Guardian UK: Shafting democracy in Canada

[marmar]

Shafting democracy in Canada
The prime minister's suspension of parliament has created angry voiceless citizens whose votes have become meaningless

Heather Malick
guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 January 2010 17.00 GMT


If there was a gold medal for shafting democracy at the Winter Olympics, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would win it. Just before the games open in Vancouver, he has halted parliament in its tracks, suspending it for the second time in little more than a year.

Canada will not have a House of Commons until March 3. Instantly, we are a part-time democracy, a shabby diminished place packed with angry voiceless citizens whose votes have been rendered meaningless. Harper didn't even visit the governor-general of Canada for the formality of asking permission as he did last Christmas. Instead, he phoned her and got his PR man to send out an announcement to the nation.

Rage and shame are flowing on the internet because there is nowhere else for voters to turn. Even The Globe and Mail, Canada's national and excessively staid newspaper, had a front-page editorial steaming with reproach. The Globe often leaves me frustrated, but I was moved when I read it and … did what exactly? I took a stand. I joined a Facebook group called Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament, an earnestly pathetic act that may be part of the reason our nation is so lessened on the first day of 2010.

Look, I can't even call my federal MP, a Liberal member of the opposition, because she's effectively out of commission for the next two months. All that's left to me is to tell you what it's like here and why you should care. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/01/democracy-stephen-harper

[virgogal]

1. Wow! And all this time I thought Canada was the perfect country.

Looks like they have their problems too.

[polly7]

9. Gee I've never heard that and I've lived here all my life.

I have never heard anyone, anytime, claim Canada is a perfect country. Why the animosity?

[virgogal]

19. No animosity whatsoever------it's just that I never,ever hear anything

bad about Canada (exception: The Montreal Canadiens---I'm in Bruins country.)

My Mom was born on Cape Breton and I love Nova Scotia.

[DonCoquixote]

20. Because

Not all, but some Canucks have shown some Malice, using the internet to say "SEE AMERIKASUX!" Not all, indeed, most of the Canadians here have been fine folks, but go over to a site like SmirkingChimp, and you will see some people that do NOT do your country proud. Granted, many there do not do my country proud either.

Of course, I remember shutting them up when I pointed out that when the Quebecois come down to my part of Florida, they laugh hard at the way some English Canadians polish their halo. It becomes a funny contest of sorts, to see who hates Ottawa more, the visiting tourist from Montreal, who votes Bloc Quebecois and complains Ottawa does not do enough to include the French, or the tourist visiting from Alberta, who hates Ottawa because they "cater too much to the French!, and who think Stephen Harper is getting a raw deal from papers like the Toronto Star (aka the "Red Star.")

Oh, America is indeed a f--ed up country, just that most countries are f--ed up by the nature of the beast.

[polly7]

21. I've also seen quite a bit of malice against Canadians.

On message boards, news outlet comment sections, Fox (they really shouldn't count, but it cost them bigtime with Shaw Direct up here.) Not to mention the cars vandalized shopping across the border after Chretien's refusal to to into Iraq. Threatened with bullets to the head for critizing Bush's war on another message board. Quite a few things actually that didn't do 'anyone' (a whole country??) proud, but you're right, most countries are indeed f'd up in one way or another. Canadians complain pretty loudly about our own to tell you the truth, maybe it won't be so bad if we can get rid of Harper. We do wish we'd hear a bit more complaining about the tar sands, and our involvement in Afghanistan but somehow those things aren't mentioned a lot.

[DonCoquixote]

25. To clarify

In no way did I say the people involved represent most Canadians, indeed, part of the reason I got off Smirking Chimp and other boards is because people here, despite the best efforts of lurkers and unrecers, do try to be more positive and productive. Fox should not count at all, as they are, frankly, a Fifth Column led by Rupert Murdoch, who does not do Australia proud. No need to get defensive Aussies, you have all preached long and hard that Murdoch does not speak for you, and this Yank tyhanks you for that.

To sum up, most canucks have been good that I know, and I will admit, America could learn a lot from you; all the same, the power brokers that are buying and selling this world have gotten to the point where they do not need countries to hide behind as much. Baghdad, New York, Vancouver, Beijing, we are all in the same boat, and flags are useless against our real enemies.

[BolivarianHero]

36. At least the BQ supporters are not one slur away from a white robe...

I'd proudly vote BQ to keep a Liberal or Tory out of office.

