Excellent summary of the issues around Prorogation 2 by the Harper government

by the Real News
http://www.acreativerevolution.ca/node/2326

Correction: They state that about 5,000 people showed up at the Jan 23, 2010 rally in Toronto. Actually, about 10,000 were there.

Note: one of the people they spoke to said that this issue would all blow over by March when Parliament re-opens. However, the protest movement is still growing and Harper's conservatives are still dropping in the polls. I don't think this will blow over. I think it is blowing up in Harper's face.

Protests against the Harper government continue

Unprecedented abuse of power by Canadian PM Harper spawns
...
Further national and local protests are
expected in the coming weeks, including a torch relay planned to
coincide with the Vancouver Winter Olympics. A new forum site, http://noprorogue.whyweprotest.net was created
on the day of the national demonstrations to support the efforts of
protesters around the country. In addition to providing a platform for
sharing and preserving records of the January 23rd protests, these
forums will give participants an opportunity to organize further events,
discuss concerns about the Prime Minister, and educate the public about
the threat to Canadian democracy on a national and international scale.


Contact
noprorogue at : noprorogue.whyweprotest@gmail.com
Visit : http://noprorogue.whyweprotest.net

The main whistle-blower in the Afghan scandal having his legal funding halted

Diplomat-whistleblower says he faces government reprisal - thestar.com
First the Conservatives prorogue to run away from the demands for the documents in the Afghan Detainee Torture Scandal, then they stop the legal funding for the whistle blower in hopes that he will go away too.

Questions for the PM

Questions for proroguing PM - thestar.com
The Star published a decent set of questions for the PM to answer, including things like "When will you release the documents demanded by Parliament showing communications among officials about the risk of torture for detainees handed over by Canadian troops to Afghan custody?", and others covering if he will recall Parliament earlier than planed, cutting off funding to KAIROS, how his GST Tax cut has helped create the deficit (the Star should have included the larger corporate tax cuts here as they are the largest contributor to the deficit, along with the mis-managed recession spending), unemployment, environment, and pensions.

This is a good starting point. It's unfortunate that Harper has prorogued Parliament because these are some of the urgent questions and issues that would be covered in Parliament were it up and running. So far Harper and members of his party and the MSM for the most part have brushed off questions about recalling Parliament and about the rising numbers of concerned Canadians speaking out and showing their disagreement with the prorogation of Parliament. it will be interesting to see if Harper and his team and the MSM continue to ignore the growing unrest in Canada.

Typo in the Toronto Star?

Thousands protest the prorogue - thestar.com
In Toronto, the estimated 3,000-strong turnout briefly forced the closing of Yonge St.
Yesterday, police estimated that there were about 7,000 people at the Toronto rally. Orgnizers estimated about 15,000. Other professionals estimated closer to 9,000 to 10,000.
The crowd in Ottawa was estimated about 3,000-4,5000.
Did the Star say 3,000 for Toronto by mistake? Or, are they lowering the numbers to make the rally look less than it was?

I was at the rally. I would say it was much much bigger than 3,000. I've been to many large assemblies and concerts in my life and estimate it was about 10,000.

For more details on the rallies, with more accurate reporting on the numbers, see:
Anti-Prorogue Rallies across Canada - Jan, 2010

Addendum

Any responsible media organization would find out how many people showed up by talking to at least one professional source. For most things like this, the source is the police who are at the event. They estimated 7,000. One of the organizers made a good point that the total must have been 10,000 to 12,000 as he said that they only close off all of ... See MoreBay St if the crowd is over 10,000. So, by the time of the march, the crowd had grown larger (than the 7,000 the police initially estimated). We were there. We know that the march filled the street for many blocks - segments of the route on Yonge, Queen, Bay and Gerrard were all totally closed to traffic as we filled the streets for many blocks, spilling onto the sidewalks.

So, this begs the question - the Star must have got the number of at least 7,000 for the Toronto rally, so - why did they report much less? Either they got it mixed up with the Ottawa number, which was about 3,000, or, they want to downplay the rallies. Or, maybe it was both these reasons. Regardless, if they do publish a correction, it will be buried and un-noticed by most readers.

Reason for downplaying the rallies? They, like the other large media companies, are large corporations. And Harper gave large corporations many billions of dollars in tax decreases over the past few years. (So much so that we will now see a great reduction in services as a result). The Star does not want to bite the hand that feeds it.

