To the Editor: It's been five years since the Harper government came to power.
Coincidentally, in families across the country, there's a lot of anxiety about high levels of indebtedness and how to afford many of things that are vital to our quality of life - like child care, post-secondary education, pensions and family care-giving.
These aren't luxuries. They're necessities for most families. But helping families make ends meet is not on Mr. Harper's agenda. He says everything's just fine.
So let's look at some facts?
Under the Conservatives, the Canadian cost of living has gone up by nearly 10 per cent, while our standard of living has flat-lined. We're paying more and getting less.
The average Canadian household is the most indebted in the western world. For every dollar of disposable income, the typical family is now carrying $1.47 in debt. This leaves us extremely vulnerable to rising interest rates, which are inevitably coming.
Job quality has declined.
Unemployment remains nearly two per cent higher than before the recession. Part-time work is up. Full-time jobs are down. And for young Canadians, joblessness is twice as bad as the national average.
For our children - UNICEF ranks Canada dead last on access to child care. Tuition costs are up by more than 20 per cent. Student debt is rising. Three-quarters of parents say they can't afford post-secondary education for their kids.
For seniors - the poverty rate is up by 25 per cent. Two-thirds of Canadians have nowhere near enough savings to provide for their retirement. And support for family care-givers is pitiful.
So despite Mr. Harper's boasting, hard evidence shows why many Canadians feel the last five years have been a waste. And there's more.
Mr. Harper squandered a decade of balanced budgets, turning $13-billion Liberal surpluses into $56-billion Conservative deficits - and a heavier mortgage on our children's future.
Ralph Goodale, MP, Wascana, SK.
