I was saving this for a good time to post – now seems to be good
see: Tor Star, "Big brains better than big names", James Travers, Dec 18, 2008 04:30 AM, http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/555601)
Appointed senate for ‘life’ was intended to free senators from partisan politics and to have highly qualified people as opposed to those who are popular or long time party supporters
Senate is according to number of seats for each province
Custom has developed that Senate does not exercise ‘veto’ powers since not elected so limited to review and debate Change to have the province appoint representatives, selected on merit in various areas of activity, the choice procedure to be conducted open and transparently (not necessarily a committee review, not necessarily an election) with strong protocol against partisan choices.
If the term of appointment must be limited then at least 12-16 years with appointments staggered either every four year or six years to avoid large % during one party reign in government adding partisanship and undue bias towards any particular transient socio-economic trends
Number of committees established in various areas of important societal activities - e.g. children; poverty, housing, etc.; minorities; aboriginal and first nations; human rights & charter of rights; law and order, security; science – impact and development; environment; various aspects of economy – domestic, international; population growth including immigration; inter-provincial affairs; taxes; health care; culture; international affairs; (at least one for each department and Ministry of the federal government) etc. Senators appointed based on their expertise in one of these areas to serve on that committee. Each province holds a seat on each committee (or possibly two seats). Committees to deal pro-actively on the various issues as well as review of legislation with sufficient powers to initiate and conduct a review even to the point of a full blown commission. Committees open, transparent and accessible. Parliament may request such a committee and each piece of legislation subject to some kind of review and bound to consider the committee reports in open and transparent fashion.
Example:
“public benefit” products, sectors – there is a need in a segment of the population that is compelling but this need is not being taken care of by the private sector, for whatever reason for exampled, either because chances of a profit are not high enough to motivate the private sector such as too expensive to develop and the segment benefited is too small or regulations on private industry cause too long a delay in bringing to market; as well as, strategic products, simply too important to Canadian for economic, health , or whatever other reasons, that there is a public benefit in direct involvement.
Basic problems with turning to private companies to due research and take products to the market place for “public benefit” products is that they may not be profitable.
For example, pharmaceuticals are reducing the amount of research for antibiotics because of their infrequent use in the population, so can spend 100’s of million in research and never recoup it. Canada establish programs to either set up facilities to do the research or fund existing private companies.
Whenever some breakthrough in research is announced it is always followed up with “George Murphy, a study co-author and chief of dermatopathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said this proves the principle that specifically targeting and attacking cancer stem cells can work. The next step is to see if the same strategy will work in humans, he said, adding new melanoma treatment will likely be years down the road.” (See Scientists slow cancer's growth, By destroying stem cells that drive tumour's expansion, melanoma can be controlled http://www.thestar.com/living/article/294901Jan 17, 2008 04:30 AM)
Or “it will be 10 years, etc.”
If it that important then why 10 years, presumably due to costs, perhaps the regulations can be adjusted to facilitate research, but maintain safety.
Environmental research, …,
Senate committees to identify these “public benefit” products and make recommendations, then mechanism for their approval and investment
18 December, 2008
06 December, 2008
- Letter to the Liberal Party Executive Regarding Electing a New Leader
Here is the E-mail to Doug Ferguson and Greg Fergus, of the Liberal Executive in the morning of 5 Dec. regarding this issue. I have yet to receive a response.
. . .
We do not know what Harper and the Governor General talked about and whether the Governor General simply followed Harper’s advise or whether she put some kind of conditions on it.
Simply following Harper’s advise, of course, suggest strongly to me, that if Harper is defeated in a vote of non-confidence at the end of January, the Governor General will follow his advise to dissolve Parliament and call an election.
Also, if she simply followed his advise to prorogue without any kind of qualification to him, then what is to stop him from advising another prorogueing of parliament in January, assuming he calls to reconvene Parliament.
If the Governor General put conditions like “You get one chance to do something, if you come to me at the end of January after a vote of non-confidence I will invite the Opposition to form a government” then all Canadians ought to be told. For obvious reasons Harper would be highly motivated to keep this secret.
