Canada ping!
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Posted on 06/15/2006 9:34:38 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
He may be the prime minister, but Stephen Harper is just an ordinary Canadian when it comes to personal wealth.
Unlike his multimillionaire predecessor, Paul Martin, Harper has no vast holdings in shipping companies or real estate. In fact, according to documents filed with the ethics commissioner, the Conservative PM has no assets or liabilities that would put him in a conflict of interest and no investments or business interests that need to be sold or held in a blind trust.
The only thing the PM declares is a gift is an honorary membership "valued at $500" from the swanky, private Rideau Club that is valid during his term in office.
Most of Harper's cabinet is a rather unremarkable group when it comes to their finances, according to a check of the public registry by Sun Media.
Many declare credit-card bills, mortgages and lines of credit as liabilities, and a few declare family-owned businesses.
"The ordinariness of these guys and girls is refreshing," said David Taras, a University of Calgary communication professor.
He said Harper's middle-class status contrasts sharply to Liberal PMs Jean Chretien and Martin, and Tory Brian Mulroney.
The University of Toronto's Stephen Clarkson, however, said Harper didn't have much choice about the middle-class backgrounds of the people he put in cabinet.
"His is basically a party from the hinterland - from Alberta," the political science prof said.
Clarkson noted the two most successful businessmen sitting around Harper's cabinet table were not elected with his team Jan. 23 because the party couldn't penetrate the big urban centres. Harper appointed Montreal businessman Michael Fortier to the Senate and cabinet, and had to convince Vancouver Liberal David Emerson to switch parties.
Not all of Harper's ministers have escaped background scrutiny. Health Minister Tony Clement has come under fire for owning a 25% equity interest, which he declared, in Prudential Chem, a private drug-manufacturing company.
Three ministers, including Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, have requested deadline extensions from the ethics commissioner to get their personal affairs in order.
Mark my words, Harper is going to transform Canada before he is done.
Canada ping!
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Just one of the Toronto liberal elite (lower case "L" who think that everything important in Canada can be seen from the top of the CN Tower.
Amen to that. Harper's a solidly middleclass guy. He's comfortable, which he has earned through his own merit and his fine work ethic, but he's far from wealthy.
And it gives hope to middle-class Canadians that they too can have a hand in governing their country, or even leading it. A government is for the people, of the people. And Harper exemplifies that. A middle-class Canadian father who cares about the integrity of his government, the prosperity of his country and the security of its people. And I think those are values that we can all agree with.
A very pleasant change after the very wealthy Martin and his very wealthy friend Maurice Strong.
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