Australian Newspaper Comments on Erosion of Canadian Democracy

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Thought provoking article on the Harper government written for an Australian newspaper from a Waterloo Prof

The centralisation of power in the hands of the prime minister and political staffers - with the resulting diminution of the role and status of cabinet, parliaments and parliamentarians - is common to Anglo-Saxon democracies in Australia, Britain, Canada and the US, but the extent to which constitutional conventions, parliamentary etiquette and civil institutions of good governance have been worn away in Canada is cause for concern.

While much of this article is an opinion piece with a Liberal bias...does the author have a valid point when he says
Canadians seem largely apathetic about the erosion of their democracy.

[RougeUnderoos]

Typical leftist bull$#### from the Globe and Mail and some commie "professor" at some cut-rate "university". Never worked a day in his life, I'm sure. These "intellectuals" make me sick.

The guy is probably a f@g.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by rougeunderoos

typical leftist bull$#### from the globe and mail and some commie "professor" at some cut-rate "university". Never worked a day in his life, i'm sure. These "intellectuals" make me sick.

The guy is probably a f@g.

:d

[Flame Of Liberty]

I'll trade you Julia Gilliard for a bag of pucks. That woman is a witch.

[Mad Mel]

Um... it was a Canadian commenting on Canadian democracy. Holy misleading title.

[To Be Quite Honest]

The decline in the interest of our nations politics is curious and dangerous as well. If we as a society actually paid attention to our countries policy like they did with UBB we would be in a much better and free place.

No to actually read this article.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

Um... it was a Canadian commenting on Canadian democracy. Holy misleading title.

It's printed in a Australian newspaper...so I assume they condone the piece.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Thought provoking article on the Harper government written for an Australian newspaper from a Waterloo Prof

The centralisation of power in the hands of the prime minister and political staffers - with the resulting diminution of the role and status of cabinet, parliaments and parliamentarians - is common to Anglo-Saxon democracies in Australia, Britain, Canada and the US, but the extent to which constitutional conventions, parliamentary etiquette and civil institutions of good governance have been worn away in Canada is cause for concern.

While much of this article is an opinion piece with a Liberal bias...does the author have a valid point when he says
Canadians seem largely apathetic about the erosion of their democracy.

So . . . . . uh, vote 'em out if its a problem.

Ultimately, the mechanisms within the democracy remain in place to have a remedy if the common man/woman feels the style of governance, which is really what we're talking about, is a problem.

"The resulting diminution of the role and status of cabinet, parliaments and parliamentarians" and the "diminuation of democracy" are probably two separate topics and don't have to be related.

It's not like Chretien wasn't a mini-dictator either.

Petty dictator Harper and his slate of drones are in front of the polls right now. Make a change if that's your bent.

Good grief.

Whiny Liberal homo's.

Cowperson

[Kev]

They obviously don't understand how little power the Canadian government really has?

[Mass_nerder]

"Ramesh Thakur is professor of political science at the University of Waterloo and adjunct professor, Institute of Governance, Ethics and Law, Griffith University"
For those of you mislead by the title

[mykalberta]

With the media in this country the way it is, Harper cannot allow his more "rural" riding MPs to speak to the press openly else the media will as they have done in the past take their opinions as the opinions of the whole party and use them to slander the party across the country and say look - there is the secret agenda we have been talking about blah blah blah

MPs can operate their own departments as they see fit, however the message from the Conservative party must be clear, concise, and forceful.

What having a centralized voice has allowed them to do is remain a more centrist party with a chance to form government else they would be nothing more than the Bloc - a joke who has no chance of forming government.

[peter12]

It's funny but it's really the weenies sitting in the House that are to blame for this mess. If MPs would start putting the heat on in caucus, they might have a chance of breaking the absolutism of party discipline.

[Reggie Dunlop]

A lot of it is Preston Manning's fault. He has bequeathed a political legacy of shame.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Typical leftist bull$#### from the Globe and Mail and some commie "professor" at some cut-rate "university". Never worked a day in his life, I'm sure. These "intellectuals" make me sick.

The guy is probably a f@g.

What does that have to do with anything?

[DFO]

So what was the deal with Chretien's tenure then? Didn't see much 'democracy' going on.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

So . . . . . uh, vote 'em out if its a problem.

Too apathetic. Amazing Race is on.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by troutman

Too apathetic. Amazing Race is on.

Also, want new shoes.

[Ashartus]

The centralization of power in the Prime Minister's Office has been going on since Trudeau, and just seems to keep getting worse. I don't think it's a left or a right issue - Conservatives and Liberals have both contributed. Peter12 is correct though - if MPs would stand on their own and represent their constituents rather than blindly obeying orders from the party the trend could be reversed.

[Calgaryborn]

As a western Canadian I would like to see the out-lawing of party whips. Members should be able vote their conscience and refect the views of the people who voted for them.
I also like the American system of two Senators from each State. Instead of voting for them they should be appointed by the Provinces and remain in office until removed by the provincal government.

[peter12]

Well, the Whip is pretty important. I say all votes should be free, except budget votes.