I would demand that he give an accurate and substantively complete outline of what was said, except I have no confidence in him to do so in a truthful manner.
Electing a New Leader of the Liberal Party Immediately
I am sure that many people feel that if there is a showdown with Harper and the Conservatives, if Dion is leader of the Liberal party it will be a disaster. This is especially true if there is an election called in late January.
If Dion remains leader, there will, obviously, be a very strong motivation for Liberal MP’s to abstain from any confidence vote until May when the new leader is elected. . That would be a path disastrous to our country and the Liberal Party.
For these reasons, and as suggested by David Herle, yesterday, we must have a new leader by the time Parliament is reconvenes at the end of January.
It is not feasible to move up the convention to mid January, obviously.
That is why I am proposing that the Liberal Party hold a general vote, by all members. This, it is submitted, could, especially given modern technology, quite feasible to arrange by mid January. If a Canada wide general election can be held within 35 days of being called, so too, can a Liberal Party election.
If the Liberal Party Constitution cannot be satisfied within this kind of time frame; then, certainly upon the vote being tallied Mr. Dion could step down as leader and the Executive appoint the person elected as “interim” leader until that person, man or woman, can be formally confirmed as leader in satisfaction of the Liberal Party Constitution. [Clarification: The mechanism for this - the choices in this vote would be from the existing candidates in the leadership race and when one is “elected” in this fashion, the other would withdraw from the race. Then, the convention would be an “Acclimation”.]
I would certainly be quite willing to pass up my Christmas and News Years to assist in this.
Below (or refer to my Blog: http://cicblog.com/comments.html) is a copy of my comment on Broadbent’s Statements in the G&M this morning (I also submitted (as of this E-mail it hasn’t appeared) a portion (in bold) to the CTV article “Huge job losses in Ont. push up unemployment rate”, CTV.ca, Dec. 5 2008
W. Lloyd MacIlquham, B.Sc., M.Sc., J.D.
Barrister and Solicitor
*****************
Ed Broadbent has always belonged to a party I have never been able to support.
However, I cannot recall any time the Party I support (Liberal) or any other party questioned his sincerity, dedication and integrity.
Never have I heard, in my recollection, anyone whether publicly or in private discussion accuse him of the things that he has laid out in this commentary, let alone present the facts to support such accusations.
Ed Braodbent can stand up proudly as to how he has served our country over many years. Previously as a fierce competitor in the House of Commons and now as a Statesman for Canada. The NDP can also point to a proud History (despite my not agreeing with them all the time).
I say to you, Harper can not! And; the Conservative Party can not!
Now to add more support to Mr.Braodbent’s statements:
71,000 jobs lost in November, 66,000 in Ontario.
Now we know why Harper went to the Governor General yesterday as opposed to today or Monday!
The likelihood of this being a co-incidence is to me remote. Harper had to have know these facts before he went to advise the Governor General.
Harper has refused to discuss what was said.
So, we can only wonder if he advised her that he next day the job rates for November would be announced and be so strikingly brutal.
I would demand that he give an accurate and substantively complete outline of what was said, except I have no confidence in him to do so in a truthful manner.
What a sad commentary on the person who calls himself ‘Canada’s Prime Minister’.
God save us, God save Canada
Lloyd MacIlquham
. . .
We do not know what Harper and the Governor General talked about and whether the Governor General simply followed Harper’s advise or whether she put some kind of conditions on it.
Simply following Harper’s advise, of course, suggest strongly to me, that if Harper is defeated in a vote of non-confidence at the end of January, the Governor General will follow his advise to dissolve Parliament and call an election.
Also, if she simply followed his advise to prorogue without any kind of qualification to him, then what is to stop him from advising another prorogueing of parliament in January, assuming he calls to reconvene Parliament.
If the Governor General put conditions like “You get one chance to do something, if you come to me at the end of January after a vote of non-confidence I will invite the Opposition to form a government” then all Canadians ought to be told. For obvious reasons Harper would be highly motivated to keep this secret.
I would demand that he give an accurate and substantively complete outline of what was said, except I have no confidence in him to do so in a truthful manner.
