Layton Responsible For Harper Government
Re: “Iggy Calls It Again,” Sept. 10, SEE #824.

Whether you agree an election is necessary, it’s important to get the facts straight.

This publication suggests that the Conservatives would negotiate with the NDP, like Paul Martin did previously. Perhaps they missed what Jason Kenney and Stephen Harper have being saying (“NDs drink the Kool-Aid”; “No backroom deals”). For that matter, they have not been listening to Jack Layton either, who has said over and over again he would not support the Conservatives.

What is really disconcerting, though, is the comment that the NDP could get a national child-care strategy back on the table. Reviewing history will remind this publication that it was the Liberal government of Paul Martin and Ken Dryden which implemented a national early learning and childcare program. Agreements were in place with the provinces and dollars were flowing. It was Jack Layton and the NDP, voting against Paul Martin, who killed this program. In exchange for more NDP seats, Layton has deprived Canadian families access to the thousands of regulated spaces which would have been created.

Oh, and by the way, with the same vote, Layton and the NDP also doomed the Kelowna and Kyoto Accords. Goodbye, child care. So long, environmental leadership. Au revoir, increased self-government and improved living for Aboriginals. Hello, Harper and his Conservative government, compliments of Jack Layton.

-Chantelle mcnichol, Edmonton

Clarification
Last week’s wine column (“Don’t Get Silly About Sulphites,” Sept. 10, SEE #824) referred to sulphides rather than sulphites as the possible cause for some allergic reactions to red wine. Sulphites are created as wine ferments, but sulphides are not.

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