Thread by @Norlaine

Government budgets deal with money residents have contributed in their taxes. This is important to know. When a conservative government , federal or provincial, says "We have to cut funding for schools/social programs/health care" while giving big #cdnpoli
1/20

tax breaks/grants/bailouts to corporations, they are saying that they are taking our money & doing whatever they want with it. Seriously, what do we, as Canadians want more? For everyone to have health care when they need it, or for top execs at O&G companies to get bonuses? 2/20

When conservatives say that programs like CERB are too expensive and they will make workers lazy; when they suggest people should have to get back to work; when they support the owners of plants that are COVID hotspots instead of supporting the workers; 3/20

they are treating government money as though it was their own money. It is not. What do they imagine the role of government should be? It is not to funnel the wealth and resources of a country into the bank accounts of donors and foreign corporations. 4/20

It is not to render the population so desperate and insecure as to welcome whatever overlords will pay them a pittance for their labours. It is not to strip them of universal health care and public education. 5/20

It is not even to ensure the success of corporations and stock market growth. No. This is not the primary role of our democratically elected representatives. 6/20

The role of our government is not to rule, but to represent, to negotiate on OUR behalf, for the good of the citizens and residents. We are not "taxpayers", or "voters". First and foremost we are CITIZENS and RESIDENTS. 7/20

And our government, whose salaries we pay, have to prioritize us, our well-being. I have been horrified watching all these conservative premiers desperate to make people go back to work. Is it because it galls them to think that people are getting money for nothing? 8/20

They need to remember that the people are the first priority. And, ultimately, it is OUR money. It is the responsibility of the government to look after the people. Right now, we are facing an extraordinary global crises. 9/20

The health and well-being of the people, the citizens/landed immigrants/permanent residents/resettled refugees... that is what matters right now. 10/20

You see the same pattern, over and over. Numbers spike, conservative governments reluctantly put restrictions in place, numbers go down and they gleefully open everything up. Then numbers spike... 11/20

It's not about numbers. It's about people. Every single one of those numbers represents a person. There is no "acceptable death rate" when we have the knowledge and means to contain this virus and snuff it out. 12/20

Now we are going to have Stampede in Calgary, apparently. Why, when outdoor festivals and events are remaining closed across Canada this summer, would the Alberta government be doing this? Good question. 13/20

Meet Chris Fryers, Chairman of the Board for Canada Strong & Free (formerly the Manning Centre). Chris is also the owner of... (drumroll, please)... Stampede Entertainment Inc. 14/20

Chris is a big cheese in Canada's conservative movement. I imagine Stampede is pretty important to his bottom line. And he has friends in high places. More info here: 15/20

https://twitter.com/TheBreakdownAB/status/1386520862480760839?s=20

"Stampede will be held safely" they say. Stampede has never been held safely. 16/20
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

How do the organizers imagine that what is an annual "free-for-all" of sex, booze, and rowdiness is somehow going to be socially-distanced and masked this year? Not all the partying happens at the Stampede grounds. How do they plan to police all the gatherings? 17/20

And, two weeks after Stampede, we will be back on the restrictions rollercoaster. As soon as we exceed whatever number of deaths and hospitalizations the Premier deems "acceptable". 18/20

The conservative premiers like to talk about balancing risk with the economy. What they are doing is balancing lives against financial gains for some. How much is a life worth? Are some lives worth more than others? How do you arrive at a calculus for this? 19/20

We need governments at the provincial level who actually care about constituents, more than they care about their donors & wealthy friends. Half-hearted shutdowns just until the numbers dip is not going to get us out of this. Next chance you get to vote, remember this! 20/20