Guilty: Harper Government Found in Contempt of Parliament

[ToadBrother]

Yes, but we're all used to parliament being government's bitch, a bitch that begged and rolled over, and played dead with the flick of a government whip's finger. So it's easy to get into the mindset that the opposition ought to let the government govern. Then again, when you talk about 'anti-democratic' you have to bear in mind that if we grant a majority in parliament untrammeled freedom to do whatever they have the votes for we wind up with government which is chaotic and impossible in all but a majority situation.

And yet, despite all of that, minority governments have governed since 2006. It's been messy and chaotic, but not impossible. All in all I give Harper credit. Where he has fallen down in a substantial fashion is where he has tried to act like he had a majority. I realize that he's the sort of guy that isn't going to behave all that well in the cage imposed by a minority, but our system was in fact largely designed during a period when Parliament was not really defined by fixed parties at all, where allegiances shifted and sometimes it took some considerable force of will for the Government to shepherd legislation through to Royal Assent. If Parliament could survive and function the raucous days of the 17th century, I'm sure it can survive a few minority governments.

And as long as Quebec, in its innate bigotry and xenophobia insists on having its own separate party to represent it there is unlikely to be a lot of majority governments in Canada's future.

People used to mutter the same thing about the West during Reform. Of course, it was Reform that counterbalanced the BQ and allowed the Liberals to sail down the middle to successive majorities. One might almost blame Stephen Harper and Peter MacKay for screwing over a good thing... if one's view of Parliament and democracy was limited to the belief that only majority governments can deliver good government.

Heck, Harper could fix this right now if he invited, say, the NDP into a formal coalition. I'm sure if he waved Deputy PM in front of Layton and some plum cabinet posts made available for NDP members, he could duplicate what David Cameron has done in the UK. Everyone talks about the evil coalition (which seems by Tories to be defined as including the Bloc, unless of course the Tories suggest it first), but if the Conservative Party in Britain can get in the sack with Britain's own version of the NDP, surely our own homegrown Tories could pull off a similar act of largess.

That would deliver the majority so many seem to desire. And it's not like the Tories are allergic to compromising their principles. I mean, the very formation of the latest iteration of the Progessive-Conservative alliance was built on the compromising of every principle.

Edited March 23, 2011 by ToadBrother

[Harry]

On Friday, March 25, 2011, for the first time ever in the history of Canada and the British Commonwealth, a government, the Harper Conservative Government, has been found in contempt of Parliament.

Canadian Government, Beset by Scandal, Collapses

The motion of contempt, passed in the House of Commons on a vote of 156 to 145, charged that the government had failed to provide accurate financial information for several programs, including the F-35 jets and crime legislation that is likely to increase the prison population.

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All lawmakers of the opposition parties, who outnumber Conservative members of Parliament, voted for the motion.

C. E. S. Franks, an authority on Canadian parliamentary practice who is professor emeritus of political science at Queen’s University in Ontario, said it was the first time a Canadian government had been found in contempt of Parliament.

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Professor Franks said the Conservatives deserved credit for their economic record and for governing “reasonably competently,” but he was very critical of the government’s approach to politics.

“It’s treated Parliament like the enemy,” he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/world/americas/26canada.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[WWWTT]

On Friday, March 25, 2011, for the first time ever in the history of Canada and the British Commonwealth, a government, the Harper Conservative Government, has been found in contempt of Parliament.

Yep,time to drive the message home.

WWWTT

[Saipan]

On Friday, March 25, 2011, for the first time ever in the history of Canada and the British Commonwealth, a government, the Harper Conservative Government, has been found in contempt of Parliament.

Really? So why wasn't Chretien's Liberal Government for lying far more?

Because conservatives are not so desperate before federal elections.

[Harry]

Really? So why wasn't Chretien's Liberal Government for lying far more?

Because conservatives are not so desperate before federal elections.

