It’s all I can do to keep track of the Republican assault on democratic institutions on this side of the border, but in recent years, it has become more and more apparent that Harper and his Harlots are pulling out all the stops to establish a Republican Reich in Canada. The following piece documents this extensively.
Stephen Harper and his Conservatives have racked up dozens of serious abuses of power since forming government in 2006. From scams to smears, monkey-wrenching opponents to intimidating public servants like an Orwellian gorilla, some offences are criminal, others just offend human decency.
Last week we published 59 examples in two parts, and asked our readers to suggest any we may have missed. Among the many suggestions we gratefully received, we concluded that 11 more meet the criteria for "abuses of power." Today we compile all 70 items into one omnibus of abuse by the Stephen Harper government.
Thanks, once more, to friends of The Tyee who help with this list.
SECTION I. ABUSING PARLIAMENT: SABOTAGE, SCANDALS, CORRUPTION AND CONTEMPT
This section includes examples of willful misgoverning by the PM and his team, 31 times they have lied, flouted rules and stymied democracy to achieve political and ideological ends.
PMO Tied to Senate Hush Money Scandal
An RCMP affidavit reported widespread involvement by PMO staffers in a secret payment to Senator Mike Duffy to try and make a political problem go away. The Senate expenses scandal brought on allegations of a cover-up, a breach of the public trust, and a whitewashing of a Senate report. The PMO was found to have hand in the altering of a damning Deloitte audit.
Harper Found in Contempt of Parliament
For refusing to disclose information on the costing of programs to Parliament, which Parliament was entitled to receive, the Harper government became the first in Canadian history to be found in contempt of Parliament.
Against Court Order, Refusal to Share Budget Info
Even though it lost a court case and was ordered to comply, the Harper government nevertheless refused to share 170 times reasons and impacts for cuts with Canada’s independent budget watchdog, mocking Parliament’s right to control the public purse… [emphasis original]
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I have shared only three of SEVENTY examples of Harper’s criminal assault on Canadian freedom. Click through for the other SIXTY SEVEN, while we wait for our resident Canuck to expound on this.
15 Responses to “Have Republicans Invaded Canada?”
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I know it's no news to Lynn that Harper has done all of this.
One think I hope she can explain is, if Harper has refused required disclosure 170 times in the face of a court order, and if he defied court rulings in the Khadr case, and if some of his harlots have been tried and convicted, then why is he working from his office instead of from a cell? Yes, I know, Rick Perry, Rick Scott, Scott Walker. Aren't federal court systems specifically designed to be a check on executive abuses of power (and also legislative abuses of power)? Why are they not working, in both countries? What might improve them?
It figures that repukkklicans have migrated in to other countries! They have taken their show on the road in so many countries in Africa that you would think they have an office in all the places that have been demonizing the LGBT community!
But I thought that Canada was immune to the idiocy from the good ole US of A! I guess what goes around, comes around! They will get sick of it, just like we did and must Harper when they get enough. I hope before real damage is done to the families of the country!
Kudos to Lynn for hangin in there!
Seventy assaults on Canadian democracy and freedom in 9 years! And while is has gotten worse over the past few years as Harper and his goons got more cocky, it boggles the mind that they were re-elected with the amount of abuse they already had on their conscience. I know that most countries have a core of misogynistic, racist, corrupt and power hungry men at the right hand side of the political spectrum, but I would have thought Canada to be above accepting this kind of power abuse from its leaders and that it would have evoked a changing of the guards sooner than this, but they might not have may for the same reason as elsewhere: people are fed up with politics in general with too many career politicians across the whole spectrum just looking out for their own jobs and working to stay in power rather than to guide a country. They're representative of the "me and now" generations, with no vision of a future other than more money in their own.
Sadly the mental legacy of American republicans has found fertile grounds elsewhere too: I can see the signs in Europe, but Tony Abbott and his conservative liberals (if you're confused, have a look at the names of the parties in England) really take the cake. Only yesterday I was discussing Tony and his politics with an Australian (Care2) friend and she agreed wholeheartedly that Tony must get his memo's straight from Washington. Everything he tries seems to come from a blueprint not his own with a "made in the USA" stamp mark on it, but because he's too inept to adapt it to the Australian situation, both Labor and the media have him for breakfast as they did this morning on same-sex marriage and cutting down on CO2 emissions to stop global warming.
