A sudden Conservative epiphany
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
My column posted last week was actually intended for the previous week and this one for last week, however due to e-mail difficulties and a sudden conservative epiphany I am left (no pun intended) with writing a good news column.
My column last week had gone to great lengths of building a sail of massive proportions until the conservatives took the wind from that sail mid week. Mr. Harper and the conservative Minister of Industry, Jim Prentice announced they would block the sale of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) in the United States.
The offer was for $1.3 billion to purchase Canadian exclusive technology developed with the generous funding of $400 million from taxpayers. It is the jewel of Canadian knowledge, thinking and innovation not matched anywhere in the world. Space advancements, that if sold, would be lost forever. That is the link to the Avro Arrow in my column last week.
Most Canadians are familiar with the Canadarm used on American Space Shuttle missions but it is the Radarsat 2 satellite system and the space robot Dextre technology that has attracted the attention of ATK, an American arms Supply Company. The intention is for this American company to use Canadian engineered and funded technology to develop weapons of aggression and conquest.
Canadian technology and know how being used for violent means simply goes against the beliefs and morality of the average Canadian. It has been our intention collectively as a nation to use our scientific and technological advancements for peaceful purposes and not for forcing the imperialistic ideals of the United States upon the rest of the world.
The Radarsat 2 technology has been developed in response to a Canadian need to exhort our sovereignty over the north. Mr. Harper has taken on the cause of ensuring and strengthening the Canadian claim of sovereignty over the Arctic territory. If Mr. Harper is due any credit at all it would be for his continuing battle to represent Canadian interest over the Arctic on the international stage.
If it were not for the national interests in protecting Canadaís rights in the Arctic I have no doubt the deal would not have been blocked. Had we allowed the sale of this Canadian company, the technology gained by Canadians would have been lost to the Americans and it would be them we would have to obtain permission from in order to use our own developed technology.
It is more than interesting to note that typically it is the conservative party who claim to be the defenders of free enterprise and then have this same party be the first in Canada to use legislation passed by Brian Mulroney to block a sale of a Canadian company to international interests. All of the opposition parties were united in their praise of the conservative government. It was a sight to sore eyes to witness all parties paying tribute to the very government they have fought with and opposed at every turn.
This story may not end with the decision to block the sale as ATK has 30 days in which to launch an appeal. As proud Canadians we must stay ever vigilant that our government does the right thing to protect the rights and the earned assets of our Nation.
Kevin is a life long resident of Wallaceburg and Chatham-Kent and has served his community in various ways over the years. Joining the Wallaceburg Jaycees at the around the age of 25 he worked with the Jaycees on nearly every project and served in every capacity of their executive. Kevin was recruited by the Sydenham Hospital fundraising committee and later accepted a five year term as a director on the Sydenham District board of directors. After being honored with a Jaycee Senate lifetime membership award in May of 1991 he went on later that year to run for a position on Wallaceburg Council. Serving the people of Wallaceburg for 3 years as a member of Wallaceburg council Kevin decided to branch out and was acclaimed in 1994 as the Deputy Reeve representing Wallaceburg on Kent County council. Kevin has since ran twice as the NDP candidate for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. He has now joined John Gardiner in his quest to supply good news and information to the people of Chatham-Kent and beyond.