This is our democracy we are talking about here, and governments and politicians need to be respectful if it.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/962022--walkom-yes-contempt-of-parliament-does-matter

[Chippewa]

Harper messed up a few time. Most recently when he harmonized tax and made First Nations pay taxes for a 2 months. First Nations told Harper, if First Nations pay more then the 7% they were already paying, then they should get a fair share of the development money for roads, schools, and clean water.

When Harper initially declined the motion from First Nations, about 120 First Nations threatened to baracade highways, hydro towers, and start to practice there rights heading to Toronto just before that G20 summit. He got his act together and listened, because he couldn't afford to bring his army back from Afgahnistan, and surround First Nations reserves with about 6 troops apiece on the 633 reserves across Canada.

Although it doesn't matter for First Nations who gets into government, because the government doesn't represent them in any mannar or look out for there interests. No First Nations have any seats, or representation in this Kangaroo government.

[ToadBrother]

Although it doesn't matter for First Nations who gets into government, because the government doesn't represent them in any mannar or look out for there interests. No First Nations have any seats, or representation in this Kangaroo government.

What about Leona Aglukkaq?

[August1991]

When Harper initially declined the motion from First Nations, about 120 First Nations threatened to baracade highways, hydro towers, and start to practice there rights heading to Toronto just before that G20 summit.

So if I understand you properly, the First Nations amount to an extortion racket.

And how is that strategy working out for First Nations people? Would you call it successful?

[WWWTT]

What about Leona Aglukkaq?

And how many bills did Leona introduce into parliament that were passed,and what party does he/she front,and what is the content of those bills,and what level is this person at MP,MPP or local?And what riding?How long has this person bein sitting?Can one person really make a difference?

WWWTT

[ToadBrother]

And how many bills did Leona introduce into parliament that were passed,and what party does he/she front,and what is the content of those bills,and what level is this person at MP,MPP or local?And what riding?How long has this person bein sitting?Can one person really make a difference?

WWWTT

The claim was there were no First Nations who had seats in this government. That's patently false on the face of it. She's a member of cabinet, so is a member of the Privy Council, has a bigger voice on government decisions than a backbencher.

[Scotty]

And how many bills did Leona introduce into parliament that were passed,and what party does he/she front,and what is the content of those bills,and what level is this person at MP,MPP or local?And what riding?How long has this person bein sitting?Can one person really make a difference?

WWWTT

If you don't now that you really have no business participating on this conversation. In fact, your participation in discussions of federal politics is pretty questionable.

[Keepitsimple]

On Friday, March 25, 2011, for the first time ever in the history of Canada and the British Commonwealth, a government, the Harper Conservative Government, has been found in contempt of Parliament.

.....and that says far more about the opposition coalition than it does about the government. Imagine.....all the nefarious things that have gone on in Paliaments across the world and through history.....and the only time a government is found in contempt is because the opposition parties say they "do not have accurate information" on the cost of "Jets and Jails".... both programs having been continuously and vehemently opposed by these same opposition parties.

[True Blue Canadian]

Good try! Harper and his government is the first to be charged with contempt and some think that he will try to prorogue again. I'm not sure on that, I think he'll have to put something in the budget to make Canadians angry when the opposition brings him down. Maybe were you live Canadians are happy, but were I live in Ontario, there are too many people not working, going to the food banks, losing their homes, their families. Tell me, what is the agenda of the left wing?

The charge was rediculous. The kangaroo court was a true shame. This whole thing was partisan politics taken to the dirtiest extreme. I weep for the loss of real government...

Every politician needs to understand, no matter what party they belong to, that they work for us, not the other way around. They are there to debate and decide laws and bills for the good of all Canadians, not to invent scandles and fling crap at eachother like lower primates.

[nicky10013]

The charge was rediculous. The kangaroo court was a true shame. This whole thing was partisan politics taken to the dirtiest extreme. I weep for the loss of real government...

Every politician needs to understand, no matter what party they belong to, that they work for us, not the other way around. They are there to debate and decide laws and bills for the good of all Canadians, not to invent scandles and fling crap at eachother like lower primates.

So what you're saying is that the government is supreme over parliament. Ah...

