical decentralization and created new social policies in the name of "distinct" national values.
- Explains that provincial governments have a long history of autonomy in foreign relations due to quebec demands for more autonomy. quebec, ontario, nova scotia, british columbia, saskatchewan, and manitoba were the many provinces that opened foreign trade offices.
- Explains that the provincial governments' autonomy in trade policy is very different from that of trade promotion. trade agreements at the international level now include several areas of sub federal jurisdiction.
- Concludes that quebec nationalism has affected canadian politics in several ways.
- Describes balthazar's views on quebec and the ideal of federalism.
- Analyzes beland, daniel, and andre lecours, "does nationalism trigger welfare-state disintigration?" social policy and territorial mobilization in belgium and canada.
- Analyzes beland, daniel, and andre lecours, "federalism, nationalism and social policy decentralization in canada and belgium." regional and federal studies 17, no.
- Explains cameron, david r., and jacqueline d. krikorian. recognizing quebec in the constitution of canada.
- Explains courchene, thomas j. the case for decentralized federalism. ottawa, ontario: university of ottawa press, 2010.
- Explains that guiberneau, monsterrat. national identity, devolution and seccession in canada, britain and spain.
- Explains kukucha, christopher j., "dismembering canada? stephen harper and the foreign relations of canadian provinces."
2498 wordsRead More - Concussions in Hockeyexplanatory essay...Journal." Canadian Medical Association Journal - March 8, 2011. 22 July 2003. Web. 08 Mar. 2011.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that youth hockey players idolize the players in the national hockey league, which is a strong collision sport that requires great skill and motivation.
- Explains that new helmets and equipment designs aid in the protection of all skill levels of hockey players. blaine hoshizaki's research is to maintain safety and effectiveness in player equipment.
- Explains that mouth guards reduce the likelihood of concussion by positioning the jaw to absorb impact forces that would normally be transmitted through the base of the skull and into the brain.
- Explains that hits to the head are the leading cause of concussion in the highly combative sport of ice hockey.
- Explains that injuries from shoulder blows are the main cause of star players being placed on the disabled list in the national hockey league (nhl).
- Opines that ice hockey is a dangerous unforgiving game of precision, and that head injuries can be avoided if the correct tactics are put in use.
- Cites marchie and cusimano's article "bodychecking and concussions in ice hockey: should our youth pay the price?" canadian medical association journal.
- States klein, jeff z., stephen w. marshall, robyn b. lee, salima darakjy, and sarah b jones. "ebscohost: mouthguards in sport activities." sports med.
1200 wordsRead More - History, Symptoms, and Treatment of Celiac Diseaseexplanatory essayMayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 10 Feb. 2012. Web. 3 May 2013. .
In this essay, the author
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- Explains that celiac disease was first described by aretaeus of cappadocia in 250 ad. samuel gee, md worked with many children and adults with the disease.
- Explains that people with celiac disease have different kinds of symptoms, including abdominal pain or cramps, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, nausea or vomiting, stunted growth, and mouth ulcers.
- Explains that when eating gluten-containing foods, the immune system damages the villi, which allows nutrients from food to be absorbed through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream.
- Explains that there are about 31% more miscarriages in undiagnosed celiac disease patients than the normal population.
- Explains that celiac disease affects about one of one hundred people in the united states. it can be diagnosed early in life and others may not be affected until their sixties or older.
- Explains that the diagnosis of celiac disease starts with a blood test and an endoscopy, where the doctor examines the small intestine and takes small biopsies.
- Explains that if the blood test shows positive for celiac disease, the doctor will tell the person to go on a gluten free diet.
- Explains that if someone is left untreated for celiac disease, damage to the intestines may increase the risk of cancers or autoimmune diseases.
- Explains that a gluten-free diet is the only thing doctors have found that helps people with celiac disease. researchers are working on developing enzyme pills to help with digestion of the toxic part of gluten that causes intestinal damage.
- Opines that more research should be done to indicate what triggers the immune system to react to gluten. may is celiac disease awareness month.
- Explains that celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by an intolerance to gluten, which affects all races and men and women.