Anti-Prorogue Rallies across Canada - Jan 23, 2010

TORONTO RALLY:
I got there at about 12:45 and Dundas Square was already full. I went upstairs across the street to a 3rd floor flower shop window and took a photo of the square. Within an hour there were many thousands more people. I wandered all around the square taking pictures and talking to people. Everyone seemed pretty excited and well-informed about the issues surrounding this prorogation by Harper.

Of the various big TV news stations/networks I only saw Global and CBC - no CTV. Maybe the CTV crew was there before 1pm and that is why they estimated the crowd was only 1,000 people (It must have been only 1,000 people around 12:30pm - half an hour before the rally began.)

It was a very peaceful and well-mannered protest rally.

There were people of all ages and political preference at the rally.

Just before we marched, we all sang the national anthem (about 10,000 Canadians singing the anthem together!). I don't think there are many other times I've ever felt more proud while singing our anthem than at the rally today.

Here are the photos I took at the Rally.

Here is a video of the protest march princesssparkle posted to Youtube.

Toronto rally video

Toronto march up Bay St video - 7 minutes long - gives you an idea of the numbers of people there.

http://www.blogto.com/city/2010/01/canadians_against_proroguing_parliament_protest_in_photos/

A headcount on the Toronto Rally - over 18,000 people

National Anthem video



OTHER REPORTS ON RALLIES ACROSS CANADA AND PHOTOS:
A follow-up by Judy Rebick (Judy Rebick is a Canadian  journalist, political activist, and feminist. She is currently the Canadian Auto Workers–Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy at Ryerson University in Toronto.)
A great day for democracy in Canada
and video of her speech at the Toronto rally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIQv6LlcFHI&annotation_id=annotation_151845&feature=iv

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/01/23/prorogue-protests.html

http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com/2010/01/23/my-call-the-anti-prorogue-rallies-are-a-success/

Patricia reported on the CAPP FB page: We met an old friend, retired pro cameramen, who stopped to watch: said his pro opinion was up to 10,000, minimum 5000 on the march in Toronto. Woo-hoo!
CTV: "There are so many demonstrators, they cannot fit inside Yonge-Dundas
Square. Police shut down Yonge Street between Queen Street and Dundas.

Justin Arjoon of CAPP(Toronto chapter) said Jan 24th of the Toronto Rally: Thank you all for showing up and providing your support to us. We estimate there were about 10-12 thousand people there (the square holds 7, we were over capacity, and they only shut down all of bay st if there's more than 10,000 people).

I read that Steve Pakin of TVO estimated that about 10,000 people were at the Toronto rally.

Photos by Todd Claydon on FB

Vote in the on-line CTV poll!

http://www.mediastyle.ca/2010/01/estimated-25000-canadians-rally-for-democracy/

http://www.sindark.com/2010/01/23/media-from-the-anti-prorogation-protests/

Trevor Strong performing The Wild Proroguer at the Ottawa rally.

Lots more photos from rallies

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/01/23/12587651.html#/news/canada/2010/01/23/pf-12587111.html

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=10580339&id=516195423&ref=mf&fbid=440592095423#/album.php?aid=370175&id=516195423

http://skinnydips.blogspot.com/2010/01/macleans-blog-toronto-anti-prorogation.html

http://www.flickr.com/groups/distinctlycanadian/pool/

The NoProrogue - Why We Protest site
http://noprorogue.whyweprotest.net/

NDP to push for reforms regarding prorogation of parliament

NDP propose restrictions on Harper’s powers | NDP
...
“Today I am announcing that the New Democrats will bring proposals for legislation to limit the power of prorogation so the Prime Minister cannot abuse it. The government should only prorogue Parliament on a vote in the House of Commons. This will inform the Governor General of the will of the majority, so that prorogation happens when it is needed – not simply when the Prime Minister feels like it.
“In five days, on January 25, we will be here on the Hill, ready to do the jobs Canadians elected us to do. We will have MPs on the job, here in Ottawa, but we’ll be fanning out across the country too. Teams of our MPs will visit ridings and talk to Canadians about EI and pensions, climate change and credit card protection, all the critical issues facing our country.
...

