Disappearance of Auditor General's Report

[amorris1123]

Mid-election we started to hear about a report which apparently could implicate the Harper government in very irresponsible spending and deceiving parliament. What happened to this? It seems like the issue has just dropped right off the table. When parliament resumes this is going to come out, could we see Harper unseated by this new information?

[Battletoads]

Mid-election we started to hear about a report which apparently could implicate the Harper government in very irresponsible spending and deceiving parliament. What happened to this? It seems like the issue has just dropped right off the table. When parliament resumes this is going to come out, could we see Harper unseated by this new information?

With a majority nothing in that report can unseat Harper.

[amorris1123]

With a majority nothing in that report can unseat Harper.

Doesn't the Governor General have some power on this sort of issue? If not wouldn't that mean that if any party were to gain a majority they could do whatever they please for four years, because while I realize that they have the power to pass basically whatever legislation they like it seems like there should be some checks and balance or there would be no democracy..

[Battletoads]

Doesn't the Governor General have some power on this sort of issue? If not wouldn't that mean that if any party were to gain a majority they could do whatever they please for four years, because while I realize that they have the power to pass basically whatever legislation they like it seems like there should be some checks and balance or there would be no democracy..

if the PM gets outa line its up the the Governor General to 'check' his power.

Pretty laughable check IMO

[nittanylionstorm07]

I would think/hope that if a felony was committed, that the responsible parties would be able to be removed.

[Sandy MacNab]

Doesn't the Governor General have some power on this sort of issue? If not wouldn't that mean that if any party were to gain a majority they could do whatever they please for four years, because while I realize that they have the power to pass basically whatever legislation they like it seems like there should be some checks and balance or there would be no democracy..

How many hours did you say you've resided in Canada?

[WWWTT]

Doesn't the Governor General have some power on this sort of issue? If not wouldn't that mean that if any party were to gain a majority they could do whatever they please for four years, because while I realize that they have the power to pass basically whatever legislation they like it seems like there should be some checks and balance or there would be no democracy..

If the GG did do something it would be too controversial and therefore unlikely.

However!

There are such things as bi elections,members jumping ship and several scenarios can lead to a bi election.This could result in a change in seat counts and often this happens.But with a majority of 12 seats?Possible,it is less then 5% of the total seats but unless something historical takes place unlikely to dethrone Harper before the next election call.

Not just that,if Harper or his party members screw up it would be more favourable for the opposition to take it to the voters to do the deed.

WWWTT

[ToadBrother]

Doesn't the Governor General have some power on this sort of issue?

No, he doesn't.

If not wouldn't that mean that if any party were to gain a majority they could do whatever they please for four years, because while I realize that they have the power to pass basically whatever legislation they like it seems like there should be some checks and balance or there would be no democracy..

Majorities have wide latitudes, but last time I checked, we still have free elections, so if they tick too many people off, they don't get to be government again.

Edited May 4, 2011 by ToadBrother

[kimmy]

Mid-election we started to hear about a report which apparently could implicate the Harper government in very irresponsible spending and deceiving parliament. What happened to this?

It remains unreleased. Sheila Fraser was adamant that she could not formally release the report until Parliament was back in session.

It seems like the issue has just dropped right off the table. When parliament resumes this is going to come out, could we see Harper unseated by this new information?

Of the two unauthorized leaks of preliminary drafts, the more recent version softened the language considerably. Considering that even Fraser's digging into the sponsorship scandal couldn't directly topple the government, it seems unlikely that this would.

-k

[juzt4me]

It's the conservatives attempting to cover their tracks, which seems to be working for them

[Molly]

Doesn't the Governor General have some power on this sort of issue? If not wouldn't that mean that if any party were to gain a majority they could do whatever they please for four years, because while I realize that they have the power to pass basically whatever legislation they like it seems like there should be some checks and balance or there would be no democracy..

The real check is in the hands of voters, who have been trusted to have made a responsible, thoughtful choice of representative.

If people have chosen well, then their representative will not endorse bad conduct or bad legislation, and it will not pass. If, however, they have unquestioningly selected whatever kind of crook or blockhead wears a particular party label, then they get the governance they deserve.

[Topaz]

Harper now owns the government, the senate and I'm sure he'll own the Speaker because he has the most votes in the house. What I don't know is how many nominees are aloud for a party for the speaker? Anyone know? If a Speaker turns out to be bias, who has the authority to do something, GG? I think in situations like this that can occur in todays society, the PEOPLE should have the right to recall the seating government.

[Shwa]

Harper now owns the government, the senate and I'm sure he'll own the Speaker because he has the most votes in the house. What I don't know is how many nominees are aloud for a party for the speaker? Anyone know? If a Speaker turns out to be bias, who has the authority to do something, GG? I think in situations like this that can occur in todays society, the PEOPLE should have the right to recall the seating government.

The PEOPLE do have the right. It is all there in the Constitution. You can associate, congregate, protest and, if you have the right timing, get hundreds of thousands of people to storm Parliament Hill and occupy the Centre Block. Tunisiate the place.

But good luck with that.

For one, you have a small window of time to do it. No one will spend too much time outdoors in an Ottawa winter which runs from mid-October to the end of May. Plus, I mean Canada, it'll be hockey season right? Then they will have to contend with the dreaded 'Tulippers' who will be out in droves looking at the tulips and daffodils. Then comes the brief window in June before the Grand Celebrations of Canada Day will block off Parliament Hill to the Party Party. Then after that comes cottage time, like in the beer commercials and then the Back to School period, then the Autumn Colours in the Gatineaus...

It can be a challenge, but do-able.

[Rick]

It's the conservatives attempting to cover their tracks, which seems to be working for them

You can bet that the report will get buried or if released at all, it'll be on a Friday night after hours when everyone's gone home for the weekend so it doesn't make the headline news.