- Cites boston children’s hospital's 2005-2011 all rights reserved, n.d. web. 24 apr. 2013.
- Cites the national foundation for celiac awareness's website: http://www.celiacentral.org/facts-and-figures/cdf. 1998 - 2013.
- Describes celiac disease t-shirts, apparel, gifts, and merchandise from awareness gift boutique website.
- Cites mayo clinic, the national foundation for celiac awareness, and the nemours foundation.
1326 wordsRead More - Breast Cancer, Be Aware, Be Prepared but Don’t Be Scaredexplanatory essayWritten by the Health line Editorial Team | Medically Reviewed by Stephanie Burk-head, M.P.H. Published on August 9, 2012
In this essay, the author
- Explains that breast cancer is a very serious disease that mainly affects women and some men.
- Explains that breast cancer is a horrendous life event that starts originating from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules. it can be caused by radiation exposure, prior history of breast disease, age, race, reproductive and/or menstrual history.
- Explains the health line editorial team's medically reviewed by stephanie burk-head.
- Explains that breast cancer is one of the earliest forms of cancer discovered by man, mainly because of its visibility and other prominent symptoms.
627 wordsRead More - On Monday, October 30th, 1995, citizens of Canada’s largest province gathered to settle an issue which had been plaguing Canada for many years. The province of Quebec, the only French majority province in Canada, held a referendum, which is a public vote on any matter, concerning the issue of sovereignty. This issue has been a recurring theme over the years, since Réné Lévesque initiated the Parti Quebecois (PQ) in 1968. The Parti Quebecois is the backbone of the Quebec separatist movement, it is the most prominent political party in Quebec which reveals the imminent possibility of a Canada without Quebec. In spite of the power of numbers which is supposedly working in Quebec’s favour regarding separation, Quebec’s desire to separate from Canada is simply a show of bravado without substance. Quebec cannot feasibly separate from Canada because the basis of the proposed separation through the referendum, is very ambiguous, furthermore, Quebec is not economically self-sufficient and ultimately, the presence of the large amount of ‘Non’ voters further prevents this fantastical notion of separation from becoming a reality.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that quebec's desire to separate from canada is a show of bravado without substance.
- Analyzes how the parti quebecois crafted the referendum strategy for the sovereignty referendum and publically revealed it on december 6, 1994.
- Analyzes the indirect deception present in the pq's sovereignty attempts and the public consultation aspect of the referendum strategy.
- Explains that canada's quarrelsome province of quebec is losing anglophone and allophone citizens and its imports and exports would cease.
- Opines that quebec's separation is an economically detrimental one in that it is a slippery slope of unnecessarily unpleasant events.
- Explains that quebec shares the ideologies of equality and inclusion, yet it does not propagate such ideals throughout the referendum campaign and even after it.
- Analyzes how quebec's failed attempts of separation are founded on deceit and illogical ideologies which ride on the wings of many unaware quebecers.
- Explains that columbia electronic encyclopedia. “parti quebecois”. middle search plus sept. 2013: 1.
- Explains wherrett, jill, aboriginal peoples and the 1995 referendum: a study of the issues.
1696 wordsRead More - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Argumentative Analysisopinionated essayPrime Minister Stephen Harper has received criticism lately due to comments and actions by his Conservative government regarding the limiting of the liberties of a Muslim woman who wants to be able to wear her religious face covering during her citizenship ceremony, an act by the government that I consider to go against our constitutional right to freedom of religion. Prime Minister Harper was quoted in the Globe & Mail (18 September 2015, web) as saying “When you join the Canadian family in a public citizenship ceremony it is essential that that is a time when you reveal yourselves to Canadians and that is something widely supported by Canadians.” This comment goes against the Canadian value of liberty, a utilitarian viewpoint by limiting
In this essay, the author
- Opines that prime minister stephen harper's comments about the limiting of the liberties of a muslim woman during her citizenship ceremony go against our constitutional right to freedom of religion.
