MY CANADA will review the past few months or maybe years in this issue of parliamentary procedures among a host of other subjects. The review is appropriate since the character of the country has undoubtedly changed. Some readers will agree the changes are necessary. Others like this author will disagree and express the appalling feeling of loss due to the noted changes. The loss is partly reflected most recently by a series of events dubbed terrorist activity by the police, security and government leaders. Most Canadians probably feel the attacks so far are just the beginning. When our warplanes entered the war against insurgents on government orders it is a foregone conclusion we are challenging an enemy. All citizens hope the attack or attacks when they next come are not of the scale of the Bali or 911 attacks killing thousands of innocent people and probably setting the countries involved and the rest of the industrial world on the road to the recession. Recovering from attacks against our country is costly.
First and foremost the move away from Parliament cooperating to discuss and debate suggested and presented bills is a major recent change. The incidence of arbitrarily passing legislation and budgets by the current and perhaps some previous elected majority governments over the years appears somewhat undemocratic. Past generations based electing representatives on the results of the parties discussing and debating the legislation. Today the current Canadian regime proved to supporters giving any elected party power to control any country is counterproductive. At least that is the contention of the ruling CPC Conservative Party of Canada to party supporters and the public. The only hope of anything resembling traditional parliamentary procedure seems to be a return to minority government rule which has served Canada well at times in the past.
The Senate formerly at least considered the respected chamber of serious second thought is now considered by some another ruling party endorsing organization. To that end several prestigious senators have resigned. The Senate leader even publicly challenged the current government’s attempt to influence the senate inappropriately over legislation that the ruling party passed through parliament with limited discussion. One party wrongly or rightly has denied the senators the right to attending party caucus meetings further weakening the role of the upper house. One opposition party claims it will eliminate the Senate if elected. That is likely an idle promise since the Supreme Court determined such an act would need a reopening of the constitution which could really change the country.
The government not scheduling meetings their provincial counterparts or the traditional practice of the Prime Minister meeting with all of the individual elected premiers in public is a recent change that the electorate might not sanctify in the future. The practice has really changed the way parliament operates but now that the practice is a fact future governments will undoubtedly use the same method to try and control provincial governments. That is another threat to country survival in a world with populations expanding faster than Canada.
Alienating veteran organizations and opposition accusation of putting the Veteran’s Affairs ministry under the sweeping program and job cuts without parliamentary discussion and debate is another change. It is difficult to believe the government and/or Veteran’s Ministry did not seem to plan for increased veteran needs after sending Canadian Forces to a war zone. At least that is one of the reasons for the current opposition minister resignation calls.
With the election of a new leader of Canada’s aboriginal community changes are inevitable. It is difficult to fault government with many of the wrongs the aboriginals claim. The aboriginal segment of the country’s population is fast growing but far from unified. Various segments of the aboriginal population appear opposed to direction and wishes related to government programs and issues. As long as aboriginals are divided, any elected government will not feel compelled to offer more than minimal attention to needs or issues.
It must be mentioned that the same aboriginal community has in some cases advanced at an unbelievable pace in the past few decades. Some advancement is due to leadership and resource development. Other advances are arguably the result of upscale government funding. On the other side all elected governments have been unable and probably unwilling to some extent to legislate assistance for isolated communities. Only political change can facilitate full integration into Canadian society. The solution is obviously for aboriginal youth to become political oriented and seek election to affect the changes. Demanding a “fair share” of anything while lacking political influence is a losing battle.
Having a police force that likes to be referred to as a service is something that Canada has with the Royal Canadians Mounted Police (RCMP). The police force or service is charged with policing most of the country aside from Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland/Labrador, some towns and most large cities. PM Harper and the CPC have increased the power of the national police force. Some less democratic nations have strong military forces that at times take over governments when the people in power determine full power is the antidote to problems and elections unnecessary. Canada at times at least according to media releases seems to be heading in the direction of having a police force that could be called upon to act as a quasi military organization. The current government seems intent on keeping the military as only an armed force for international issues such as sending fighter planes into battle. It is a scary scenario, but one that cannot be completely discounted when voters become complacent and fail to exercise the right to vote. Low voter turnout in most elections is an indication that democracy might be challenged in the future.
