Well, the election is over, and you'd think I'd be grumpy. The guy I voted for, Glenn Tait, did not get in, and we are Conservative blue in a country where Liberal red will have more say. But I'm not grumpy.
First, we got rid of Harper. I think Harper really did his best to increase trade and to financially benefit at least the middle class, however, he didn't value democracy. He quickly stopped having scrums with reporters, fired scientists whose work might contradict his values and took away tax free statuses of charities that leaned left. That isn't acceptable.
As much as I like having a few extra dollars in my pocket, I value, profoundly cherish, being a free man in a free country much more. I have previously written how my father, a man who lied about his age to fight the Nazis, would have been so ashamed of some of Harpers policies. Dad would be proud today.
We, as a country, said "no" to a man who asked us to accept a world with a bit more money but a lot less freedom.
In the Battlefords though, we have re-elected Conservative Gerry Ritz. I can live with that. I have a great respect for Mr. Ritz. When I needed help, his office did all they could to be of assistance to me. During the election campaign, I wrote Mr. Ritz a letter explaining how upset I was with some of what the Conservatives were doing. A few days later my phone rang. When I answered it, much to my surprise I heard "Hi Wayne, this is Gerry."
Two things struck me about that call. Mr. Ritz was unfailingly respectful and polite to someone who profoundly disagreed with him. Second, was how different he was from his boss. I had complained about the lack of freedom of the press, how I would scream if I heard one more news story end with "the minister was unavailable for comment."
Mr. Ritz said he gave his cell number out to journalists. He was calling me personally when Harper couldn't be bothered to meet with premiers.
I believe Mr. Ritz will work hard for the Battlefords. I think he always has. If he had been kind enough to change parties, I would have voted for him.
Wayne Schlapkohl
North Battleford
