In his 2006 Communiqué, former CHP Deputy Leader Mr. Ian Knight wrote, "When I heard Finance Minister Flaherty's recent economic statement...he spoke of 'paying down the national debt like a household mortgage'...I was delighted that at last a federal Finance Minister has addressed the problem of long-term debt..." Mr. Knight was, of course, accurately drawing our readers attention to the fact that the newly elected Conservative Government was promising to implement a long standing CHP policy which states "The National Debt must be treated like a national 'mortgage.'" Now it's been four years and reviewing the Conservative's promised mortgage national debt repayment plan is not as promising as we would have hoped--in fact it's dismal, and the debt is skyrocketing. This month's edition of the Fraser Institute on public policy states that even though the government has indicated that they will be sticking to their plan to provide no further stimulus, there is in fact "No end in sight." The article went on to say: ·        "The Conservative government plans to continue what it has been doing for the past four years, spend, spend, and spend." · ·        "Another important recent study...by University of Maryland...and Harvard University...found much of the same: persistent deficits propel public debt to levels that impede economic growth." That's right! The deceptively 'unconservative' Conservative's are (as the experts confirm) impeding economic growth, not stimulating it! It's time that fiscal Canadians wake up to the fact that Mr. Harper's economic plan is 100% self-serving. It's about power regardless the expense to Canadians. Tragically, the national debt is also theft. Our children and grandchildren will have to pay for this bribery to buy votes today, and with his background in economics, Mr. Harper understands this well. Looking back at another Communiqué, on September 11, 2007, former CHP Leader Ron Gray wrote: "Since the Harper minority government was elected a year-and-a-half ago, some people have said, 'You shouldn't criticize the Conservatives. At least they're better than the Liberals!'" Of those that gave Mr. Gray flak then, I wonder how many today are still singing that tune. After all, even the not-so-politically-astute can see that the Conservatives have become the new stronger Liberal Party in Canada, which also helps explain the neck-in-neck three way liberal race which will end in yet another minority government. Mr. Knight's closing statement in that November 2006 Communiqué could not have been more accurately stated: "So, while we're giving credit and appreciate Mr. Flaherty for putting legs under our policy initiative, we should also recognize that the only way to ensure that such policies get properly implemented is to begin electing the CHP candidates who introduced those policies..." Unfortunately, most did not heed this excellent advice and today 'Hoperites' must own up (however humbling it may be) that they themselves are responsible for this economic mess they continued to vote for. I'd like to educate so-called conservatives who often suggest the CHP does not have a fiscal policy. The fact is, many people who are joining our party are doing so because they have come to realize that we have, and have had, the best conservative fiscal policies in Canada--bar none! People are destroyed for lack of knowledge! What's tomorrow's excuse