[polly7]

40. Me too, and I live in Saskatchewan.

[BolivarianHero]

45. Decent progressives in the BQ...

Still some losers though. I am a New Democrat and was disappointed to see my party run against a labour activist BQ incumbent in Quebec City, win 7,000 votes, and have the Tories take the seat by 150 votes. And it was even a riding where a very right-wing Liberal cabinet minister (anti-gay, pro-corporate, pro-war...though I'm sure most Liberal hacks here would deny Helene Scherrer's existence to the grave) was ousted by said labour activist in the previous election.

[Cleita]

2. Sounds like PM Harper is doing the preliminary work on setting up a

one party system and himself as dictator. He was fired by the people. Why is he still able to run over parliament that way? Hitler did similar political maneuvering to entrench himself in power. Harper must be using his M/O.

[Posteritatis]

34. Mmmm, hyperbole. (nt)

[Canuckistanian]

3. My wife and I are fuming about this

Suddenly, this "little-used" procedure has been used TWICE in as many years. And the Governor General, Michaelle Jean has granted it automatically, it seems, without even a day's delay.

And this time, it's not being used to delay drastic action like a premature election, but merely to provide Harper with a little "comfort space" to avoid dealing with a growing scandal (Afghan prison torture). Also, he wants the time to pack our appointed Senate with Conservative members - thus ensuring that his bills pass smoothly in committee.

Already, comparisons are being made to dictatorships. This is HUGE among us pro-democracy Canadians.

[clear eye]

4. I'd hope it's huge.

Sorry not to hear about a drastic response, like a gen'l strike. Y'know the people will go back to work when Parliament's allowed to?

What's the biggest Canadian civil liberties org? What're the opposition parties doing?

[HowHasItComeToThis]

5. will HARPER DESTROY CANADA LIKE BUSH DESTROYED AMERICA

CONSERVATIVE EQUAL ANAL RETENTIVE

[Canuckistanian]

8. If he tries, his ass will be booted out in March

He'll have 2 1/2 months or so to enjoy his little kingdom. The very first vote will be a Budget vote, which means if it fails, he has to call an election.

Until then, we're powerless to stop anything.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

14. and then in comes a Liberal minority, wait a year and repeat

Welcome to Italy,

[polly7]

11. He's trying hard.

His last campaign was the dirtiest I can remember, there's no way he intends on giving up power before he ruins as much as he possibly can.

[EFerrari]

23. He is creating a permissive environment for all kinds of abuses.

The Canadian company "Pacific Rim" has hired thugs to kill activists in El Salvador who are getting between them and their raping of the land.

http://www.rightsaction.org/articles/Salvador_mining_muders_123009.html

[Canuckistanian]

6. The opposition parties are doing dick

There's nothing they CAN do. It's entirely up to the gov't in power.

The opposition parties almost came together last year, but chickened out. This may force them to reconsider. But since the House of Commons isn't going to meet until March, nothing can be done.

It's an outrage.

[clear eye]

10. They could call for something from the citizenry

rather than settle for a politely critical press release: http://www.greenparty.ca/media-release/2010-01-01/greens-harper-we-are-working-why-arent-you

Cheney threatened the U.S. Congress w/ this if they didn't pass the first bailout ASAP, but it would have to have been martial law since we have no provisions for temporary dissolution in our Constitution

The Greens could announce that they will sponsor a Constitutional amendment to revoke this power if Harper keeps abusing it, or they could even call for a French-style gen'l strike. Sounds like they just want it to continue to upset people so it can be used in the next elections as an issue.

[clear eye]

12. The NDP has nothing on its website.

The website includes all statements, press releases and speeches. Zip. Nada. It's not happening there.

http://www.ndphttp://www.ndp.ca/

Guess it's okay w/ them.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

15. The NDP is useless,

What was once a strong European style Christian Democrat party with a strong rural base and strong ties to labor has become a single issue urban douchebag party for people who want to close the old Toronto airport.

[clear eye]

16. What happened?

And what party do Canadian social democrats have to vote for in federal elections?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

18. Pierre Trudeau

Trudeau took the Liberal Party from the far right to the center and cut the NDP off at the knees.

[clear eye]

26. By getting the labor union money? n/t

[Spazito]

32. There is good reason why there is nothing on this on their site...

It is due to them Harper is still there. When there was an opportunity to bring down this government, the NDP under Layton chose to prop them up. The NDP used to be a principled party, no longer unfortunately. They need to dump Layton and until they do they have little credibility, imo.

[DonCoquixote]

43. No offense meant, but

If there is one thing we learned here in the States, it is that the moment "when our guys get into power" never comes, because the goalposts will just keep getting moved. Do not end up like we did, make Stephen Harper as useless as possible, even if, especially if, it seems futile, because, as ludicrous as it seems, the right will see even a practical, reasonable, let up to catch your breath as a surrender, and the media will help them paint it that way until the sheep bleat it 24-7.

