NationStates Jolt Archive

This came up on a different thread, but it was a bit of a digression, so I felt it was worth a seperate thread.

I am sure that most Canadian politicos have heard of the much-vaunted Accountability Act proposed by the Harper Government. You can find the rosy government spin here. (http://www.faa-lfi.gc.ca/index_e.asp)

At 250 pages, it must contain some serious reforms! Unless you ask the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (http://fipa.bc.ca/home/news/138), who say it is mostly hot air.

And before anyone accuses FIPA of being partisan, remember that they lavishly praised the Conservatives ethics and accountability platform during the election. They are just dissapointed with the Conservatives hasty retreat, as anyone who is concerned with ethics and accountability should be.

So what happened to the most open and accountable government ever? From rigidly controlled press conferences, to muzzling Cabinet ministers and MP's, this government seems more autocratic than the worst days of Jean Chretien.

Conservatives ... what have ye to say in your defence?

Well I for one think this so-called "accountability" is over hyped. Who needs it? Conservatives are naturally acountable, so whats the big deal. The only accountability we need is a government who will hand over power to the provinces, and continue to sell alberta's wonderful black juice of life to the wonderful great American people, who I adore.

okay.. I make a bad conservative. Back to the NDP. Phew, that was scary.

Well I for one think this so-called "accountability" is over hyped. Who needs it? Conservatives are naturally acountable, so whats the big deal. The only accountability we need is a government who will hand over power to the provinces, and continue to sell alberta's wonderful black juice of life to the wonderful great American people, who I adore.

I just find it ironic that they would go as far as to make Accountability one of their 5 key priorities, and promise to be the most open and accountable government ever, only to do just the opposite. I guess that just goes to show how politically naive I am.

This came up on a different thread, but it was a bit of a digression, so I felt it was worth a seperate thread.

I am sure that most Canadian politicos have heard of the much-vaunted Accountability Act proposed by the Harper Government. You can find the rosy government spin here. (http://www.faa-lfi.gc.ca/index_e.asp)

At 250 pages, it must contain some serious reforms! Unless you ask the Freedom of Information and Privacy Association (http://fipa.bc.ca/home/news/138), who say it is mostly hot air.

And before anyone accuses FIPA of being partisan, remember that they lavishly praised the Conservatives ethics and accountability platform during the election. They are just dissapointed with the Conservatives hasty retreat, as anyone who is concerned with ethics and accountability should be.

So what happened to the most open and accountable government ever? From rigidly controlled press conferences, to muzzling Cabinet ministers and MP's, this government seems more autocratic than the worst days of Jean Chretien.

Conservatives ... what have ye to say in your defence?

This is a piece of legislation that still has to run through the mill of debate. I don't doubt that the NDP/Bloc will help in making some changes to it. That being said, although FIPA is condemning certain actions of the government, I would hardly condemn the entire act itself. It's still waaaayyy better than anything else proposed thus far.

As far as Harper's actual displays of accountability and transparency; no argument. What the hell happened? He's letting spin control dictate his policy. His version of controlling a minority situation is the opposite of Martin's (which in my view was to promise everything, deliver nothing, and get highly criticised for it. Harper promises a few things, delivers on them to some degree, and silences any criticism.... don't know which is worse....)

This is a piece of legislation that still has to run through the mill of debate. I don't doubt that the NDP/Bloc will help in making some changes to it. That being said, although FIPA is condemning certain actions of the government, I would hardly condemn the entire act itself. It's still waaaayyy better than anything else proposed thus far.


Well, actually, it's waaaaaay less than what they said they would do during the election.

don't know which is worse....
I do. We're talking about it right now.

okay.. I make a bad conservative. Back to the NDP. Phew, that was scary.
You had me worried for a second there. :D

Well, actually, it's waaaaaay less than what they said they would do during the election.

Welcome to politics...

Well, actually, it's waaaaaay less than what they said they would do during the election.
I think that was the only policy from the Red Book that Chretien delivered on.

Guess again.

Welcome to politics...

Just because that is the way politicians like to do things does not mean I have to take it lying down.

Besides, breaking a promise about accountability is just so much more ironic than breaking a regular election promise. :)

Just because that is the way politicians like to do things does not mean I have to take it lying down.

Besides, breaking a promise about accountability is just so much more ironic than breaking a regular election promise. :)

Hmmm... point taken...

A accountability act is better than NO accountability act(which is what every other party had)

Enjoy what u get or shut up

A accountability act is better than NO accountability act(which is what every other party had)

Enjoy what u get or shut up

I sincerely hope that is sarcasm ...

Other parties had accountability platforms. The Conservatives simply had the most comprehensive one. The point is, they failed to deliver, and very little accountability will be achieved by implementing this Act. Couple that with the steps they have taken away from accountability (muzzling Cabinet ministers, closely controlled press conferences, etc.), and we may actually be moving backward from an accountability standpoint.

So here is the latest on this ... the federal Information Commissioner has now criticized the Harper Government's about face on Freedom of Information and Accountability (http://www.recorder.ca/cp/National/060428/n042831A.html).

A accountability act is better than NO accountability act(which is what every other party had)

Enjoy what u get or shut up

Aren't we a little pissy? Unless that was sarcastic, in which case I retract my previous comment.
Certainly an(not a) Accountability Act is a good thing, but just like Gun Registry, good things have a potential to turn ugly on us. After all, the initial cost of the Gun Registry was supposed to be $2 million, but it's skyrocketed to $2 billion. And if the Accountability Act is not well thought out and, even more importantly, enforceable, then this could backfire in our faces just the way the Gun Registry did.
Personally, I think it would be more effective to just outlaw guns as a whole. But with the Accountability Act in mind, I do agree that it's incredibly ironic that the Conservative minority government has turned out to be, in terms of allowing access to what they do, the least accountable. Therefore, the Act needs some serious revision and scrutinizing.

Aren't we a little pissy? Unless that was sarcastic, in which case I retract my previous comment.
Sarcasm is a dying art. It's a long-forgotten talent where the conservatively-minded are concerned. I wouldn't bother retracting anything.

Aren't we a little pissy?

It did seem unnessecarily caustic, didn't it?