Taking the Democracy out of Democracy

rabble.ca Canadian federal election blog - Thinking big or acting small

So let’s take stock of what the Harper Conservatives have done since being elected—as a minority government.

They questioned the credibility (Linda Keen, Marc Raynard) and then fired (Adrian Measner, Linda Keen) civil servants who prioritized their legal mandate and public responsibility over demands from the PMO.

They eliminated a program that helped guarantee marginalized organizations and individuals equal access to the justice system (Court Challenges Program).

They sued Elections Canada when it questioned whether their party violated campaign spending laws (“In-and-Out” scheme). They provided their MPs with a step-by-step guide to ensure parliamentary dysfunction.

And they severely restricted the media’s and the public’s access to information (eliminating the national Co-ordination of Access to Information Requests System).

And that’s just for starters.