Breakaway Canadian Tories criticize Harper government's unilateral breaking of the Atlantic Accord

Edited by Jim Love

	Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

Truro, NS – Given the number of times the Harper government has been caught in a lie, is there anyone in Canada who believes Finance Minister Flaherty's recent pronouncements with regard to the Atlantic Accord? Flaherty stated in Opinion article in a Halifax daily, "Let me be clear, Canada’s New Government is honouring the Atlantic accords fully in its budget. Nothing has changed from what was signed in 2005. Nothing has been taken away from the province."

Not only is Flaherty’s statement an insult to the intelligence of all Canadians, it is also an insult to the integrity of Premier Danny Williams and MP Bill Casey who have clearly stated that the government is not keeping its promise by attempting to break the Atlantic Accord. In a contest of credibility, this government does not come out a winner. Even if we could somehow ignore the growing list of deceptions, bending of the truth and sometimes outright lies that this government has been caught in, their current assertions regarding the Atlantic Accord make no sense.

If, as Flaherty and Harper are suggesting, their “new deal” would give the provinces concerned the same deal as the Atlantic Accord, why tamper with the Accord in the first place? Why break the contract now into its third year of operation? How has the situation changed, aside from being Government rather than Opposition, since the promise to honour the Accords was made during last year’s election?

Why would Premier Danny Williams be arguing with the government? What has he to gain? Why would MP Bill Casey – a government MP, have himself summarily removed from caucus? Would they do that if the government was offering a deal equal to the Atlantic Accord?

Why now is Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald calling on Nova Scotia MPs to vote against a federal budget bill that alters the deal made between the province and Ottawa over offshore revenues.

Is everyone in Canada lying – except Flaherty, Harper and MacKay? “That answer is obvious,” stated former Progressive Conservative MP Joe Hueglin, “you don’t give up your position with the government on a whim. Bill Casey did what he did because he knew the truth and wasn’t afraid to speak it. The Harper government is lying to Atlantic Canada and all Canadians on this – and many other issues.” Mr. Hueglin is one of a number of former Progressive Conservative MPs who are now members of the federal Progressive Canadian Party.

Progressive Canadian Party leader Tracy Parsons, herself an Atlantic Canadian, issued a stinging denouncement of the government‘s actions. “With the amount of shouting going on, actions in this case may not speak louder than words – but they are infinitely clearer. As an Atlantic Canadian, I congratulate Premiers MacDonald and Williams and MP Bill Casey for their honesty and courage in facing this issue and in putting their constituents and country ahead of partisan issues.”

Parsons went on to note that the issues here affect the entire country. Stephen Harper's words in describing his concept of "open federalism" speaks of "full cooperation by the Government of Canada with all other levels of government, while clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each. " How can this be accomplished if intergovernmental agreements are to be torn up on a whim – even when the government has campaigned on a promise to uphold the agreements? How will our federation function in such an environment of distrust?

The Progressive Canadian (PC) Party is a registered Federal Political Party comprised of progressive-conservative minded Canadian Tories who are rebuilding from the roots of the former Progressive Conservative Party.

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