Posts Tagged by parliament
Will You Rise Up for Canada?
| 4/17/2011 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Finally, I’m hearing what has been frustrating me. Throughout this campaign I’ve been astounded that more and more Canadians are not becoming aware of just how badly we need to restore democracy in this country. I’ve wondered how so many can be presented with the evidence of Harper’s contempt for our system and just let it roll off them as they decide they don’t want Michael Ignatieff so they will just let Harper carry on.
I hear the cynicism that ‘they’ (the politicians) are all the same and nothing will change. We wont know unless we vote out the bad and replace him with someone else. Just because Harper has worked to develop a teflon exterior which allows him to tell lies and distortions one after another without consequences doesn’t make him right or believable.
I’ve been a political junkie most of my adult life and I’ve never seen a Prime Minister like this one and I never want to see one like him again. It’s bad enough he came to office promising a new era of transparency and accountability and failed to deliver. It’s unbelievable that he’s been allowed to remain in office for 5 years in the most closed, secretive and dictatorial environment I have ever seen. (more…)
In Case the Liberals are Wondering…
| 7/13/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Just so I’m transparent here, I am currently a Liberal supporter. I became one when Ignatieff became leader because I believe, notwithstanding my previous disapproval of him, that he had improved his performance and might just be a good leader for the Liberals.
In the intervening time, I have to admit, I have sure wondered about that decision. I know for certainty that Harper would never get my support, nor would Bob Rae. I am extremely unlikely to support Layton or the NDP. I have to admit to noticing that inspite his having to take time to battle with cancer these last few months, he sure manages to speak up about things Canadians are concerned about.
I want to not only hear that out of Ignatieff, I want him to mean it. In order for him to mean it, he can’t just shoot from the hip, he needs to do enough background to know he can carry through on what he’s saying. (more…)
Father calls for Canada to finish mission
| 5/15/2010 | Posted by Patti under Afghanistan, Canadian News, Canadian Politics |
Just two days away from returning safely home, Pvt. Kevin McKay was on patrol in Afghanistan on Thursday. In an instant his life ended. Instead of returning home to a party, he will be returned to his family for a funeral. He is the 144th Canadian to die on this mission.
The father of this brave young Canadian has looked past his own grief to call on our government to stay the course in Afghanistan. He’s calling on the government not to set an end date but to set obtainable objectives and stay until they’re finished. He’s calling for the objective to be the training of the Afghan army and police.
Pvt McKay’s father is a deputy fire chief in Toronto. Firefighters in Toronto and along the Highway Of Heroes all understand the cost of this war, they have been a strong presence on every overpass between Trenton and Toronto every time Canadian soldiers are repatriated. I understand the cost of this war. I weep privately for our fallen and then join the firefighters on the bridges. (more…)
Opposition Goes After the Stalling
| 3/23/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Every now and again it becomes necessary for those elected to conduct the business of our democracy to be reminded of who they are supposed to represent. The people elect a Parliament who then forms a government and an official opposition based on which party received the most seats.
This seems like a pretty basic principle to know and to understand. The Prime Minister is subject to the will of Parliament, who is subject to the will of the people. When the Opposition parties voted on a motion back in December ordering the government to produce unredacted documents pertaining to the detainee issue, the response should have been pretty straightforward in adherence with the basic principle of Parliament.
The government has tried to throw a blanket claim of ‘national security’ around the affair and are refusing to release the documents. They didn’t even bother trying to go through the motions of trying to reach an agreement with the majority vote, they just stonewalled and then Harper prorogued the House.
Eventually the birds have to come home to roost and Parliament had to reconvene. Harper seemed to think that the December motion would be ignored, the Opposition rendered unable or unwilling to act. He’s wrong. Last Thursday the Liberals, followed by the NDP and the Bloc, rose to call on the Speaker of the House to rule on the motion. They have motions of their own which could lead to the Government being found in contempt of Parliament. (more…)
Playing Games With Democracy
| 3/18/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
On Tuesday Parliament passed a motion which would ban the practise of MPs sending ’10 percenters” into ridings of other MPs. The motion was initiated by the Liberals and solidly opposed by the Conservatives. The final call on the motion will be made by the Board of Internal Economy, the secretive committee charged with controlling the spending on the Hill.
The government’s response to the motion is that they consider it to be ‘non-binding’. Excuse me? Is Parliament supposed to reflect the will of the people or doesn’t it? Who the blazes is paying those clowns than the people?
Parliament has spoken, therefore neither the government nor the internal board of economy should have any option but to comply. (more…)
How Much Is This Conservative Stall Going to Cost?
| 3/15/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Back in December the majority of Parliament ordered the government to produce in their entirety the documents related to the Afghan detainee issue. Harper made clear he was going to defy that order and went so far as to prorogue Parliament in order to try to squash the issue.
He claimed the prorogue was to recalibrate the government’s direction and agenda. Having since seen that ‘recalibration’ via the Throne Speech and the budget, I don’t think anyone really truly believes the government did anything but stall and enjoy the Olympics.
So, parliament returns and in order to further flip the bird at the supremacy of parliament Harper, through his minion Rob Nicholson (Minister of Justice), is stalling by appointing respected jurist Frank Iacobucci to review the documents and rule if the documents are able to be released or not. (more…)
Some Thoughts on Democratic Reform
| 1/22/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Having spent some time exploring through the discussions at the Facebook page Canadians Against Proroguing Government I have noticed many of the discussions have centered around the participants view on democratic reform. In view of Harper’s rather disturbing abuse of our parliamentary system, this is pretty understandable.
In the other Westminster style parliamentary systems throughout the world, no evidence has been found of abuse equalling what Harper has carried out with impunity. It appears for many Canadians that has been a wake up call to them to pay attention to what our governments are doing and excess liberties a Prime Minister takes.
It has been interesting reading some of the opinions and ideas expressed on the CAPP page about democratic reform. It has sparked me to think through my own opinions on the subject.
Education
Yes, education is top on my list. The majority of people I’ve spoken to tell me they didn’t receive any education in how our government runs when they were in school unless they chose to take a course in high school. My American friends tell me a half year Civics course is mandatory in the first year of high school. That’s an idea which I believe has merit.
One element which has allowed Harper to abuse our democratic process is his ability to distort perceptions with the public. Let’s use last year’s prorogation as an example. (more…)
Haiti Becomes Harper’s “Relief”
| 1/19/2010 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Since I believe in giving credit where credit is due, Harper has responded decisively to the crisis in Haiti by sending our troops and resources into the area to assist with aid and security. He was able to do this in a timely manner, the first flights arrived in Haiti on Wednesday, because of one other task he undertook after coming to office. He moved to properly equip our Canadian Armed Force so they can get the job done. There is still work to do but much has been done.
In his more pragmatic, cunning moments since last Tuesday he must be breathing some huge sighs of relief. He was taking some serious heat from the public and the polls over his decision to shut down Parliament for the second time in a year. That must have been hard on him, after he and his minions pontificating that neither the Afghan detainee issue nor the proroguing of Parliament were even on Canadians radar. (more…)
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