Category Archives: democracy and good government

100 Days of Harper ‘Tude

conservative party, democracy and good government, energy, trade

Today marked the Harper government’s 100th day in power. I wanted to put together a tear-jerking slow-motion thanks-for-the-memories-style video montage, but ran out of time. I’ll try and be more organized for day 200.

Instead, it looks like Harper’s team has decided to mark the occasion in their own way. There was no shortage of eye-catching news today, including:

  • Emerson admitted he’s given up on free trade
  • The government flat-out canceled EnerGuide
  • The government censored details regarding Dingwall’s resignation (the same details they’d demanded the Liberals release)

Also, I think you should know that we’re dangerously close to losing the banana. I’m not saying I can pin this one directly on Harper, but I will say this: when we lose bananas, we’re going to get angry (avoiding obvious pun), and we’re going to blame somebody. At least, I know I will. The PM’s PR people should start working on this one now.

That was then…

democracy and good government

Newsflash: I don’t disagree with everything Stephen Harper says. For example, in 2002 Harper wrote that “standing committees of the House should not simply be extensions of the Prime Minister’s Office, and members of Parliament should choose their committee chairs by secret ballot and set their own agenda.”

Bang on! I couldn’t agree more. The centralization of power only leads to corruption and opacity. Harper was ahead of his time, actually. The Gomery report would later note that “there has been an increasing concentration of power in the Prime Minister’s Office,” and that many Canadians believe that the structures of power should ensure that “no one single individual, such as the Prime Minister, can influence by appointment the decisions of others.” Go Harper go!

Except that now that he’s the PM, he’s changed his mind. The Globe and Mail reports that Harper is, “choosing which Conservative MPs will become chairs of Commons committees, reversing a parliamentary reform that he championed while leader of the Official Opposition.” Oh well, so much for priority number one.

And who gets to benefit from the Prime Minister’s first committee chair appointment? Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott, who the Globe notes is best known for frequently issuing anti-abortion press releases.

Bush Baby vs. Hillier

climate crisis, conservative party, democracy and good government

The man Robin Williams calls a Bush Baby has told yet another person they’re not allowed to speak publicly. Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier now joins Conservative MPs, cabinet ministers, people who use cell phones in meetings, and an Environment Canada scientist who believes in global warming on the list of people who aren’t allowed to talk without checking with the PM first.

Seriously, how long is this list going to get? And how far down is my name?

Real Transparency and Accountability

democracy and good government

Listen, there are lots of things I find disturbing about this government’s performance so far. Seriously. Lots and lots. But nothing upsets me more than the way they’ve attempted to shut-out and manipulate the media, or those who disagree with them.

This is the one issue that all of us, regardless of partisan leanings, should be able to get behind. Even if you support the Conservative government, you still need to know what they’re up to.

And remember, this government was elected, above all, on a promise of transparency and accountability; as in, transparent and accountable to us. The news media, regardless of its faults, is our number one source for information on what’s going on in government.

(As a side note, during the last election campaign my communist opponent loved to opine at all-candidates meetings that “Stephen Harper is the face of George W. Bush in this country.” It’s not the most accurate statement that’s ever been spoken, but it’s a great way to get applause from a Toronto crowd. Try it some time. Anyway, the point is that this move to control the media reminds me more of the Bush White House than anything else Harper’s done so far.)

We need our government to open up. Let ministers and MPs speak their minds; hold frequent press conferences; give reporters full access. Of course, if we do that, we’re also going to need to learn to be more forgiving of politicians who talk like normal people. And bloggers who write longwinded ranty diatribes.