Excerpts from an Open Letter by Barbara McDougall
(A brief foreword note from Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper – Once again, we have a reminder here that there was a time when the federal Conservative government was truly ‘Progressive’, with a strong bond of compassionate conservatism guiding its ranks.
Former federal Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Barbara McDougall.
The excerpts I am posting from a recent open letter by Barbara McDougall who served from 1984 to 1993 in several key posts, including Minister of Employment and Immigration and Secretary of State for External Affairs, in the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney, shows that there was a time – not so long ago – when federal Conservatives more often reflected the best of Canadian values.)
September 2015 – “Although rarely spoken of, the irony that Germany, with its Nazi past, should be the most welcoming of any nation in today’s refugee crisis, is not lost on those with any knowledge of the era, which is just about everybody. Canada has its own stain from that dreadful period, the turning away of the Jewish refugee ship MS St. Louis in 1939. While there are many memories of prime minister MacKenzie King, that stain will remain forever on his reputation.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper would do well to remember this in the current Syrian refugee turmoil. This is his moment to shine, and it is slipping away fast. …”
“It is beyond time for Mr. Harper to recognize that every leader faces an unexpected moral choice that sometimes seems to come out of nowhere – and this is his. … Canadians are looking for a leader to lead – to express the sympathetic outpouring of Canadians and act upon them. …”
“Within Canada other levels of government – provinces and cities – have already started to establish the means to accept refugees when they do finally arrive. The well established refugee organizations are ready. The churches are ready. Mr. Alexander is doing his best.”
“But it is still up to Stephen Harper to seize his moment.”
Barbara McDougall’s entire letter was posted in The Globe & Mail this past September 8th. To read it in its entirety click on http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/mr-harper-this-refugee-crisis-should-be-your-moment/article26259650/ .
To check out a related Niagara At Large post on another former Conservative cabinet minister speaking out on this issue click on https://niagaraatlarge.com/2015/09/06/former-federal-conservative-cabinet-minister-lashes-harper-government-over-lack-of-real-action-on-syrian-refugee-crisis/ .
Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary for and from the greater bi-national Niagara region.
(NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. Niagara At Large encourages you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
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I think it would be more beneficial to “seize the moment” re. “the marijuana issue”. Its legalization would be a coup for this government, and they don’t even realize it. Regulated and safe, the income-generator would also provide revenue for an ailing economy, and enable us to be even better equipped to accommodate refugees being displaced from the world’s danger zones.
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Why would a former “Progressive” Conservative Barbara McDougall give advice to Harper when he with the complicity and the Judas like deceit of Peter MacKay completely eliminate the same “Progressive” Conservative Party that she served and was so proud of in the past??? Just Asking
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