I admired Jack Layton for his sincerity, although I have never voted for the federal NDP.
I am admittedly centre-left. Unfortunately, we don't have party of like in BC.
But Layton was so stupid when the somewhat inept Paul Martin was Prime Minister.
Sure, there was the "sponsorship" scandal, but Martin was clear of it and it was prior to him anyway. He also set in motion an inquiry into the affair.
At the time, the Liberals were a minority government, propped up by the NDP who were getting some of what they wanted as a result.
With the scandal, Layton got greedy, and tried to force the Liberals to pass legislation too much to the left. Martin had no choice but to call for a vote of confidence.
For sure, by voting with the Conservatives to bring down the Liberal government, Layton guaranteed a Harper government. No chance of NDP forming one.
Now, we've had Harper after Harper governments. Killing democracy by muzzling, destroying information, and stonewalling. Ah, the list of bad government goes on and on.
Decriminalizing prostitution is a difficult pill for the government to swallow, even though civic regulation would help to ensure safety, health, off-the-streets, tax dollars.
Putting aside the obviously unacceptable trafficked, coerced, drugged, etc. arrangements, by far most paid sex is a consensual matter, service for money, and the woman is mistress of her body.
The feds have big brother control fixed in their minds, with an antiquated morality. I don't expect much from the other parties, either. This new law will go to the Supreme Court again.... needlessly.