Opposition fights back on Prorogation

Opposition fights back on prorogation - thestar.com
Both the Liberal and NDP leaders are in support of the Facebook group Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament and what it stands for.

The Liberals are going to hold hearings, with key speakers who were silenced by Harper.

...

Opposition critics say the latest move was a deliberate attempt to muzzle a parliamentary committee’s probe into the treatment of Afghan detainees.

But Layton said today that the three opposition parties have agreed to continue their investigation unofficially with hearings scheduled to resume Feb. 3.

The prorogation also meant the end of more than 30 pieces of legislation. Parliament had been due to resume Jan. 25.

In a speech attended by NDP MPs and party supporters, Layton ripped Harper’s decision to suspend Parliament, accusing the prime minister of showing “disdain” for MPs and Canadians.

“With so many challenges facing Canada – job creation, climate change, the war in Afghanistan – Parliament must be able to do its work,” Layton said.

“The Prime Minister must be held to account,” he said.

Layton suggested that Harper may pay a political price for his decision to prorogue Parliament, extending a Christmas recess for MPs until Mar. 3.

“There’s been a real uprising of Canadians against this notion that you simply shut down Parliament whenever you feel like it as Prime Minister,” Layton said.

He said that NDP members will be active participants in cross-country rallies planned for this Saturday to protest the prorogation and called for a “new politics.”

“The new politics says there’s a better way forward – an end to secrecy and arrogance, the beginning of openness and accountability,” Layton said.
...

Responsible accountable government is worth defending

Goar: Parliament is broken, not worthless - thestar.com

...
Since Harper was first elected four years ago, he has systematically silenced inconvenient voices. He began with his own MPs and cabinet ministers – they can no longer speak without authorization. Next, he shut down parliamentary committees. Then he fired or cut short the mandates of independent public watchdogs. Then he turned on public servants who tried to sound the alarm. And now he has prorogued Parliament twice.

This may all seem distant and theoretical to you. How does it affect your life if an irritating, dysfunctional debating forum is shuttered?

• It means the government will operate behind closed doors this winter. When Parliament is closed, Harper and his ministers can avoid public scrutiny. The government can spend taxpayers' dollars unwatched. It can act unilaterally.

If you trust Harper implicitly, this is not a problem. If you don't, it is.

• It means your taxes will be used to provide each of Canada's 308 MPs with a 12-week paid Christmas break. They'll earn $35, 867.62 during this hiatus. They could work in their constituencies, of course. But they could also do party business, look after their personal affairs or take it easy. You have no way of knowing.

If you consider this good value for your money, you're not affected. If you don't, you are.

• It means you and 34 million other Canadians are involuntarily relinquishing your say in the nation's affairs. It was already pretty tenuous. For the past 35 years, Liberal and Conservative prime ministers have weakened Parliament to strengthen their own grip on power. Harper has gone further than any of his predecessors, capitalizing on an ineffective opposition and a tuned-out populace.

If you think this slide toward one-man government is fine, a shuttered Parliament is no problem. If want to preserve the fragile safeguards that remain, it is.

The stakes go beyond the here-and-now, beyond Harper's political tactics, beyond the ill-tempered, unproductive wrangling in the House of Commons.

If Parliament loses its legitimacy, your children and their children will have no institution capable of reining in an autocratic leader or a government that is out of control.

If people with talent, fresh ideas and clear principles give up on Parliament, the best hope of fixing it will be lost.

It may not bother you if democracy is diminished.

It does trouble Canadians who believe the rights their forebears fought and died to protect are worth defending.

Are you so superficial that you only vote for the most charismatic leader?

One argument, regarding current Canadian politics and the reason why someone voted for Harper, that I bump into often (usually from Internet trolls) is that there is no one else to vote for. Are you so superficial that you only vote for who you see as the most charismatic leader? What about their party policies, ideals and values? What about their plan?

If the plan of one party was to destroy Canada as we know it and replace it with a bad dream from George Bush's head, and that party had, in your view, the most charismatic leader, would you vote for that party? But, I believe I waste my time as you probably don't even know the word charismatic.

I think this is how Harper got some of his votes. Yes, it is too bad that some of the electorate are as dumb as stumps and proud of it! But there will always be this group no matter how much we try to promote book learnin'.