Electing a New Leader of the Liberal Party Immediately
I am sure that many people feel that if there is a showdown with Harper and the Conservatives, if Dion is leader of the Liberal party it will be a disaster. This is especially true if there is an election called in late January.
If Dion remains leader, there will, obviously, be a very strong motivation for Liberal MP’s to abstain from any confidence vote until May when the new leader is elected. . That would be a path disastrous to our country and the Liberal Party.
For these reasons, and as suggested by David Herle, yesterday, we must have a new leader by the time Parliament is reconvenes at the end of January.
It is not feasible to move up the convention to mid January, obviously.
That is why I am proposing that the Liberal Party hold a general vote, by all members. This, it is submitted, could, especially given modern technology, quite feasible to arrange by mid January. If a Canada wide general election can be held within 35 days of being called, so too, can a Liberal Party election.
If the Liberal Party Constitution cannot be satisfied within this kind of time frame; then, certainly upon the vote being tallied Mr. Dion could step down as leader and the Executive appoint the person elected as “interim” leader until that person, man or woman, can be formally confirmed as leader in satisfaction of the Liberal Party Constitution. [Clarification: The mechanism for this - the choices in this vote would be from the existing candidates in the leadership race and when one is “elected” in this fashion, the other would withdraw from the race. Then, the convention would be an “Acclimation”.]
I would certainly be quite willing to pass up my Christmas and News Years to assist in this.
Below (or refer to my Blog: http://cicblog.com/comments.html) is a copy of my comment on Broadbent’s Statements in the G&M this morning (I also submitted (as of this E-mail it hasn’t appeared) a portion (in bold) to the CTV article “Huge job losses in Ont. push up unemployment rate”, CTV.ca, Dec. 5 2008
W. Lloyd MacIlquham, B.Sc., M.Sc., J.D.
Barrister and Solicitor
*****************
Ed Broadbent has always belonged to a party I have never been able to support.
However, I cannot recall any time the Party I support (Liberal) or any other party questioned his sincerity, dedication and integrity.
Never have I heard, in my recollection, anyone whether publicly or in private discussion accuse him of the things that he has laid out in this commentary, let alone present the facts to support such accusations.
Ed Braodbent can stand up proudly as to how he has served our country over many years. Previously as a fierce competitor in the House of Commons and now as a Statesman for Canada. The NDP can also point to a proud History (despite my not agreeing with them all the time).
I say to you, Harper can not! And; the Conservative Party can not!
Now to add more support to Mr.Braodbent’s statements:
71,000 jobs lost in November, 66,000 in Ontario.
Now we know why Harper went to the Governor General yesterday as opposed to today or Monday!
The likelihood of this being a co-incidence is to me remote. Harper had to have know these facts before he went to advise the Governor General.
Harper has refused to discuss what was said.
So, we can only wonder if he advised her that he next day the job rates for November would be announced and be so strikingly brutal.
I would demand that he give an accurate and substantively complete outline of what was said, except I have no confidence in him to do so in a truthful manner.
What a sad commentary on the person who calls himself ‘Canada’s Prime Minister’.
God save us, God save Canada
Lloyd MacIlquham
05 December, 2008
- Comments on Ed Braodbent’s statements
“Fanning the fires of national disunity”, Ed Braodbent, G&M, 4 Dec.’08
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081204.wcobroadbent05/CommentStory/politics/home#commentLatest
_____
Ed Broadbent has always belonged to a party I have never been able to support.
However, I cannot recall any time the Party I support (Liberal) or any other party questioned his sincerity, dedication and integrity.
Never have I heard, in my recollection, anyone whether publicly or in private discussion accuse him of the things that he has laid out in this commentary, let alone present the facts to support such accusations.
Ed Braodbent can stand up proudly as to how he has served our country over many years. Previously as a fierce competitor in the House of Commons and now as a Statesman for Canada. The NDP can also point to a proud History (despite my not agreeing with them all the time).
I say to you, Harper can not! And; the Conservative Party can not!
Now to add more support to Mr.Braodbent’s statements:
71,000 jobs lost in November, 66,000 in Ontario.
Now we know why Harper went to the Governor General yesterday as opposed to today or Monday!
