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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Harper Conservatives enhance right to ski, keeping the tradition of big government alive
I make a point of criticizing government spending whenever I come across it. I do this because virtually nobody else does, except maybe the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, and because I take seriously the idea of limited government. It’s not enough for government to be small; to be just, it must be limited so as not to trespass on private affairs. Libertarians typically support what Harvard philosopher Robert Nozick called the “night-watchman” state, one confined to functions involving the police, the military and the courts.
My vigilance to this mission of limited government has produced critical reports on handouts to pork producers, blueberry farmers and a small agri-business to name a few. But these cases of corporate welfare are admittedly insignificant in the context of a $229-billion federal budget, prompting some to call my efforts a petty crusade.
I had my critics in mind when I read news on Friday that the Harper Conservatives will give a Quebec ski resort $50,000 to undertake renovations to make its chalet accessible to people with disabilities. The announcement was made by none other than Maxime Bernier, a favourite MP among libertarians.
“Our government is breaking down barriers and improving accessibility across the country to improve the quality of life for Canadians with disabilities,” said Bernier. “With this investment, the social and cultural activities of Loisirs et culture de Sainte-Aurélie will be accessible to all members of the community, including people with disabilities.”
The organization is receiving $50,000 from the federal Enabling Accessibility Fund to help it remove physical barriers by enlarging entrances, installing ramps and making washrooms accessible.
Improving the quality of life for people with disabilities is a noble cause, but the never ending list of noble causes attended to by government is why we have big government and high taxes. Furthermore, as I wrote here, it is much better for the national character for these causes to be supported privately. This is a view advocated best by author and researcher Marvin Olasky:
Olasky has dedicated a lifetime of academic research and writing to critical analysis of the welfare state, which Olasky argues is ineffective because faceless government bureaucracies alienate taxpayers from the poor, while “private charity has the power to change lives because it allows for a personal connection between the giver and the recipient.”
The only way to foster private charitable giving and corporate social responsibility, however, is to lower taxes and divest the government of welfare state functions – functions like making ski resorts wheel chair accessible. That isn’t happening under the Harper Conservatives, and it certainly won’t happen should any of the other mainstream parties form government.
The Enabling Accessibility Fund is a $45-million, three-year federal commitment to improve accessibility across Canada. The Fund is designed to help people with "varying abilities" in everyday life activities.
The government’s support for people with disabilities doesn’t end with this $45 million commitment though. Canada’s Economic Action Plan and other recent federal initiatives also address the needs of people with disabilities and their families through measures that include:
$1 billion for social housing energy retrofits and renovations that increase accessibility, including renovations that support people with disabilities;
$400 million over two years for the construction of new social housing for seniors, including seniors with disabilities;
an additional $75 million over two years for the construction of new social housing units specifically for people with disabilities;
$20 million per year for two years to improve the accessibility of federally owned buildings;
The government spending here quickly adds up to serious money, and a serious burden on taxpayers. Yet opposing this spending would be nothing short of political suicide.
So where does this leave advocates of limited government?
(Picture: Maxime Bernier)
Posted by Matthew Johnston
Posted by Western Standard on July 11, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
Better to have a disappointing Harper government than a thoroughly inept and corrupt one run by Iggy, Taliban Jack, and Betty May the Sellout who would destroy everyone outside of Ontario to keep Ontario going.
I do like the recent announcement for new armored vehicles for the Army. Good job guys. Chretien's reign of error is being erased - second worst PM Canada ever had, second only to The Evil One himself.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-07-11 7:37:43 AM
Why are people who need, "enlarging entrances, installing ramps and making washrooms accessible" going to a ski chalet? If you need these things, you probably shouldn't be skiing, that would seem to be a task that requires more complex motor skills than a disabled person would possess. Maybe they're going out to the chalet with family members who ski. Thats actually cruel if you think about it. Going to a family resort, for a family activity, that not every family member can participate in. This spending is not just wasteful, its downright stupid.
Posted by: Sam T | 2009-07-11 8:27:45 AM
It might not be such a stupid idea, if this is only a first step. They could designate a couple of runs for handicapped people as well. They could hire some specially trained instructors, and build some sleds for the handicapped customers.
I'm not a skier. I have other ways to get an adrenaline rush, but I know why people enjoy the sport. For a handicapped person, this would be an even greater rush. Beside being a great service, this could turn into a profitable business.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-11 9:31:58 AM
Matthew, I agree, with everything you wrote.
Posted by: Scott Carnegie | 2009-07-11 10:02:03 AM
dp - sounds to me like you might be the first to invest.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2009-07-11 10:30:46 AM
The Romans used the Circus to distract and gain favour with the people, and we have this. Sam is right that this defies reason, but again how many times have I seen government spending to make places accessible for the handicapped where there are no handicapped and the handicapped never go. But again, as long as we have corporate welfare, who is to say who gets it and who does not...