The only group of people who have benefited, or will benefit from Harper's plan are the wealthy - period. So, if you are wealthy and dis-compassionate and don't care about other humans or the environment or the future of this country or life in general, then Harper is who you vote for. But, I don't think this group is as big as 30% of the Canadian electorate. Maybe 1% if that. So, that leaves the other 29%. Who are they? Why did they vote for Harper? They must be people, like those mentioned above, who aren't intelligent enough to know better. They are duped by the Tory-supporting MSM. They are duped by campaign promises, and even vote again for a party that obviously lied in the last election campaign.

If you are part of this group and feel offended by what I have written, then there is hope for you. Only the truly evil or stupid would not be offended if they are part of this group. For those of you who are, do some research and find out the truth behind the man behind the curtain (Harper).

Here are some links to get you started:
http://drivingtheporcelainbus.blogspot.com/2010/01/harper-attack-on-canadian-democracy.html
http://drivingtheporcelainbus.blogspot.com/2010/01/harper-plan.html
http://drivingtheporcelainbus.blogspot.com/2010/01/canada-failures-have-been-deliberately.html
http://drivingtheporcelainbus.blogspot.com/2010/01/insight-to-stephen-harper-from-his-1997.html

And visit the Facebook group Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament
They aren't really against prorogation. They are against this particular recent prorogation, which was done for completely selfish reasons and not any responsible-to-Canada reason.

Educate yourself before you vote next time. Don't vote for who the media says is a winner. Don't vote for who has the nicest sweater. Vote for a party that truly represents your views and ideals. And read between the lines, get a second opinion.

Here is a good site for alternative news and views in Canada:
http://www.progressivebloggers.ca/

And if you are war supporter, especially a supporter of going to war or killing people for no good reason, you are in the wrong country. Canadians, the majority of Canadians, support peacekeeping, not war-making. War is not a game, like hockey or football. It is serious. People get killed - hundreds and thousands of innocent civilians like you and me - in war. And they don't come back to life (like in video games). Think about the consequences before you say things like At least Harper is beefing up our military. Ask yourself - what for? Why is the current government pumping a lot of money into killing people in another country that never threatened us or our way of life? The answer is not for what the mainstream media is telling you - to give Afghanistan a democracy - that has been proven to be untrue time and again.

I guess I left one group out of who supports people like Harper and his party in elections - couch mass murderers. I would hope there are not too many of them in Canada.

Harper's Plan

One thing about Canada that really steams up Harper is our social support system - healthcare, education, employment insurance, welfare, public transit, etc.
Well, he has been working on dismantling all of it. Here is how.

Step One - Reduce Government income
By reducing the GST, and lowering corporate income tax, Harper has reduced yearly income for the government by about $20 billion. - Accomplished.

Step Two - Create a Financial Crisis
The Recession gave him the perfect cover to spend money. Harper spent so much money with his infrastructure projects in Conservative ridings, and generally mismanaged money - mainly spending on his friends and those loyal to the party - that we went from a surplus to now having a deficit of over $50 billion - Accomplished.

Step Three - Cut Programs
He has finally reached the final stage. This is where he claims that times are tough and with our big deficit and debt, we must tighten our belts and we will have to cut programs. He has already been cutting all sorts of programs and support to important things. But now he will begin to cut spending to our vital national programs.
He had to prorogue parliament or the Afghan scandal would have derailed his government and spoiled his plan. Proroguing parliament hopefully will backfire and we will be able to get rid of him as soon as possible.

Wake up Canada! Come out of your caves and pay attention. Our country is being destroyed by someone who cares nothing for our way of life or our values. it's time to stand up to him and toss him out!


See also: Here Come The Spending Cuts
and
First Prorogue, Then Eviscerate

The most wasteful government in Canadian history wants you to tighten your belt

Socialism for rich is Tory way
by Frances Russell

Owen Gray makes some excellent points about Harper's plan in his post:
The Wrecking Crew
excerpt:
Because Mr. Harper and the recently retired American president have so obviously drunk from the same well, Mr. Bliss's opinions should be considered alongside those of Thomas Frank, whose book, The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule, is a fascinating chronicle of the second Bush administration and its discontents. Frank says that neo-conservatives, like Bush and Harper, champion four key objectives once in office. First, they oppose bringing top notch talent into government service. Second, they wreck "established federal operations," because they disagree with them. Third, they make a cult of outsourcing and privatizing. And, finally, they pile up "an Everest of debt" in order to force government into crisis. The results are cataclysmic. "The ruination they have wrought has been thorough;" Frank writes, "it has been a professional job. Repairing it will take years of political action."

