For Canada's Women...

Consider carefully when Harper won't include a full range of women's health options on the world stage ... apparently at the urging of Canada's religious right wing.

Remember that this is the same man under whose governance cutbacks have disproportionately affected women - both socially and economically.

Harper, and the extremists in the ReformaTory base, would happily dial Canada's society back to pre-WW II era social structures - where women were treated essentially as doormats.

The "anti-abortion" movement is is more about regulating women's sexuality than it is anything else. These same people are also actively opposing contraceptives and comprehensive sex education. All of which are part of ensuring that a woman is able to control her fertility.

If Harper is unwilling to present a comprehensive platform on the world stage, can you imagine what he'd do in Canada if he wasn't constrained by the limitations of a minority parliament?

The G&M Points Out What I've Said For Years

... ever since Harper was first elected, actually:

If a leader in such a strong position feels such a strong need to obtain a majority, it must be that he somehow still feels constrained by his minority situation. It must be that Mr. Harper wishes to do something that he knows would be intolerable even to such a weak opponent as Mr. Ignatieff.

Unlike Mr. Gobeil, I'm pretty sure I know what Mr. Harper wants to do to Canada - and it isn't pretty.

Harper still has to satisfy the squirming wingnuts that he's really their brand of conservative - which means if you are either female, or you belong to a minority that the wingnuts despise, you can expect things to change dramatically.

As for fiscally, remember that Harper is in bed with Bush II-styled NeoCons. Expect him to go after choking Canada's government as hard as he can.