Posted by: Alain | 2009-07-11 11:03:33 AM
Scott, once our numbers swell to a dozen, I say we hit the wheel chair-accessible barricades.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2009-07-11 11:10:48 AM
"make places accessible for the handicapped where there are no handicapped and the handicapped never go."
Alain- Do you realize this part of your comment could be pasted into the proposal for funding?
MJ- I won't be investing in the project. I don't fit in with the ski crowd.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-11 11:37:03 AM
What if we make it full contact skiing? Think about it for a bit.
UFC 100 tonight.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2009-07-11 11:50:14 AM
MJ- I finally went to a live MMA event. Talk about a tough looking audience! Not your typical sports fans.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-11 12:37:38 PM
Matthew: I will be watching UFC 100 tonight.
I watched Dana White on TSN yesterday. Dana predicted that Ontario will make MMA legal in a year. He predicted a UFC in Toronto next year.
He said Canada is the mecca for MMA. He said he didn't expect it when he started, that he was deeply surprised. But it's true.
I'm rooting for George "Rush" St. Pierre. He has been my favourite for years. Can't wait.
Posted by: P.M. Jaworski | 2009-07-11 12:48:24 PM
GSP has a good chance. Ignore the hype over his opponent. GSP is just as strong, and more athletic.
I hope Mir stops Lesnar. I don't like overnight sensations. Lesner is like the Kalan Porter of MMA. Experience should count for something.
Please let Dan Henderson beat Bisping. I'd like to believe that being an asshole doesn't improve your fighting skills.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-11 3:52:38 PM
St-Pierre will dedicated his fight to Arturo Gatti tonight, according to local reporters in contact with Rush.
it's a sad moment.
*
I personnally beleive Harper is funding the ski resort in order to help his old buddy gaining in popularity; a thing he lost in one of the last conservatives' scandal. Like if people will sundently feel the need to beleive Biker chicks Bernier can acheive things for the good of Québecers. Only ZP beleive the CPC is any different than the Libs on any levels.
Posted by: Marc | 2009-07-11 4:05:20 PM
Your use of the now dated term "Harper Conservatives" betrays your motives, Matthew. It's what the Liberals and the media used to call Harper before he went on to become the best PM we've ever had.
It's not like Canada doesn't have a Libertarian party, they even used to advertise at the WS. Join them. You've admitted you are trying to infiltrate the CPC, none of your posters are conservative, or Conservative, so consider giving up the game. You hate conservatives and Conservatives more than most declared Liberals I've seen, it's amusing how you bill this site as, and I quote, Canada's conservative-libertarian publication of record. It's not.
You're a collection of immature leftists and single issue drug glorifiers trying to pose as something else and not succeeding. Very thin skinned poseurs, I might add, not able to take criticism.
Every time you use the term "Harper Conservatives" you admit you are a leftist. The budget is substanitally more that $229-billion by the way, you don't even have figures right. To pick out a 50,000 expenditure, instead of going after something like the $4 billion pay equity claim just isn't very intelligent.
Posted by: Fair Commenter | 2009-07-11 6:36:00 PM
"it's a sad moment"
I agree, Marc. Compared to Gatti, GSP is a snot nosed punk. He'd have to stand on his momma's knee, just to kiss Gatti's ass.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-11 6:48:18 PM
Actually, I made that last comment in anger. That's not how I really feel.
It's really a pleasant surprise to know there's at least one guy in Quebec with some class.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-11 7:00:24 PM
dp,
Speaking of class...
*
GSP and Gatti where friends and Gatti, my favortite boxer of all time, died in brazil so St-Pierre will dedicate tonight's fight to his friend. It will also boost him against alves.
Anyway, 30 min. to go.
Enjoy the fight, a$$hole.
Posted by: Marc | 2009-07-11 7:36:53 PM
Sorry Marc, I misunderstood your comment. I hadn't heard the news about Gatti, and thought you were putting him down.
Posted by: dp | 2009-07-11 11:14:40 PM
And lets not forget all the money Harper himself personally shovelled into snowmobile trails this past winter. From ski hills to gay parades to snowmobile trails to flying bananas there is nothing so trivial that these "free market" conservatives are not willing to subsidize.
Posted by: Farmer Joe | 2009-07-12 8:52:20 AM
The federal government dabbles in provincial and in this case, local government turf on a regular basis. It comes from the lack of respect for jurisdiction and the concept of subsidiarity (Gordon Gibson's term), the overwhelming lust for vote-buying and a natural consequence of the successive creation of numerous and ridiculous federal Ministries that would make Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks seem normal. Local governments, a subsidiary of provincial governments now grovel directly at the federal trough. At the height of his municipal career, Jack Layton was the chief groveller, as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Posted by: John Chittick | 2009-07-12 11:51:03 AM
The media and the people need to keep an eye on how money is being spent other wise it will get even worse. I miss Harper in the reform party its very surprising to see what he has become looking back on what he wrote and did back then.
Posted by: Calgary Libertarian | 2009-07-12 2:11:43 PM
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