When one considers what the present government has done in office, the parallels are stark. The way it has treated Linda Keen, Paul Kennedy and Richard Colvin speaks volumes about its ability to attract and keep good talent. Its handbook advising caucus members on ways to obstruct government is a cynical attempt to shift blame. And Mr. Flaherty's last fiscal update mimics his colleague, former Ontario Education Minister John Snobllen, whose prescription for forcing change was to "create a crisis." The debris Mr.Snoblen left behind still clutters Ontario's schools.

Professor Bliss would have us believe that all it would take to change things would be for the opposition to have the courage of its convictions and force an election. But, as Mr. Frank makes clear, democracy is not just about elections. It's about what governments do between elections. And, the truth is that -- while Mr. Bush and Mr. Harper have no trouble with government -- they have a visceral hatred of responsible government. The issue is, how do citizens hold a government accountable between elections? Professor Bliss is unconcerned with that conundrum.

Canada's failures have been deliberately engineered

Shafting democracy in Canada | Heather Mallick | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
This great piece by Heather Mallick pretty much covers the issues at hand. Why can't our MSM journalists be intelligent like Heather?

Harper's Got To Go At The First Opportunity

On markets and democracy: Harper is dangerous | rabble.ca
James Laxer comments on Harper and our democracy. He gets to the point that I've agreed with all along - that "Harper's got to go. The members of the opposition parties should see to that at the first opportunity."
It is obvious that Harper does not and will not work with others to make this parliament work for Canadians. It's been obvious since Harper's first prorogue. We have no choice but to have another election, unless we can somehow convince the GG to accept a coalition government (and that the 3 opposition parties agree to work together in a coalition government). A coalition government would be my first choice. But, I don't see Iggy going along with it.

Tories drop in the polls and protests over prorogation go international

Conservatives on 'razor’s edge of losing government' - The Globe and Mail

...
The organizers of the anti-prorogation rallies planned for Jan. 23 are now saying there will be rallies in London, England, and New York. There is also the possibility of an anti-prorogation demonstration in Los Angeles.

Jonathan Allan, the spokesperson for the rallies that were inspired by the anti-prorogation Facebook group, is boldly predicting huge turnout. “As we enter the second decade of the 21st century and become exposed to the whims of an unaccountable government, we are legitimately confident that these rallies, including the ones in Ottawa and Toronto, will be among the largest independent political protests in years,” he told The Globe in an email, noting that it’s a non-partisan effort.

“We have rebuked all assistance from opposition parties; this is an entirely grassroots organized event,” he writes. “We, as the citizens of Canada, are demanding that the elected representatives of our Parliament return to work immediately – if not in the House of Commons, at least within the context of the parliamentary inquiry into the government’s complicity in torture and war crimes.”

Response from Jack Layton, NDP leader, regarding the prorogation of parliament

I sent Jack Layton an email a few days ago regarding Harper's prorogation of parliament.
I just received this reply from the NDP leader:

Thank you for your previous message about Stephen Harper`s decision to
close down Parliament. New Democrats also share the outrage and
disappointment that you and many other Canadians have expressed about
this suspension of Parliament.

I have called on Prime Minister Harper to re-convene Parliament on
January 25. If he agrees, our Party will accept the re-instatement of
all pending legislation before prorogation - a common practice used in
past Parliaments. That said, we would continue to vote for or against
these Bills, based on whether they are good for Canada and Canadians.

I have also been clear that the work of the NDP caucus will not stop as
a result of Mr. Harper`s decision. We are going ahead with our January
18 winter strategy meeting and New Democrat MPs will be:

- participating in the January 23 protest rallies organized by citizens
across Canada
- returning to Ottawa on January 25 to hold our regular Caucus meeting
- working on parliamentary reform proposals including measures to ensure
that prorogation cannot be misused again
- holding the government's feet to the fire on the economy, climate
change, the war in Afghanistan, retirement security, and consumer
protection

Parliament has vital work to do. Canadians can't prorogue their credit
card bills, their pension shortfalls, their unemployment, or their
worries about the future. We think MPs should be working on these issues
and representing the priorities of their constituents and communities in
the annual pre-budget work.

