Canadian conservatives

Re: So- cons have a role to play, Charles Lewis, Feb. 7

I want to thank Charles Lewis for his contribution to the recent conversation about the central role community has played in the story of Canada and Canadian conservatism.

He highlights the positive contribution conservatives can make to the development of “compassionate” social policies that would enrich the lives of all Canadians facing increasing problems complicated by the stresses of modern life and exacerbated by a culture of individualism and isolationism that too often seems to have forgotten the benefits of family and community support in dealing with, and even preventing and solving, problems that end up affecting the entire Canadian community.

In focusing on two of the so- called hot- button issues, abortion and euthanasia, Lewis suggests that Conservatives in drafting their new policy directions can find common ground in the idea of compassionate communities that offer meaningful support for mothers and excellent palliative care for the sick and the elderly.

I would suggest that the benefit of developing a social policy that focuses on supporting the life and well- being of communities, neighbourhoods, and families offers a rich perspective for innovative and exciting policy solutions for most of our country’s current problems including those facing the poor, the infirm, the elderly, refugees, the homeless, and the Indigenous; as well as our relationship with our global neighbours and the environment, our “common home.”

Compassionate social policies that empower the Canadian people to assume some of the responsibility of caring for one another, especially the most vulnerable — from the elderly to the homeless to our environment — would offer a new and powerful vision that could help unite us in this polarized world.

M. T. Murphy, Oakville, Ont.

Re: Make social mobility key Tory causes, Sean Speer, Feb. 8

Over the last several weeks, the National Post has published a series of articles on what conservatism should be in Canada. In the meantime, Confederation itself is failing. We have been broken into complaining parts in the West and East, each identifying why Confederation is not working for them.

Alberta, restrained by the federal government and Quebec in its attempt to develop and then market its oil and gas in Canada and elsewhere and once a proud contributing partner in Confederation, is fast becoming a beggar in need of a handout. Our Maritime provinces, their GNP suffering from an aging and otherwise shrinking population and neighbouring provincial trade barriers require a new federal vision to survive.

Conservatives today have a new opportunity to speak powerfully to Confederation, to re-imagine, create, and then, when able, to enforce national policies that will support the aspirations of Canada’s constituent parts, integrating economic needs as originally envisioned by our founders and now desperately required.

But, of course, this would mean a new commitment to a Canada that works for all and the abandoning of the current counter- Confederation agendas of many who seem to care little, if at all, about the ultimate survival of our country.

Can conservative thinkers afford not to take up this challenge today?

Ron Hoffman, Toronto, Ont.