LETTERS TO THE EDITOR...Harper an improvement in PM's office

Dear editor, In response to David Eagleson's blatant partisan rant (MP must step up to maintain public's trust, March 29). Perhaps Mr. Eagleson, you have not been seeing the big picture or are unaware of facts surrounding David Emerson's appointment to cabinet. Just prior to the election on Jan 23, Mr. Emerson was negotiating a deal with the U.S. to end the softwood lumber tariffs. By Harper appointing Emerson to cabinet, he accomplished two things--- he ensured continuity of the softwood discussions to allow return of the surcharge fees (some $5 billion) and he also filled a hole in his cabinet for B.C. urban representation. Likewise, Harper appointed Michael Fortier to serve as his Quebec urban cabinet representative. These were brave, innovative moves. Emerson could flip back to vote with the Liberals in a non-confidence motion and Fortier provides no house voting advantage to Harper's minority government, however, it runs deep to providing regional representation and good governance. And isn't that what it's all about Mr. Eagleson? Good governance? Harper has shown himself to be a man of honour, something lacking at 24 Sussex for more than 38 years. I am again proud to be a Canadian. In his first few days in office Harper's government has: · dropped support for terrorist organizations such as Hamas · put the Tiger Tamils on notice that their activities in Canada will not be tolerated · pledged to scrap wasteful crony pocket-lining exercises such as the gun registry and national child care. (Are you aware that the Liberal child care program was designed to cost $47,500/per child per year? Where was that money coming from and where was it going?) · Harper has visited and stayed with our troops fighting global terrorism in its homeland. While Harper will never be a Churchill, F.D.R. or Pearson, I am convinced he will govern well, and honestly-- far better that we have experienced in the past three decades! Don Dagenais, Georgetown