HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS CONFUSING THE ELECTORATE
A
recap of recent political happenings related to Canada’s federal politics is a
needed subject for the current MY CANADA article. It is difficult for most
Canadians to comprehend some of the issues and actions happening in and around
the House of Commons. The first is the attack by a lone shooter that was able
to penetrate almost to the caucus room of the three political parties before
being gunned down by Sergeant-at-Arms and former RCMP officer Kevin Vickers.
The next weird non-political situation was the sexual harassment accusation by a member of the NDP against one or two Liberal members that Liberal Leader Trudeau decided was grounds for suspending the two members from caucus. The Liberal leader probably felt the accusation was meant as a political trick to discredit his party and so reacted. The action did stop most political action by all parties for a while and fed the media analysts another subject for conjecture. Then maybe just to get in on the action a Conservative MP decided to make a ridiculous statement about body cameras for members to record activities on the Hill which by all indications he was ordered to retract. On top of that silliness the sex attack accusing woman stated publicly that the sex that was only partly without consent. It seemed at the time that explanation was like saying a woman might be partly pregnant.
The parties finally got back to some semblance of parliamentary order when the Harper Conservatives decided to react to constant criticism from Canada’s war veterans by announcing a large amount of additional funding. The opposition parties weren’t accepting the funds were new money only electioneering. One government minister tried to explain the situation by using accounting language to explain the promised funding would come over a period of years. Opposition parties accused the Conservatives of reducing the funding to veterans. They claimed budgeted veteran funding was actually cut to pay down the national debt.
The main reason parliament is now different to Canadians than in the past is because the political parties are operating differently. Especially the Conservative Party of Canada since given power by the electorate is also different in structure and base than previous Conservative parties. The CPC as it is now identified is actually a coalition of the former Progressive Conservative party of lead by PM’s Joe Clark, Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell and their more right wing members of the former Reform Party led by Stephen Harper that successfully took over the progressive Conservative control.
The most obvious or maybe glaring changes are the lack of coordination between the Federal and most Provincial governments. It is as though the electorate gave different mandates to rule to the federal government and the 10 Provincial and territorial governments. The two factions haven’t met to discuss needed legislation since the CPC were given majority status by the electorate.
The federal government has a few issues that could affect the results of the next election. Toronto Star National Affairs columnist Tim Harper, documents at least 5 major issues in a November 23, 2014 column stating the Harper Conservatives are experienceing according to former NDP leader Stephen Lewis. Those issues were also apparently mentioned critically by some former leaders including PC’s Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney together with Liberal Paul Martin. The issues include Canada’s standing in world recognition that Lewis claims are in free fall. Another issue is the Harper government refusal to join the rest of the world moving toward renewable energy pollution control. The paternal sometimes racist attitude towards First Nations and the CPC refusal to hold an inquiry on the missing and murdered aboriginal women was another issue. A CPC problem that Lewis felt the current government must overcome to be mandated a second majority in the 2015 election is the supposed contempt of parliament and its traditions. All those issues often mentioned by news analysts and of course opposition politicians add to the confusion most Canadians feel about the current government direction and continued future economic stability. The world of Canadian politics has changed. The federal election slated for late autumn 2015 that could become an earlier date will might end the confusion or support the Prime Minister’s Office method of governing.
The next weird non-political situation was the sexual harassment accusation by a member of the NDP against one or two Liberal members that Liberal Leader Trudeau decided was grounds for suspending the two members from caucus. The Liberal leader probably felt the accusation was meant as a political trick to discredit his party and so reacted. The action did stop most political action by all parties for a while and fed the media analysts another subject for conjecture. Then maybe just to get in on the action a Conservative MP decided to make a ridiculous statement about body cameras for members to record activities on the Hill which by all indications he was ordered to retract. On top of that silliness the sex attack accusing woman stated publicly that the sex that was only partly without consent. It seemed at the time that explanation was like saying a woman might be partly pregnant.
The parties finally got back to some semblance of parliamentary order when the Harper Conservatives decided to react to constant criticism from Canada’s war veterans by announcing a large amount of additional funding. The opposition parties weren’t accepting the funds were new money only electioneering. One government minister tried to explain the situation by using accounting language to explain the promised funding would come over a period of years. Opposition parties accused the Conservatives of reducing the funding to veterans. They claimed budgeted veteran funding was actually cut to pay down the national debt.
The main reason parliament is now different to Canadians than in the past is because the political parties are operating differently. Especially the Conservative Party of Canada since given power by the electorate is also different in structure and base than previous Conservative parties. The CPC as it is now identified is actually a coalition of the former Progressive Conservative party of lead by PM’s Joe Clark, Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell and their more right wing members of the former Reform Party led by Stephen Harper that successfully took over the progressive Conservative control.
The most obvious or maybe glaring changes are the lack of coordination between the Federal and most Provincial governments. It is as though the electorate gave different mandates to rule to the federal government and the 10 Provincial and territorial governments. The two factions haven’t met to discuss needed legislation since the CPC were given majority status by the electorate.
The federal government has a few issues that could affect the results of the next election. Toronto Star National Affairs columnist Tim Harper, documents at least 5 major issues in a November 23, 2014 column stating the Harper Conservatives are experienceing according to former NDP leader Stephen Lewis. Those issues were also apparently mentioned critically by some former leaders including PC’s Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney together with Liberal Paul Martin. The issues include Canada’s standing in world recognition that Lewis claims are in free fall. Another issue is the Harper government refusal to join the rest of the world moving toward renewable energy pollution control. The paternal sometimes racist attitude towards First Nations and the CPC refusal to hold an inquiry on the missing and murdered aboriginal women was another issue. A CPC problem that Lewis felt the current government must overcome to be mandated a second majority in the 2015 election is the supposed contempt of parliament and its traditions. All those issues often mentioned by news analysts and of course opposition politicians add to the confusion most Canadians feel about the current government direction and continued future economic stability. The world of Canadian politics has changed. The federal election slated for late autumn 2015 that could become an earlier date will might end the confusion or support the Prime Minister’s Office method of governing.