[Canuckistanian]

44. I have no illusions that my party, the NDP will ever get in

But we have 5 major parties and 4 of them are left or center left. If they would just get together, they could put Harper and his merry band of fascists out of power.

We may end up with a Liberal minority government, but at least we'll get Harper away from the Prime Minister's chair, where he's quickly amassing power for himself.

[clear eye]

7. I see that the Green Party has settled for a polite, but critical press release.>>

http://www.greenparty.ca/media-release/2010-01-01/greens-harper-we-are-working-why-arent-you

Looks like they'd rather let it go on and hope it gets them more votes next election, than call for real protest.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

13. This is where things can get interesting, and colonial...

The functional collapse of the Canadian government raises some interesting questions about the colonial laws that remain in effect. The Governor General of Canada has become a largely ceremonial and non-partisan role, but the constitutional powers of the position remain virtually unchanged from colonial times other than the fact they are no longer a member of the British Cabinet and strictly an agent of the King or Queen.

[Oregone]

17. Im glad Harper killed C-15

Other than that he is sorta a prick, but this just helps give the liberals momentum in the next election

[Libertas1776]

22. Can you say the Republic of Canada?

Cut the umbilical cord, guys, and give the Queen the boot.

[polly7]

27. Done that, long ago.

The Canada Act 1982 (1982 c. 11) is an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament that ended all remaining dependence of Canada on the United Kingdom, by a process known as "patriation". It includes the text of the Constitution Act, 1982, in both of Canada's official languages, in Schedule B, and a translation of the main body into French in Schedule A, making it the first British Act of Parliament since the Middle Ages to be passed in the French language.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Act_1982

Although Queen Elizabeth II is also monarch of the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom does not have any sovereignty over Canada

As in the UK, the Queen's role is nearly entirely symbolic and cultural, and the powers that are theoretically hers are exercised wholly upon the advice of the elected government. In exceptional circumstances, however, the Queen may act against such advice based upon her reserve powers. In practice, the monarchy functions much like a rubber stampRubber stamp is a political metaphor referring to an institution that has little power and rarely disagrees with more powerful organs. For example, in a dictatorship, the parliament may be little more than a rubber stamp of approval on the dictator's decr and a symbol of executive authority. It is often explained that the Queen reigns but does not rule. For more explanation of the Queen's role, see Governor General of Canada.
Queen Elizabeth II, as is common for all her other non-UK realms, usually assumes the role of "Queen of Canada" only when she is either present in Canada or (occasionally) when she performs certain ceremonies relevant to Canada (such as conferring Canadian honours) in the UK. The majority of the Queen's duties are now performed by the Governor General, although she could technically override any of the Governor General's decisions. However, this convention has been excepted during certain visits to the United States, since it has become traditional for the Queen to incorporate such visits into some of her longer Canadian tours. In 1959, for example, the return dinner for the President of the United States was held at the Canadian, not the British, embassy.
http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Canadian:Monarchy.htm

[rockymountaindem]

24. The Canadians will be begging to join the US in no time

Then, my fellow Amerinadians, we will truly have it all :toast:

[polly7]

28. No offense, but I couldn't picture that in a million years.

[rockymountaindem]

29. Oh I could.

Toronto. It will be mine :loveya:

[polly7]

30. Doubtful, but maybe if you cede maybe a northeastern state

we'll give you Forget, or something. It has a good biker bar.

[Spazito]

33. Wellll, I'm willing to trade you Alberta for California!

Fair trade, no?

:rofl:

[polly7]

38. No thanks. But you can have the a**holes that believe Alberta IS

Canada.

[Spazito]

41. LOL, I want to lose Alberta (I live here, yikes, lol) and gain California!

I think it's a great trade for us (Canadians) but not so much for Americans, lol.

[polly7]

42. I used to live in Northern Alberta, it was gorgeous.

But, I moved out, so I guess if you want to trade it's your call:) :)

[Odin2005]

31. Why the fuck did Canucks elect that fascist pig?

[Posteritatis]

35. Most of us didn't. (nt)

[Posteritatis]

37. I find it a bit annoying that that article only thinks the prorogation was about the Olympics. (nt)

[polly7]

39. The Olympics are such a convenient excuse, and really pathetic.

Harper has no intention of dealing with the Afghanistan detainee issue brought up recently, and is still ducking and hiding from his poor showing at Copenhagen. He's so dishonest, yet so transparent. The worst part is he just laughs it off.