Counsel from prominent Canadians

On election night, we saw a majority of voters, almost nine million of them, choose parties whose priorities in these areas contrast with the Conservative platform and record in government. And, we know that common ground can be found on these issues with many of the Canadians who voted Conservative. Now that Harper has secured a majority of seats in Parliament, he has a choice to make. Will he interpret the election results as a strong mandate and push forward aggressively? Or, free of the pressures of a minority government, will he listen to the Canadians who did not vote for him, and find a common path forward? To get to this point, Harper has demonstrated a remarkable capability to build political power. Now, his opportunity for greatness as a political leader rests on his ability to listen and build consensus, especially when he does not have to.

© The Ottawa Citizen

Keywords: pension reform, caregivers, caregiver tax-refund, elder, abuse