The likelihood of this being a co-incidence is to me remote. Harper had to have know these facts before he went to advise the Governor General.
Harper has refused to discuss what was said.
So, we can only wonder if he advised her that he next day the job rates for November would be announced and be so strikingly brutal.
I would demand that he give an accurate and substantively complete outline of what was said, except I have no confidence in him to do so in a truthful manner.
What a sad commentary on the person who calls himself ‘Canada’s Prime Minister’.
God save us, God save Canada
Lloyd MacIlquham
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081204.wcobroadbent05/CommentStory/politics/home#commentLatest
_____
Ed Broadbent has always belonged to a party I have never been able to support.
However, I cannot recall any time the Party I support (Liberal) or any other party questioned his sincerity, dedication and integrity.
Never have I heard, in my recollection, anyone whether publicly or in private discussion accuse him of the things that he has laid out in this commentary, let alone present the facts to support such accusations.
Ed Braodbent can stand up proudly as to how he has served our country over many years. Previously as a fierce competitor in the House of Commons and now as a Statesman for Canada. The NDP can also point to a proud History (despite my not agreeing with them all the time).
I say to you, Harper can not! And; the Conservative Party can not!
Now to add more support to Mr.Braodbent’s statements:
71,000 jobs lost in November, 66,000 in Ontario.
Now we know why Harper went to the Governor General yesterday as opposed to today or Monday!
The likelihood of this being a co-incidence is to me remote. Harper had to have know these facts before he went to advise the Governor General.
Harper has refused to discuss what was said.
So, we can only wonder if he advised her that he next day the job rates for November would be announced and be so strikingly brutal.
I would demand that he give an accurate and substantively complete outline of what was said, except I have no confidence in him to do so in a truthful manner.
What a sad commentary on the person who calls himself ‘Canada’s Prime Minister’.
God save us, God save Canada
Lloyd MacIlquham
03 December, 2008
- Mr. Harper, Tear Down Your Wall !
If there was any mandate to Harper and the Conservatives in the last election it was to put partisanship aside and work with the Opposition Parties to protect us from economic ruin, as he ought. He has failed precisely in this 'trust'. Instead he has put aside any pretense of co-operating with the Opposition to protect us against economic ruin in order to promote partisan self interest. It is Harper who has failed to live up to the mandate of the people in this last election.
In so doing he has lost the trust of Parliament and its confidence.
And, in so doing he has wasted the very precious time required to take swift and effective steps to address these very serious and quickly deteriorating economic conditions.
Rather, Harper is doing everything he can to show his contempt and distain for the duly elected Parliament, despite deriving his authority and position of Prime Minister thru its Confidence. He has, and is, showing no respect for the time honoured Institutions that are Canadian Democracy and has deluded himself into thinking that he has somehow been anointed King as opposed to obtaining a minority. If allowed to continue he may well irreversibly harm or destroy these Institutions. One wonders if, indeed, he is taking advantage of these difficult and turbulent economic times to forward such a plan.
The Liberal-NDP coalition has the trust of Parliament and its confidence. Further it will bring stability during these very serious economic times.
Harper’s claim that this is a separatist coalition is, obviously, hyperbola, designed to scare those who blindly put their trust in the office of Prime Minister. Mr. Dion, given his past dedication to keeping Canada together in the face of real separatist threats, is amply qualified to keep any separatists at bay.
Harper is disenfranchising a very large percentage of the people of Canada and in particular, Quebec. 1,379,565 people in Quebec voted for Block candidates and 50 Block Candidates were duly elected.
That is, by saying that the Liberal-NDP coalition ought not to listen to the Block and the Block ought not to support the coalition, Harper is marginalizing these duly elected representatives of the people and effectively denying 38.1% of the Quebec voters the right to be heard in Parliament.
We are not talking about whether someone “voted for Harper or Dion to be Prime Minister”, which is not applicable in our Democratic Parliamentary System . (In our Parliamentary System, as it now stands, and has through many generations, citizens vote for the person they want to represent them in Parliament.) We are talking about denying their duly elected representatives from a voice in Parliament. This goes to the very heart of our Democratic Institutions and Principals. It is totally within Harper’s modus operandi to marginalize the Block since he is attempting to marginalize all the Opposition Parties, and, indeed Parliament itself. That Harper made a very similar agreement with the Block whilst in Opposition during the Martin minority a very short time ago goes to the questioning of Harper’s motives and intent.
