POLITICAL LOWLIGHTS OF 2014 – #7: Lumps of coal for Conservative ministers

In 2014, we saw a Conservative government plagued by scandals, out of touch with challenges facing Canadians and preoccupied with photo-ops and their own partisan interests. Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals fail to hold Conservatives to account and, after two years, we still have no idea where they stand on key issues.

A year’s worth of scandals and ineptitude condensed into our annual list of the top political lowlights of the year... LOWLIGHT #7: Lumps of coal for Conservative ministers

Three Conservative ministers stood out this year as being especially deserving of a spot on Santa’s naughty list:

Julian Fantino:

• Announced $200 million in mental health funding for veterans over six years, only to later clarify that it was over 50 years.
• When asked about the Auditor General’s report on his failure to provide mental health services for veterans, responded “I attended a very moving commemoration in Italy”.
• The calls for his resignation have grown so loud that the PMO has now deployed a senior staff member to help Mr. Fantino, essentially placing the Minister’s office under third party management.

Leona Aglukkaq:

• Reportedly demanded an apology and threatened legal action against the Deputy Mayor of Rankin Inlet after the mayor spoke out about a report on APTN showing people eating out of a dump.
• Shouted “that’s not true” in the House of Commons when the NDP asked about the Auditor General's negative report on the Nutrition North program and reports of people looking for food in the town dump.
• When asked what she would do to help people in Rankin Inlet who are desperate for access to healthy food, she refused to answer and sat in her seat reading the newspaper.

Gerry Ritz:

• Reportedly planning on selling off the Canadian Wheat Board for the low, low price of $0, blocking farmers from making a bid.
• Decided to keep secret all financial information about the Wheat Board.
• Has repeatedly failed to get Western grain moving or hold rail companies to account, and then added insult to injury by reducing the amount of wheat rail companies are required to transport.

And a dishonourable mention must go to Chris Alexander for his callous response to questions about breaking his promise to accept more Syrian refugees, and then lying about it afterwards. This was on top of his attacks on those fighting heartless cuts to health care for refugee claimants who do make it to Canada.

Canadians deserve better. And after nine years of Stephen Harper, Canadians just can’t afford to wait for Justin Trudeau to get ready.

Tom Mulcair’s New Democrats can be trusted to hold Conservatives to account while fighting for families and proposing common sense solutions for issues they are facing every day.