Again, I appreciate your desire to stand up for democracy. Feel free to
pass along my message to anyone who may be interested. All the best.

Sincerely,


Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats

The Harper Attack on Canadian Democracy Documented

This is from
Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament, the largest Canadian Facebook group ever. It is from the discussion topic
The Harper Attack on Canadian Democracy Documented
as posted by Defend Parliament (Note: I have added a few items throughout, and I have added the Addendum at the bottom. The rest was all compiled by Defend Parliament. UPDATE: I will and have been adding more evidence to the list as it happens. - Thor):

What I have pasted below will turn your stomach i.e. the persistent Harper/Tory attack on Canadian democracy:democracy. Enjoy and pass it on!

MUZZLING CABINET MINISTERS, MPs, JUDGES, ETC and Controlling the Press

How Harper controls the spin
Zeal to manage message sees journalists shunned, bureaucrats, cabinet ministers routinely muzzled. Public appearances by cabinet ministers – whether it's a speech or an interview – are carefully staged, starting with a "message event proposal" vetted by the Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic wing of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/429906

PM slaps muzzle on military brass
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2006/04/15/1535119-sun.html

Hillier, Sr.Officials Muzzled by PMO
http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic,42247.0.html

Mum’s the word: Harper tells MPs to keep mouths shut
http://www.carleton.ca/ctown/archiv/mar3106/Insite2.htm

Tories tighten muzzle on PS [Public Service] for campaign
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=93e98b5c-593a-4eac-b835-a4359e80babd

Former chief justice of Canada accuses PM of trying to "muzzle" the judiciary
http://www.anticorruption.ca/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4792&sid=44cad6d7756e9bd7010d182cb62e00da

'Muzzle' Placed On Federal Scientists
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=47bf0fba-b98f-43fb-89fb-58b6464a7b24&k=65248

Tories muzzle environmental scientist
http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=8942

Minister stops book talk by Environment Canada scientist
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/04/13/ambrose-climate.html

Mum's the word till message vetted
No federal cabinet minister speaks to a journalist, gives a speech or makes a policy announcement until a "message event proposal" has been vetted by a wing of the Prime Minister's Office.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/429903

Harper lawsuit smacks of authoritarian state: prof
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/harper-lawsuit.html

Holland shocked by Conservative comments on media
http://www.markholland.ca/news/2006/060331harpermedia.htm

Harper government whips Tories into line with secret handbook
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=b8122d51-95e8-4b29-b99b-34217406425d

Information Commissioner Robert Marleau told The Hill Times recently that the Harper government has been quietly drafting about 25 government policies that impact on the rights of officers of Parliament, and that it has been happening without their knowledge or input.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/members/login.php?fail=2&destination=/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/may/12/spindoctors/

Conservative headquarters scripting calls to radio shows
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080325.wtorytalk0325/BNStory/National/home

Feds keep lid on Atomic Energy Canada sale report
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Feds+keep+Atomic+Energy+Canada+sale+report/2121029/story.html

Huge loss expected in any AECL sale, MPs concede
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Huge+loss+expected+AECL+sale+concede/2129653/story.html

Is he sitting on it?
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan still has not tabled the 2008 report from the Commissioner of Firearms. Knowing the report will likely be favourable to the existing gun registry, many have questioned whether Van Loan is suppressing the report until after tonight's vote on scrapping the long gun registry.
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2009/11/is-he-sitting-on-it.html

Canada slips in 'press freedom' rankings
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712978--canada-slips-in-press-freedom-rankings

Torture probe delayed; Tories deny gagging witness
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/704155

Lawyers seek to gag witnesses in Afghan prisoner inquiry
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090929/taliban_prisoners_090929/20090929?hub=Canada

Has Canada entered a 'Bush-like vortex'?
Richard Colvin's torture allegations suggest civil servants aren't writing down what the government doesn't want recorded
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/has-canada-entered-a-bush-like-vortex/article1404311/

PMO issued instructions on denying abuse in '07
Former NATO official says response to reports was 'scripted' in Ottawa
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/729157--pmo-issued-instructions-on-denying-abuse-in-07