The way to heel the wounds caused by past spasms of separation is not through marginalizing but by inclusion. Whether there is a coalition or not all MP from Quebec must be heard, they have the right to be heard. If they are marginalized it can only go towards feeding the flames of separation which could rent our country asunder.
Now Harper is organizing ‘rallies’ to demonstrate his support. If every single person in each of these centres that voted for the Conservative candidate in the last election (approx. 2.5 million) attended there would be no more than 18% of all voters. In other words, even if 2.5 million people attended, no reasonable conclusion could be drawn as to how Canadians, generally, are feeling about Harper and what he has done or the Liberal-NDP coalition. It would only reliably indicate how Harper loyalists are feeling and we already know that. Thus, one may only wonder what is the real purpose of these ‘rallies’.
The Governor General’s decision is not simply choosing a person to run this Country this is taking the necessary steps to protect our Democracy and save our country.
The Governor General’s primary purpose is to preserve our Democratic Institutions and protect our country. This cannot be done by granting a request by Stephen Harper to suspend, or prorogue, Parliament. Nor can we waste any more precious time, or overburden the Canadian people, in calling another election. Harper has wasted more than we have. Further, Mr. Harper’s contempt and distain for Parliament shows that even if he gave a return date, it could not be relied upon.
I shudder to have to peer into our future and the future of Canada as we know it.
In so doing he has lost the trust of Parliament and its confidence.
And, in so doing he has wasted the very precious time required to take swift and effective steps to address these very serious and quickly deteriorating economic conditions.
Rather, Harper is doing everything he can to show his contempt and distain for the duly elected Parliament, despite deriving his authority and position of Prime Minister thru its Confidence. He has, and is, showing no respect for the time honoured Institutions that are Canadian Democracy and has deluded himself into thinking that he has somehow been anointed King as opposed to obtaining a minority. If allowed to continue he may well irreversibly harm or destroy these Institutions. One wonders if, indeed, he is taking advantage of these difficult and turbulent economic times to forward such a plan.
The Liberal-NDP coalition has the trust of Parliament and its confidence. Further it will bring stability during these very serious economic times.
Harper’s claim that this is a separatist coalition is, obviously, hyperbola, designed to scare those who blindly put their trust in the office of Prime Minister. Mr. Dion, given his past dedication to keeping Canada together in the face of real separatist threats, is amply qualified to keep any separatists at bay.
Harper is disenfranchising a very large percentage of the people of Canada and in particular, Quebec. 1,379,565 people in Quebec voted for Block candidates and 50 Block Candidates were duly elected.
That is, by saying that the Liberal-NDP coalition ought not to listen to the Block and the Block ought not to support the coalition, Harper is marginalizing these duly elected representatives of the people and effectively denying 38.1% of the Quebec voters the right to be heard in Parliament.
We are not talking about whether someone “voted for Harper or Dion to be Prime Minister”, which is not applicable in our Democratic Parliamentary System . (In our Parliamentary System, as it now stands, and has through many generations, citizens vote for the person they want to represent them in Parliament.) We are talking about denying their duly elected representatives from a voice in Parliament. This goes to the very heart of our Democratic Institutions and Principals. It is totally within Harper’s modus operandi to marginalize the Block since he is attempting to marginalize all the Opposition Parties, and, indeed Parliament itself. That Harper made a very similar agreement with the Block whilst in Opposition during the Martin minority a very short time ago goes to the questioning of Harper’s motives and intent.
The way to heel the wounds caused by past spasms of separation is not through marginalizing but by inclusion. Whether there is a coalition or not all MP from Quebec must be heard, they have the right to be heard. If they are marginalized it can only go towards feeding the flames of separation which could rent our country asunder.