The litany of violations is more than what has led to military coops in some countries
Sometimes I wonder if that was there plan all along. Lets look at Trump "He says he is not beholding to any. He doesnot need anyones money. He keeps raising in the polls. His followers say that what we need is someone who can what he whats because his the money. He can buy anyone. and so on and so on. It is not in best insterest of our country have a dicator who can do anything he or she wants. Where only the rich surivor. Where there are dirty deals.(He saids he will do anything to get what he whats) So it is no suprise they would try the same under handed tricks. After all they are scare and to not know how handle anyone except the white man having all the power and money I bet that is not the only country they invaded
Unfortunately, yes. GOP's ideas and political influences have taken root there ever since bush and his cronies came into power in 2000.
The good people in Canada must get Harper and his harlots out of office and soon.
Harper should be arrested by the RCMP and taken to court for his many transgressions.
Perhaps the Kock brothers have expanded their empire and own more than just the US Congress.
Yes, the Repugs are in Canada – and over here too in the UK – Cameron is trying to get a bill through parliament in a few weeks that will stop people being able to strike – which is the only thing that people have left if treated unjustly. God help us all.
Many of you know that I have referred to Harper as a Republican over the past several years. And these 70 items tell a story of a politician drunk on power IMO, and one who is an absolute control freak. I had to laugh after the recent Leaders Debate when the Conservatives announced that Harper won the debate and their post said "Prime Minster wins debate". Most everybody who saw the debate know that no one won, but hey, the Tories need all the help they can get. Personally, I am hoping that they do a spectacular belly flop in the election pool and then sink out of sight.
The points in the article are quite true, and there are more. The government shamelessly ignores issues with First Nations and has to be shamed into feeble actions. Think Attawapiskat, the community in northern Ontario on the shores of James Bay. People were living in tents during the harsh winters and the school was closed because of excessive mold. Things have somewhat improved but it took a few sticks of dynamite shoved up the PM's ass to get his attention. And more recently there was the Truth and Reconciliation Report on the residential schools that persisted. Harper bearly offered an apology and in recent talks with the Pope, did not ask for an apology from the Catholic Church who ran many of the residential schools.
Prorogation of Parliament, a legal move, is mentioned in the article. What isn't mentioned here is that prorogation cannot be used for partisan reasons. Harper used it to block discussion of a budget and to block discussion of a critical report on Afghan detainees.
We talk about Boehner spending money in defense of DOMA which finally fell, not to mention the money used to fight the ACA. That's Harper fighting against assisted dying for the terminally ill. The BC Supreme Court gave the federal government 1 year to come up with legislation & guidelines to support the right to die. Harper disagrees with the right to die and has done nothing. Now there is an election which he knew about and should have planned for, but he didn't. So any legislation will not be available within the specified time.
Another incident that I recall involved Baby Bush and Cheney. As a signatory of the UN Convention Against Torture, Canada had a legal obligation to arrest both of these Republicanus/Teabaggerum when they were in Canada on speaking engagements. There was talk in Ottawa about it but Harper declined to do it.
As I recall, we had about 59-61% participation during the last election. Harper formed a majority government yet the Conservatives only had a 39.6% popular vote. Our first past the post system allowed this to happen. The Liberals and NDP are both talking about the need to reform elections and I agree. Unlike the US system were there is a vote for POTUS, we elect Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister comes from those members. The PM is elected by the people of his riding only.
JD, to answer your question, I'll pose another "Why weren't Baby Bush and Cheney arrested for crimes against humanity?"
Lynn, I knew that would be brought up. But Baby Bush and Darth Chaney have managed to avoid being declared in contempt of Congress. Or having been slapped with a court order – failure to comply is an issue that is already in the courts. Bush and Cheney have managed to stay out of the courts here, and aren't traveling to any countries where they have been named in court. With no court order or judgment, who is going to arrest them? Of course, that alone is a sin and a shame. But when you have got Harper cold for failure to comply with a court order, how come he can't be locked up for that?
PS – Signed this – https://bccla.org/dont-spy-on-me/?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonvanKZKXonjHpfsX56%2BosWaC3lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4DTMRmI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFTbfBMbNo1bgPWRk%3D
Yes, it seems the Koch's influence spread it's ugliness into the North.
This is disgusting to see….our despicable Rethug influence spreads North AND across the pond. Really sounding more and more corrupt, but if no one gives enough of a flip to vote, they get what they deserve, just like we did!
Welcome back!
Thanks to all. Kudos to Lynn, whom I knew would add to our perspective.