Tories attack credibility of diplomat who blew whistle on torture
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-attack-credibility-of-diplomat-who-blew-whistle-on-torture/article1369993/

Attack on senior diplomat signals demise of independent public service: experts
"If we don’t have a public service that speaks truth to power we might as well have everything run out of the Prime Minister’s Office.”
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Attack+Colvin+signals+demise+independent+public+service/2283460/story.html

Diplomats told to keep quiet on torture allegations, sources say
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diplomats-told-to-keep-quiet-on-torture-allegations-sources-say/article1367390/

Former ambassadors condemn Ottawa's attack on diplomat
Response to Colvin's detainee testimony discourages honest reports, letter says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/former-ambassadors-condemn-ottawas-attack-on-diplomat/article1392248/

Public service in crisis over Colvin
The Harper government's attack on a senior diplomat could be the final blow in the unravelling of Canada's once-sacred tradition of an independent, non-partisan public service, warn experts
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Public+service+crisis+over+Colvin/2285239/story.html

Afghan detainee watchdog warns of Tory ‘chilling effect'
Departing military commission chief's [BECAUSE HE WAS REFUSED REAPPOINTMENT BY THE TORIES] comments come as Harper government digs in its heels in face of parliamentary order to turn over confidential files
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/afghan-detainee-watchdog-warns-of-tory-chilling-effect/article1397570/

Detainee watchdog post remains unfilled
Military police commission set to meet in March, but Ottawa's delays in appointing new chairman could prompt delay
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/detainee-watchdog-post-remains-unfilled/article1428874/

Feds refuse legal funding to whistleblower diplomat
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091027/whistleblower_legal_091027/20091027?hub=Canada

Ottawa's stance on whistleblower's legal costs called 'unethical'
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/716489--ottawa-s-stance-on-whistleblower-s-legal-costs-called-unethical

Feds tried to order nuclear regulator to bend rules
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071218/reactor_order_071218/20071218?hub=Politics

Ottawa fires nuclear safety commission head [nuclear regulator]
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourview/2008/01/ottawa_fires_nuclear_safety_co.html

Ousted regulator just doing her job
http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/294886

Tories drop RCMP complaints commissioner
Paul Kennedy sparred with government over office's powers, budget
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/731775--tories-drop-rcmp-complaints-commissioner

Clement slams CMA doctors for supporting drug-injection site
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=732204

Scientific data backs Insite
http://www.straight.com/scientific-data-backs-insite

Budget officer [Kevin Page] questions projected federal surplus
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada/Budget+officer+questions+projected+surplus/1054174/story.html

If the object of the exercise was “truth in budgeting”, that’s what Kevin’s office provided. But that realism, whether in regard to rosy but flawed government fiscal forecasts or the true cost of the war in Afghanistan, has been a bit too much truth for this government. Mr. [Kevin] Page’s office has had its budget cut by one million dollars.
http://informedvote.ca/2009/11/07/our-parliamentary-budget-officer-kevin-page-%E2%80%93-a-canadian-hero/

Conservatives stop funding for learning organization
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-stop-funding-for-learning-organization/article1423912/

Ottawa is cutting off public input into climate-change policy
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/Ottawa+cutting+public+input+into+climate+change+policy/2126254/story.html

Tory candidate dumped for frank TV comments: Mused riding wouldn't get infrastructure cash because it's Liberal-held
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/702396

Tory candidates avoiding debates [Election Campaign, 2008]
Campaign official says 'there's no policy' forbidding participation in certain all-candidates' meetings
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/510147

Gov't program wants job applicants' views on Tory budget
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091104/interns_federal_091104/20091104?hub=QPeriod

Insults, discourtesy and disrespect mark Harper team's behaviour: Targets have included AIDS activists, Nobel Prize winners and Road to Avonlea star
http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=00145

PM Never Too Busy For a Photo OP
summoning hordes of photographers to document your every move following a massive humanitarian disaster, and then not letting reporters ask questions seems very disingenuous, and a little ridiculous. The intent is obviously to make Mr. Harper look Prime Ministerial, but I think if the public knew the context behind the images they were seeing they would feel exactly the opposite.
http://www.hilltimes.com/blog/?p=247

What's Wrong With This Picture
The PMO is sending out a steady stream of publicity photos in the hope they will be used in newspapers and blogs across the country. But photojournalists believe Harper's handlers are going too far in trying to control his image
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/article1354447/