Now Harper is organizing ‘rallies’ to demonstrate his support. If every single person in each of these centres that voted for the Conservative candidate in the last election (approx. 2.5 million) attended there would be no more than 18% of all voters. In other words, even if 2.5 million people attended, no reasonable conclusion could be drawn as to how Canadians, generally, are feeling about Harper and what he has done or the Liberal-NDP coalition. It would only reliably indicate how Harper loyalists are feeling and we already know that. Thus, one may only wonder what is the real purpose of these ‘rallies’.
The Governor General’s decision is not simply choosing a person to run this Country this is taking the necessary steps to protect our Democracy and save our country.
The Governor General’s primary purpose is to preserve our Democratic Institutions and protect our country. This cannot be done by granting a request by Stephen Harper to suspend, or prorogue, Parliament. Nor can we waste any more precious time, or overburden the Canadian people, in calling another election. Harper has wasted more than we have. Further, Mr. Harper’s contempt and distain for Parliament shows that even if he gave a return date, it could not be relied upon.
I shudder to have to peer into our future and the future of Canada as we know it.
02 December, 2008
- Conservatives at the height of Hypocrisy
Apparently the Con’s are also considering having Harper step down and choosing another leader, who by the way it just so happens would automatically become Prime Minister.
How can anyone take them seriously on this, given that they are spending all their efforts to convince the Canadian people that Dion has no right to become Prime Minister because he wasn’t elected.
Also, who would they choose as Prime Minister . . .
Jim Flaherty !
Or, perhaps, Stockwell Day !
Maybe, John Baird !
How about Preston Manning or Mike Harris.
What you say, they haven’t been elected by the fair voters of our great nation
Hummmm . . . . , I know, they could appoint Preston Manning or Mike Harris to the Senate then give him the Cabinet post of ‘Prime Minister’! After all there is precedent for such.
And in that vein there is always the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney !
But wait, shouldn’t it be a less extremist part of the old PC Party.
Let’s see …. I know, certainly Peter MacKay must be in line given he broke the trust the PC party put in him when they elected him leader not to join the party to the Conservative Party (then Alliance).
– God help us!!!
I don’t recall the Conservatives running on the platform that if they lose the trust and confidence of Parliament that they will at the same time claim that they can instill another as Prime Minister without election but Parliament, who right it is to choose the Prime Minster does not have the right to replace with someone that has their trust and confidence.
What unabashed Hypocrisy.
Lloyd MacIlquham
How can anyone take them seriously on this, given that they are spending all their efforts to convince the Canadian people that Dion has no right to become Prime Minister because he wasn’t elected.
Also, who would they choose as Prime Minister . . .
Jim Flaherty !
Or, perhaps, Stockwell Day !
Maybe, John Baird !
How about Preston Manning or Mike Harris.
What you say, they haven’t been elected by the fair voters of our great nation
Hummmm . . . . , I know, they could appoint Preston Manning or Mike Harris to the Senate then give him the Cabinet post of ‘Prime Minister’! After all there is precedent for such.
And in that vein there is always the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney !
But wait, shouldn’t it be a less extremist part of the old PC Party.
Let’s see …. I know, certainly Peter MacKay must be in line given he broke the trust the PC party put in him when they elected him leader not to join the party to the Conservative Party (then Alliance).
– God help us!!!
I don’t recall the Conservatives running on the platform that if they lose the trust and confidence of Parliament that they will at the same time claim that they can instill another as Prime Minister without election but Parliament, who right it is to choose the Prime Minster does not have the right to replace with someone that has their trust and confidence.
What unabashed Hypocrisy.
Lloyd MacIlquham
- To Stephen Harper, ‘Put Canada first and stop the nonsense’!
Harper and the Conservatives have lost the trust and confidence of Parliament.
They have done this by ignoring Parliament and refusing to take swift and effective action to address the very serious and fast developing crisis we Canadians, as with everyone else in the world, are facing right now. He decided to, instead, to ignore the crisis to take partisan advantage of the situation to hamstring the Opposition.
As Patricia Croft, Cheif Economist for RBC Global Asset management put it yesterday on CTV News Harper and the Conservatives had the ability to put something together but are "fiddling while Rome burns".
