Harper Stacks the Deck Before Leaving

[Smallc]

For example, Mark ONeills term as director of the Canadian Museum of History wasnt scheduled to expire until June 2016. Last June, Harpers cabinet renewed his $212,700 to $250,200 a year job for five years, effective June 2016.

John Badowskis appointment as chairman of the Transportation Appeal Tribunal was renewed July 28. The renewal takes effect Jan. 1, 2019, and runs until July 29, 2020. The position currently pays between $174,700 and $205,500.

http://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/23/doomed-harper-government-made-49-future-patronage-appointments/

Is there even a precedent for this? As was said on another forum, this seems like the kind of thing that lost the Conservatives the election. It's arrogant and presumptive on their part. Looking back I have a hard time supporting many of their actions, even though I was able to justify them at the time.

[Wilber]

Wouldn't surprise me if there were lots of precedents by both parties.

There is nothing unusual about renewing contracts before they expire.

[Smallc]

There is nothing unusual about renewing contracts before they expire.

Two and a half years in advance, before an election? Like I said, it strikes of arrogance. Anything after the end of the year should have been left to the winner of the election.

[poochy]

I wish you would stop with your faux claims of how the conservatives broke your heart, it's becoming a bit nauseating. I dont know anything about those positions, but compared to the liberals before them this seems like a small thing. Chretien isn't called the king of patronage for nothing. O and did you notice that Harper didn't stuff the senate with conservatives at the last minute? You think the previous liberal government would have been so kind?

[Wilber]

Two and a half years in advance, before an election? Like I said, it strikes of arrogance. Anything after the end of the year should have been left to the winner of the election.

They only renewed it for 19 months. Not very long to renew a contract that still had three and a half years to run. An odd number to. I would be more interested in why the odd number.

[msj]

Yeah, pretty sleazy.

But also fairly minor.

I'm sure it is not a first for politicians in this country but it's just not a big enough deal to see if my instinct is right.

[Smallc]

I wish you would stop with your faux claims of how the conservatives broke your heart, it's becoming a bit nauseating.

They certainly disappointed me. I wouldn't have changed my vote otherwise.

I dont know anything about those positions, but compared to the liberals before them this seems like a small thing.

I have a secret to tell you - Chretien hasn't been in power for 12 years.

O and did you notice that Harper didn't stuff the senate with conservatives at the last minute?[/quo You think the previous liberal government would have been so kind?

Harper promised never to again appoint a senator until everyone agreed to his unworkable and unconstitutional plan. It would have been another point of hypocrisy on his part.

[Smallc]

I'm sure it is not a first for politicians in this country but it's just not a big enough deal to see if my instinct is right.

I agree, it's not that big of a deal. It just seems like the more we learn after the fact, the less clean they seem.

[msj]

I agree, it's not that big of a deal. It just seems like the more we learn after the fact, the less clean they seem.

You really are young!

Some of the skeletons will come out. Others will remain hidden because it suits the current governments' interests.

Same as it ever was.

[Smallc]

You really are young!

Some of the skeletons will come out. Others will remain hidden because it suits the current governments' interests.

Same as it ever was.

Many in the media, even the older media people, say that the Harper government was completely unprecedented in terms of secrecy. I think that's one of the big differences. We didn't find out a lot until now.

[msj]

Many in the media, even the older media people, say that the Harper government was completely unprecedented in terms of secrecy. I think that's one of the big differences. We didn't find out a lot until now.

Yes, there a likely many skeletons and I look forward to hearing about them.

But otherwise it's same same but different (party).

[Derek 2.0]

Wouldn't surprise me if there were lots of precedents by both parties.

There is nothing unusual about renewing contracts before they expire.

Exactly, much ado about nothing........of course, if he was as evil as suggested, he would have stacked the Senate, which he could have done right to the day Trudeau was sworn in.

[overthere]

Don't worry, they'll find another position for David Dingwall.

O'Neill has worked at the museum for a decade and been the CEO for 5 years. I don't know if he is a Liberal.

[ReeferMadness]

It's always amusing how the same people who would have been outraged if Chretien had done such a thing are so blase about Harper doing it. Harper, the guy who rode into town, promising to change the way things were done in Ottawa.

I don't understand why we are only learning about this now when most of these appointments were made in June.

And I don't agree with political appointments made that bind future PM's. If there isn't a rule that governs when and for how long appointments can be made, there should be. There should also be rules about for how long leases can be signed (in BC, Gordon Campbell promised not to sell BC Rail, then leased the tracks for 999 years) and for how long a government can commit to trade agreements.

The principle should be that a PM cannot bind a future PMs hands.

[Wilber]

Well you are going to have some of it, otherwise you will find a lot of highly qualified people job hunting before each election and not waiting around till the next government makes up their mind whether or not to employ them.

[ReeferMadness]

And your contention is that Harper was only helping because he had such excellent people in the job?

[Smallc]

The Liberals are seeing what they can do about this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/11/23/liberals-tory-appointments_n_8634270.html?ncid=tweetlnkcahpmg00000002

[Bryan]

Two and a half years in advance, before an election?

Absolutely. Professional people you want to keep are never allowed to have their contracts run out, in any field. Resigning in the middle of a contract is absolutely the norm.

Like I said, it strikes of arrogance.

It strikes of you being mean spirited for making such outlandish claims.

edit: original wording was perhaps too strong, removed with apologies.

Edited November 24, 2015 by Bryan

[Wilber]

And your contention is that Harper was only helping because he had such excellent people in the job?

Don't now what his motives were but I'm sure he did think he had excellent people in the job.

In the case of Badowski, who people are getting sweaty about because it was three years early, they gave him a new five year contract effective last July which really means he only gets a 19 month extension on his existing 5 year contract. Hardly earth shattering.

[ReeferMadness]

In the case of Badowski, who people are getting sweaty about because it was three years early, they gave him a new five year contract effective last July which really means he only gets a 19 month extension on his existing 5 year contract. Hardly earth shattering.

Look at the full list. This is indefensible. In some cases, the appointments are due to last longer than the next government's mandate. This is beyond sleazy.

[ReeferMadness]

The Liberals are seeing what they can do about this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/11/23/liberals-tory-appointments_n_8634270.html?ncid=tweetlnkcahpmg00000002

... which is probably nothing, unless they want to pay millions in severance.

[Wilber]

Look at the full list. This is indefensible. In some cases, the appointments are due to last longer than the next government's mandate. This is beyond sleazy.

A lot of contracts are for 5 years. Anyone who signed such a contract in the last year would be longer than the next government's mandate. Just out of curiosity, when do you think the cut-off should be?

[Moonlight Graham]

Says a lot when we voted in the CPC to kick out the terribly corrupt Liberals, then after the CPC became terribly corrupt we voted the Liberals back in to "save us". The Trudeau love is a joke.

[Smallc]

Says a lot when we voted in the CPC to kick out the terribly corrupt Liberals, then after the CPC became terribly corrupt we voted the Liberals back in to "save us". The Trudeau love is a joke.

Trudeau is his own person. You can't pin past Liberal corruption on him.

[cybercoma]

I wish you would stop with your faux claims of how the conservatives broke your heart, it's becoming a bit nauseating. I dont know anything about those positions, but compared to the liberals before them this seems like a small thing. Chretien isn't called the king of patronage for nothing. O and did you notice that Harper didn't stuff the senate with conservatives at the last minute? You think the previous liberal government would have been so kind?

Nothing to say about the issue then? Just some mindless drivel about a government that hasn't been around in 15 years?