NationStates Jolt Archive


Harper's Playbook: How to Stifle the Opposition

Mikesburg
24-05-2007, 22:04
For a government that touted parliamentary reform and accountability as key points in their campaign, the Conservatives have proven to be even more tight fisted and party controlled then their Liberal predecessors. And now this;

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Weston_Greg/2007/05/24/4204112.html

Back in the old days (say, four years ago) when Stephen Harper was still leader of the Canadian Alliance, he was forever carping about the dysfunction and irrelevance of Parliament.

"The problem with Parliament is that it has ceased to be a legislative body," Harper said on one occasion. "It provides a public forum for venting reaction or venting ideas, but doesn't have much to do with governing the country.

"All it really does in the democratic sense is confirm the choices of the prime minister."

This helps to explain Harper's current commitment to parliamentary reform, colourfully illustrated in a handy 200-page insider's guide to rigging Commons committees for the sole benefit of the Conservative party.

So, clearly Mr. Harper has decided to err on the side of stifling parliament, rather than create a functioning parliamentary system. After all, he's PM now, and likely will be the 2nd time around (imho), so why not make sure all of his token game pieces know how to play the party whip game?

As the article also suggests, filibusters and the like are nothing new in government, but this government is perhaps the most tightly controlled we've ever seen in Canada, and this from a government that promised the opposite.
Kryozerkia
24-05-2007, 22:06
If there was ever proof of the hidden agenda, this is it.
Mikesburg
24-05-2007, 22:10
If there was ever proof of the hidden agenda, this is it.

There's one thing to understand the mechanics of parliament, and how to use that to your political advantage. It's another thing entirely to distribute a 200 page book about how to do it to all your benchwarmers. I think he feels rather secure in the PM's chair, to boldly drop this before his first term is up.
Kryozerkia
24-05-2007, 23:14
There's one thing to understand the mechanics of parliament, and how to use that to your political advantage. It's another thing entirely to distribute a 200 page book about how to do it to all your benchwarmers. I think he feels rather secure in the PM's chair, to boldly drop this before his first term is up.

He acts like he has a majority. He's getting too big for his britches...