Conservatives trying to undercut other parties

[elevennevele]

Unbelievable! They see no problem doing this! It is a total disregard of our democracy through representation. This is basically 'one party rule' attitude where votes don’t count. Where did they get their political insight? Moscow?

What is wrong with this country?!! To what point are we going to keep arguing 'intentions' when this government have clearly shown the dangers they pose to the political foundation of our Canada?

They have clearly shown their hand. Eventually, we are just going to be like every other fallen country that sleeps through the details until one day we wake up in an environment that no longer resembles a democracy of which we stood as an example to others and to ourselves.

‘Fascists’ is indeed the correct word here.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

The amazing thing is they don't seem to see any contradiction in what they were protesting so loudly while in oppositition and their own behaviour. It's alright for them to let their friends and supporters in the side door to public service but if anyone else does it they scream bloody murder.

The hypocracy of this is mindboggling.

 

[elevennevele]

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=6f618597-118a-4306-8bce-13d8c924cb24&p=1

Harris explained on a local radio show the other week: "To have access to the ministers, realistically, you have to be part of the government. You want to contact the Prime Minister's Office or even the prime minister when you need to, it helps immensely to be part of the government."

He said Smith, working through Conservative channels, would be able to get constituents' concerns in Cullen's riding "right to the ministers involved."

Asked if Conservative MPs in Opposition -- before January 2006 -- were thus ineffective, Harris elaborated further.

"There's a bit of a pecking order in Parliament. As a member of the official Opposition you're quite a bit closer to government than, say, a member of the fourth or the third party.

"There seems to be a cooperation between the official Opposition and the government when it comes to riding issues, so we were able to get a fair amount done.

"It's a matter of having the access and being effective with the access and, quite frankly ... the fact is, it hasn't been happening" in Cullen's riding.

It really begs repeating that the Conservatives are basically making the case that if you vote for another party, this government isn’t going to work with that person and serve you. Only through 'their people' will you really be heard.

So what is the point of the vote then? How does the vote fit in here anymore?

It’s meaningless. It’s just an exercise, nothing more. Now that the Conservatives hold a leadership position (even a minority one!), the other voices of the citizenry don’t essentially matter within this country.

Duff Conacher, coordinator of the Ottawa-based ethics group Democracy Watch:

Harris "is essentially saying that the federal government system is corrupt and is run by the ruling party only, and that voters who vote for other parties will not get served."

They are saying that they really aren’t trying to work with the other parties and yet they are a minority government.

 

[BitWhys]

Yet another trial balloon goes bust...

..."He just kind of did that himself," government spokesman Ryan Sparrow said of Harris's move...

next up...

resignation from the chair. as if its not another one hung out to dry.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

I guess we'll find out fairly fast how effective the new Ethics Commissioner is.

This kind of behaviour is incompatible with our Parlimentary system, if it's not dealt with then our votes truly don't mean a thing.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

Dick says:

"There's a bit of a pecking order in Parliament. As a member of the official Opposition you're quite a bit closer to government than, say, a member of the fourth or the third party.

This is a laugh too, Harper and Co. have been doing everything possible to attack the Liberals, they're aren't going to be responsive to any constituency issues they raise. How many $millions were spent on ads attacking Dion?

Harper got together with Duceppe and Layton in the fall of 2005 to bring down the Liberals, Harper didn't even have the nerve to introduce the non-confidence vote to the floor himself, it was Layton. You'd think he'd want to reward his friends better than this.

Also if Harper is only going to be responsive to constituents from ridings his party holds that will leave out the majority of Canadians. He recieved even less seats than the man he made so much fun of, Paul Martin, in the previous election.

All in all we've seen very arrogant behaviour from a government with only a marginal minority mandate.