300 wordsRead More - New Political Parties: What Is Our National Identity?explanatory essayIf you ask Canadians, “What is our National Identity? How is it shaped?” You might get different answers for everybody, especially since Canada is such a young country that hasn’t had very much time to develop on its own yet, but most Canadians would say that our National identity is growing one way or another. Some people would argue that the culture is made up by our history and what we did throughout time, however, since Canada has such a small history compared to other countries, many others would argue that it is being built up everyday with the contribution of both the people and the government. Part of the way that Government helps to shape our identity is through political parties, especially the newer ones
In this essay, the author
- Opines that canada's national identity is growing with the help of political parties, especially the newer ones that took into place due to demand from the people.
- Explains how the ndp started after world war 1 and led to the rise of labour-centric parties and the merging of the ccf and clc.
- Explains that the struggle between french and english-speaking canada is unique to canada and that many québecois believed that they would be better off as a sovereign state.
367 wordsRead More - The Impact Of Pierre Trudeau's Impact On Canada?analytical essayPierre Elliot Trudeau is perhaps one of the mostly widely recognized Canadian Prime Ministers. His contributions to the growth and progress of Canada stands forever engraved in the minds of all Canadians. Yet, in spite of his many contributions, Canadians share contrasting opinions of Trudeau. Frum (2011) says of Trudeau that “as a political wrecker, he was truly world class.” On the other hand, the results of a poll commissioned by the Harper government in 2013-2014 ranked Trudeau number one on the list of most inspirational Canadians . In this essay, I will provide an analysis comprised of three perspectives to support the argument that Pierre Trudeau’s impact on Canada was overwhelmingly positive because his legacy transcended politics.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that pierre elliot trudeau's impact on canada was overwhelmingly positive because his legacy transcended politics.
- Explains how trudeau's education and personal background prepared him for his time spent in politics. his charisma, charm and flair for leadership excited the canadian people and the phenomenon known as trudeeaumania was born.
- Highlights three of trudeau's domestic policies and shows how his political actions contributed to a unified canada.
- Analyzes how trudeau's foreign policy shaped the way that canada was viewed by the rest of the world.
- Explains pierre trudeau was born in montreal, quebec, and served as canada's prime minister from 1968-1979 and then from 1980-1984.
- Explains trudeau's motivation behind domestic politics was grounded in one ideal-unity. he was a strong advocate of national unity.
- Explains that the division between francophone and anglophone canadians started long before trudeau assumed the role of prime minister.
- Explains that multiculturalism was a milestone for trudeau in his vision for national unity. it was the result of the 1964 royal commission on bilingualism and biculturalism.
- Analyzes how trudeau left his mark on canadian politics in quebec. the people of quebec were on a path of separatism because of the rise of nationalism in the post war years.
- Explains that in the 1960s, there was much interest in quebec's relationship with the rest of canada. trudeau advocated federalism as an alternative to nationalism.
- Explains that trudeau was well-prepared to represent canada in the international arena largely because of his education and personal experiences. he received his postsecondary education in schools such as harvard and london school of economics.
- Explains that trudeau's approach to foreign policy was governed by liberal ideals and he was intent on bringing about unity and integration in the international arena.
1576 wordsRead More - Principles Of Liberalism In Canadaexplanatory essayIn Canada, our society is governed by the philosophy and principles of liberalism, which is the foundation of the legal and political institutions in the Western world. Liberal society highlights individual rights, freedoms and autonomy while limiting state power and the scope of the legal system (Stoljar, Lecture). There are three liberal principles that are protected through legal doctrines, (Stoljar, Lecture). The first is the ‘rule of law,’ which is impartial, stable, and measured, and must be distinguished from the ‘rule of man,’ which is irrational, temperamental and unpredictable, (Stoljar, Lecture). The second is that law should be neutral and impartial, which means that it’s removed from politics and biased assumptions, (Stoljar, Lecture).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that canada is governed by the philosophy and principles of liberalism, which is the foundation of the legal and political institutions in the western world.
- Explains that john stuart mill theorizes about the level of power that the government can legitimately exert over individuals, based on universal moral concepts and is autonomous of the elements of any particular laws or institutions.
- Explains that there is a propensity in society to increase the radius of power held by the government over individuals, through legislation and persuasion, that is intended to encourage conformity. mill splits liberty into three categories and proclaims that any genuinely free society will recognize all three.
375 wordsRead More