The Editor,
There's going to be a federal election this fall and I hope people take into consideration our prime minister's skewed priorities.
This great benefactor of ours has committed $120 million to Africa to fight Ebola (this is still not enough, according to the recipients of this largesse) and in September 2014, Stephen Harper committed $200 million earmarked for women and childhood health in developing countries.
I have no problem with Canada doing its part to help Third World countries deal with disease, poverty and the high mortality rate of children. But this shouldn't be done when it puts our own women and children in peril.
What I am referring to is the fact that in the last few weeks, Prime Minister Harper has slashed $10 million from the division of the RCMP that tracks pedophiles using the internet to exploit Canadian children. He has also slashed millions of dollars from a prison program that monitors violent sexual offenders.
Does this man consider our own women and children less worthy of having a safe, healthy life, free from the worry of sexual exploitation and assault? Our children are our most precious commodity. Putting them at risk is unacceptable.
I also find it absurd when he states he is making these cuts of mere millions to help balance a budget while at the same time spending hundreds of millions on foreign programs that have no benefit to Canadians.
Neil Swanson, Coquitlam
