So Where is Your Accountability Harper?

Remember back in 2006 when Stephen Harper ran on a platform of transparency and accountability in government? When the Liberals tried to paint him as having a hidden agenda to which he countered the Liberal dominated courts and the Senate would keep him in check? What a pipe dream that was for those who voted for him.

To date, he has run one of the most secretive governments in history and things don’t look to be getting better any time soon. In light of the stunning lack of transparency and accountability that Harper has brought to the House, is it any wonder the Opposition parties are not about to support a spending estimates bill that contains provisions for a $3billion dollar fund which can be spent without accountability until after the fact?

Harper in an not unexpected return to the arrogance of trying to govern as though he has a majority has said the bill will be a confidence motion and failure of the Opposition to support it will provoke an election. Either Harper has decided he doesn’t want to govern any longer and is looking to get his butt kicked out or he’s hoping the coalition will raise its head again and he can divert attention away from his attempt to create a Conservative slush fund.

Now, the bill doesn’t call the $3billion a slush fund but when you want to have access to money to be dispersed without oversight until after the fact, just what does it appear to be? With the Conservative government’s lack of transparency there is no guarantee that there ever will be a complete accounting of the funds. The Liberals are right to refuse to support the measure and to take the chance of provoking an election.

At this point the Liberals are planning on introducing a motion into the House which would:

• require the government to list the departments and programs which will be able to access the funds prior to the funds being approved.
• will require within one sitting day of the funds being approved for the government to inform the House details of where the funds are going, how much is being spent, how the funds will fight the recession and why they are urgent
• will require the information to be posted on to a website to allow public scrutiny

Harper would be well advised to incorporate those provisions into the current supply bill and skip the brinkmanship of wanting the blank cheque. Ignatieff has suggested they talk instead of the partisan threats. Wise suggestion Harper, the people are not blind to your arrogance.

The Liberals also point out there is $3billion of infrastructure spending from last years budget that has not yet been spent. That begs the question, Why? In the current economic situation, infrastructure projects getting underway will stimulate jobs and spending. Sounds to me like Harper doesn’t need a slush fund to get funds moving. Then again, he likely hasn’t found projects in Conservative ridings he can distribute the funds to.

I’m more than a little tired of pork barrel politics, partisan attacks and just plain childish behaviour. If the boy can’t grow up after this long in office it is time he left. Don’t bother costing us another $300million for an election, just resign and get lost. Enough already.

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