Progressive Post
What makes a party progressive on social issues? What is it that makes the Liberal party and former PCs being viewed as capturing this political spirit but not the new Conservative Party.
The understood meaning of the word in the political context is "making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities".
The most recent issue people today use is the same-sex marriage debate.
Opposing the new concept of same-sex marriage might then be proof that the Alliance is not progressive on this issue. However, a look at the voting on the Alliance motion to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage shows that 35% of Liberals and 71% of PCs voted in favour of the motion.
So, if the PC party isn't progressive on this issue, what are they progressive about? (also, see Warren Kinsella's December 10th comment on the 'progressiveness' of the Liberal caucus)
Since the Charter was introduced in 1981 there have been few major social policy changes in Canada. The introduction of the Health Act in 1984 would be one. The governments of Mulroney and Chretien are responsibile for slowly reducing the transfer payments to the provinces who ultimately fund most social programs. The Liberals did introduce the Child Tax benefit and increase the maternity benefit during their last three terms but nobody would dare claim that their time in power has been a social policy wet dream.
A different take on the situation would be to say that the Liberals and former PCs are progressive when compared to the Conservatives. Such a position states that the controversial personal opinions of select MPs show the true nature of the Conservative Party. This is very hard to confirm or deny as it plays into peoples fears and prejudices. It also brings up questions of MP's personal opinions vs how they vote on issue and of what level of personal inspection a public figure should expect.
Currently, two big factors will drive the Conservative Party policies on 'social issues'. Firstly, the Party has determined that policy and leadership will be decided using a ridings-as-equal method. Secondly, the membership of the party will grow. These two factors alone will ensure that the social policy of the party closely reflects the broad nature of Canadians of all regions.
Scott Brison is 35 years old and claims that he is leaving due to the progressive values that he was brought up with in the PC Party do not exist in the Conservative Party. This appears to be a contemporary excuse for joining the governing party that, in my opinion, doesn't not hold up to inspection.
The understood meaning of the word in the political context is "making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities".
The most recent issue people today use is the same-sex marriage debate.
Opposing the new concept of same-sex marriage might then be proof that the Alliance is not progressive on this issue. However, a look at the voting on the Alliance motion to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage shows that 35% of Liberals and 71% of PCs voted in favour of the motion.
So, if the PC party isn't progressive on this issue, what are they progressive about? (also, see Warren Kinsella's December 10th comment on the 'progressiveness' of the Liberal caucus)
Since the Charter was introduced in 1981 there have been few major social policy changes in Canada. The introduction of the Health Act in 1984 would be one. The governments of Mulroney and Chretien are responsibile for slowly reducing the transfer payments to the provinces who ultimately fund most social programs. The Liberals did introduce the Child Tax benefit and increase the maternity benefit during their last three terms but nobody would dare claim that their time in power has been a social policy wet dream.
A different take on the situation would be to say that the Liberals and former PCs are progressive when compared to the Conservatives. Such a position states that the controversial personal opinions of select MPs show the true nature of the Conservative Party. This is very hard to confirm or deny as it plays into peoples fears and prejudices. It also brings up questions of MP's personal opinions vs how they vote on issue and of what level of personal inspection a public figure should expect.
Currently, two big factors will drive the Conservative Party policies on 'social issues'. Firstly, the Party has determined that policy and leadership will be decided using a ridings-as-equal method. Secondly, the membership of the party will grow. These two factors alone will ensure that the social policy of the party closely reflects the broad nature of Canadians of all regions.
Scott Brison is 35 years old and claims that he is leaving due to the progressive values that he was brought up with in the PC Party do not exist in the Conservative Party. This appears to be a contemporary excuse for joining the governing party that, in my opinion, doesn't not hold up to inspection.