For Harper and the Conservatives to say wait until a month or two months from now is something like telling the people of New Orleans to wait until after Katrina hits to see where the weaknesses in the restraining walls are so they can decide what to do. What about all those people who get hurt when the old restraining wall give way. [I know I have used this before, but I think it is right on and makes clear the current situation]
It is exactly that Harper and the Conservatives have not ‘put Canada first’ but have continued their ‘non-sense’ that has required the Opposition to unite and present themself as the only viable choice to lead Parliament.
The Canadian people elect Parliament and Parliament chooses the Governing Party, the Governing Party elects the Prime Minister. (No one who understands the Canadian Democratic system would say it would be undemocratic for a governing party to elect another leader who would, without being elected by the people take power as Prime Minster – for example, say Harper were to resign and the Con’s elected Flaherty as their leader.)
How does this give Harper the right to govern.
Quite frankly it doesn't, Parliament gives him the right to govern and Parliament has not only lost confidence in Harper and the Conservative Party it has lost trust in Harper and the Conservative Party.
If there was any mandate to Harper and the Conservatives in the last election it was to put partisanship aside and work with the Opposition Parties to protect us from economic ruin, as he ought. He has failed precisely in this 'trust'. Instead he has put aside any pretense of co-operating with the Opposition to protect us against economic ruin to promote partisan self interest. It is Harper who has failed to live up to the mandate of the people in this last election.
Harper’s actions are outrageous.
Harper ought to have the decency to put Canada first and step aside forthwith and allow Parliament to put in place someone they have trust and confidence in to salvage what they can. By continuing and vowing to fight he is only causing worse damage to all of us and wasting the scarce and precious time available to do what is required.
[Comments on G&M “Stelmach to Ottawa: 'Stop the nonsense'“ In response to Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach “Put Canada first and stop the nonsense,” ]
Lloyd MacIlquham
They have done this by ignoring Parliament and refusing to take swift and effective action to address the very serious and fast developing crisis we Canadians, as with everyone else in the world, are facing right now. He decided to, instead, to ignore the crisis to take partisan advantage of the situation to hamstring the Opposition.
As Patricia Croft, Cheif Economist for RBC Global Asset management put it yesterday on CTV News Harper and the Conservatives had the ability to put something together but are "fiddling while Rome burns".
For Harper and the Conservatives to say wait until a month or two months from now is something like telling the people of New Orleans to wait until after Katrina hits to see where the weaknesses in the restraining walls are so they can decide what to do. What about all those people who get hurt when the old restraining wall give way. [I know I have used this before, but I think it is right on and makes clear the current situation]
It is exactly that Harper and the Conservatives have not ‘put Canada first’ but have continued their ‘non-sense’ that has required the Opposition to unite and present themself as the only viable choice to lead Parliament.
The Canadian people elect Parliament and Parliament chooses the Governing Party, the Governing Party elects the Prime Minister. (No one who understands the Canadian Democratic system would say it would be undemocratic for a governing party to elect another leader who would, without being elected by the people take power as Prime Minster – for example, say Harper were to resign and the Con’s elected Flaherty as their leader.)
How does this give Harper the right to govern.
Quite frankly it doesn't, Parliament gives him the right to govern and Parliament has not only lost confidence in Harper and the Conservative Party it has lost trust in Harper and the Conservative Party.
If there was any mandate to Harper and the Conservatives in the last election it was to put partisanship aside and work with the Opposition Parties to protect us from economic ruin, as he ought. He has failed precisely in this 'trust'. Instead he has put aside any pretense of co-operating with the Opposition to protect us against economic ruin to promote partisan self interest. It is Harper who has failed to live up to the mandate of the people in this last election.
Harper’s actions are outrageous.
Harper ought to have the decency to put Canada first and step aside forthwith and allow Parliament to put in place someone they have trust and confidence in to salvage what they can. By continuing and vowing to fight he is only causing worse damage to all of us and wasting the scarce and precious time available to do what is required.
[Comments on G&M “Stelmach to Ottawa: 'Stop the nonsense'“ In response to Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach “Put Canada first and stop the nonsense,” ]
Lloyd MacIlquham
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