[ToadBrother]

.....and that says far more about the opposition coalition than it does about the government. Imagine.....all the nefarious things that have gone on in Paliaments across the world and through history.....and the only time a government is found in contempt is because the opposition parties say they "do not have accurate information" on the cost of "Jets and Jails".... both programs having been continuously and vehemently opposed by these same opposition parties.

No other government in the Commonwealth has attempted with such frequency to invoke a notion of executive privilege, despite the fact that the entire reason for our system of constitutional monarchy was because a past executive claimed it.

[Harry]

The charge was rediculous. The kangaroo court was a true shame. This whole thing was partisan politics taken to the dirtiest extreme. I weep for the loss of real government...

Every politician needs to understand, no matter what party they belong to, that they work for us, not the other way around. They are there to debate and decide laws and bills for the good of all Canadians, not to invent scandles and fling crap at eachother like lower primates.

This is quite sad. We can lose our democracy with this kind of thinking. Reminds me of the Tea Party mentality in the USA.

[WWWTT]

The claim was there were no First Nations who had seats in this government. That's patently false on the face of it. She's a member of cabinet, so is a member of the Privy Council, has a bigger voice on government decisions than a backbencher.

Oh I forgot to add one

What tribe does she represent.

After you answer these questions and only then will I recognize you!

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

If you don't now that you really have no business participating on this conversation. In fact, your participation in discussions of federal politics is pretty questionable.

If you think my participaction hear is questionable then get me kicked off.

If not then every post I make means that you have completely failed.

WWWTT

[ToadBrother]

Oh I forgot to add one

What tribe does she represent.

After you answer these questions and only then will I recognize you!

WWWTT

This is just goalpost shifting. She represents a riding like any other MP. Mind you, her riding is largely Inuit, probably per capita moreso than just about any other MP in the House.

Beyond that, what's your point? Individual bands don't have their own MPs. I for one have suggested a way to improve that situation if, as part of creating a more representative Senate, First Nations were guaranteed a certain number of Senators to more fully make them partners in Confederation.

[Scotty]

If you think my participaction hear is questionable then get me kicked off.

If not then every post I make means that you have completely failed.

WWWTT

All I'm saying is a poster who doesn't even know who our health minister is displays such a poor grasp of political knowledge that one can reasonably infer his political opinions lack any real base.

[WWWTT]

All I'm saying is a poster who doesn't even know who our health minister is displays such a poor grasp of political knowledge that one can reasonably infer his political opinions lack any real base.

I think what you actually mean to say that I do not know what the ethnic background is of this particular MP.

And I give a ratts ass aswell too.This has no reflection on anything since Harper has a record number of puppet cabinet ministers that he changes and shuffles around and also mutes.

Once again it is you and toad who refuse to answer anything that I have asked,almost sounds like why Harpers government fell in the first place.Contempt!

WWWTT

[Jack Weber]

The charge was rediculous. The kangaroo court was a true shame. This whole thing was partisan politics taken to the dirtiest extreme. I weep for the loss of real government...

Every politician needs to understand, no matter what party they belong to, that they work for us, not the other way around. They are there to debate and decide laws and bills for the good of all Canadians, not to invent scandles and fling crap at eachother like lower primates.

Your silly melodrama belongs at Freedominion,not here...

Your boys were found in Contempt of Parliament...

In other words,contempt of the people of Canada and it's constitution,which they swore an oath to uphold...

[Shwa]

What about Leona Aglukkaq?

Leona Aglukkaq is Inuk. Inuit are not First Nations.

[ToadBrother]

Leona Aglukkaq is Inuk. Inuit are not First Nations.

Ho ho ho, and here we go.

[ToadBrother]

Once again it is you and toad who refuse to answer anything that I have asked,almost sounds like why Harpers government fell in the first place.Contempt!

WWWTT

Please do tell. What question have you asked that we haven't answered. The person who isn't answering questions around here is you. I'm now asking you for the third time to provide a citation or quote demonstrating that the Coalition actually had no intention to removing the Tories from power in 2008 and taking over themselves.