Maybe this week’s edition of MY CANADA is too negative to be taken seriously even though the issues presented are possible if not already in progress. However, the world is changing rapidly in other aspects such as the rise of ISIS caused by turmoil and invasion of the Middle East by America and its allies including Canada. Even more change might be in store if the predictions by scientists regarding escalating industrial pollution affecting climate becomes more than a subject for discussion.
First and foremost the move away from Parliament cooperating to discuss and debate suggested and presented bills is a major recent change. The incidence of arbitrarily passing legislation and budgets by the current and perhaps some previous elected majority governments over the years appears somewhat undemocratic. Past generations based electing representatives on the results of the parties discussing and debating the legislation. Today the current Canadian regime proved to supporters giving any elected party power to control any country is counterproductive. At least that is the contention of the ruling CPC Conservative Party of Canada to party supporters and the public. The only hope of anything resembling traditional parliamentary procedure seems to be a return to minority government rule which has served Canada well at times in the past.
The Senate formerly at least considered the respected chamber of serious second thought is now considered by some another ruling party endorsing organization. To that end several prestigious senators have resigned. The Senate leader even publicly challenged the current government’s attempt to influence the senate inappropriately over legislation that the ruling party passed through parliament with limited discussion. One party wrongly or rightly has denied the senators the right to attending party caucus meetings further weakening the role of the upper house. One opposition party claims it will eliminate the Senate if elected. That is likely an idle promise since the Supreme Court determined such an act would need a reopening of the constitution which could really change the country.
The government not scheduling meetings their provincial counterparts or the traditional practice of the Prime Minister meeting with all of the individual elected premiers in public is a recent change that the electorate might not sanctify in the future. The practice has really changed the way parliament operates but now that the practice is a fact future governments will undoubtedly use the same method to try and control provincial governments. That is another threat to country survival in a world with populations expanding faster than Canada.
Alienating veteran organizations and opposition accusation of putting the Veteran’s Affairs ministry under the sweeping program and job cuts without parliamentary discussion and debate is another change. It is difficult to believe the government and/or Veteran’s Ministry did not seem to plan for increased veteran needs after sending Canadian Forces to a war zone. At least that is one of the reasons for the current opposition minister resignation calls.
With the election of a new leader of Canada’s aboriginal community changes are inevitable. It is difficult to fault government with many of the wrongs the aboriginals claim. The aboriginal segment of the country’s population is fast growing but far from unified. Various segments of the aboriginal population appear opposed to direction and wishes related to government programs and issues. As long as aboriginals are divided, any elected government will not feel compelled to offer more than minimal attention to needs or issues.
It must be mentioned that the same aboriginal community has in some cases advanced at an unbelievable pace in the past few decades. Some advancement is due to leadership and resource development. Other advances are arguably the result of upscale government funding. On the other side all elected governments have been unable and probably unwilling to some extent to legislate assistance for isolated communities. Only political change can facilitate full integration into Canadian society. The solution is obviously for aboriginal youth to become political oriented and seek election to affect the changes. Demanding a “fair share” of anything while lacking political influence is a losing battle.
Having a police force that likes to be referred to as a service is something that Canada has with the Royal Canadians Mounted Police (RCMP). The police force or service is charged with policing most of the country aside from Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland/Labrador, some towns and most large cities. PM Harper and the CPC have increased the power of the national police force. Some less democratic nations have strong military forces that at times take over governments when the people in power determine full power is the antidote to problems and elections unnecessary. Canada at times at least according to media releases seems to be heading in the direction of having a police force that could be called upon to act as a quasi military organization. The current government seems intent on keeping the military as only an armed force for international issues such as sending fighter planes into battle. It is a scary scenario, but one that cannot be completely discounted when voters become complacent and fail to exercise the right to vote. Low voter turnout in most elections is an indication that democracy might be challenged in the future.
Maybe this week’s edition of MY CANADA is too negative to be taken seriously even though the issues presented are possible if not already in progress. However, the world is changing rapidly in other aspects such as the rise of ISIS caused by turmoil and invasion of the Middle East by America and its allies including Canada. Even more change might be in store if the predictions by scientists regarding escalating industrial pollution affecting climate becomes more than a subject for discussion.