Harper's Media War. Shiny things, and controlling the message
http://www.acreativerevolution.ca/node/2320

Refusing to pay for the legal funding Richard Colvin is entitled to because of his testimony regarding the Afghan Detainee Torture Scandal
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/755426--diplomat-whistleblower-says-he-faces-government-reprisal?bn=1

THE CULTURE OF SECRECY
Watchdog blasts Tories for secrecy obsession: Information chief challenges Ottawa to ease 'stranglehold'
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/593921

Watchdog alarmed by Harper's information clampdown
Canada's information watchdog says the public knows less than ever about what its government is doing – a stark contrast to Barack Obama's push for openness in the United States.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/575765

Government secrecy ‘grim,' watchdog says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090226.wPOLinformation0226/BNStory/politics/home

Ottawa nixes bid to expand transparency
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-nixes-bid-to-expand-transparency/article1325061/

Watchdog slams lack of transparency in stimulus spending
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091009/watchdog_stimulus_091009/20091009?hub=TopStoriesV2

Can't say if federal stimulus is working: watchdog
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/12/11/stimulus-funding-watchdog011.html

Tory stimulus boast tough to verify
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091203/stimulus_cash_091203/20091203?hub=Canada

Tories blasted for secrecy on stimulus cash
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/stimulus/article/718466--tories-blasted-for-secrecy-on-stimulus-cash

Stimulus spending watchdogs stymied by lack of data
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091004/stimulus_data_091004/20091004?hub=Canada

Tories not so open now
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/712110--tories-not-so-open-now

Ottawa seeks secrecy in Tamil migrant case
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-seeks-secrecy-in-tamil-migrant-case/article1406347/



CENTRALIZING POWER IN STEPHEN HARPER’S HANDS
Siddiqui: Harper acting like an elected dictator
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/740829?bn=1

Gomery slams Harper for ignoring him
The man who investigated the sponsorship scandal says Prime Minister Stephen Harper seems to have abandoned any commitment he once had to transparent government in favour of a top-down style that centralizes power in his own hands.
http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/agency/article.jsp?content=20080131_777333_2206

Gomery slams increasing power of PM's office
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/345503

Failure to decentralize PMO power poses danger to democracy: Gomery
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/03/13/gomery-committee.html




CONTEMPT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Ottawa moves to block detainee-transfer hearings [2008]
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/article722656.ece

Redactions hamper Afghan detainee probe [2009]
Unreadable documents make meaningful inquiry ‘almost impossible’ and reflect government efforts to keep record a secret
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/redactions-hamper-afghan-detainee-probe/article1383375/

Ottawa won't release Afghan documents
Harper government says it will not comply with Opposition motion passed by Parliament, setting stage for legal battle
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/737634--ottawa-won-t-release-afghan-documents

Tories to ignore vote on releasing prisoner reports
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091211/afghanistan_motion_091211/20091211?hub=TopStoriesV2

Parliament in showdown with Harper government over Afghan documents
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091211/n1211113A.html

Tories refuse to release uncensored documents on Afghan detainees
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+refuse+release+uncensored+documents+Afghan+detainees/2330193/story.html

Tories force shutdown of hearing on torture [2009]
Opposition blasts boycott as whistleblower readies rebuttal to Ottawa today
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/739427



Tories dodging detainee debate to slurp eggnog?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/tories-dodging-detainee-debate-to-slurp-eggnog/article1409101/

Ritz avoids listeria joke questions at agriculture debate
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/article713835.ece

Promised listeriosis probe still lacks investigator
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090104.wlisteriosisprobe0104/BNStory/politics/home

Harper government withholds listeriosis notes
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090222.wfoilisteriosis0222/BNStory/politics/home

Did lag in releasing listeriosis notes break law?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090223/listeriosis_notes_090223/20090223?hub=Canada

Tories opened patronage doors before election: CP
Harper, who railed against Liberal patronage in the 2006 election, later failed to deliver on a campaign pledge to put an independent commission in charge of vetting cabinet appointments. He angrily shelved the idea after opposition MPs refused to ratify his nomination of Gwyn Morgan, a Calgary oil baron who is also a friend of the prime minister, as the commission chair.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080929/election2008_patronage_080930/20080929?s_name=election2008

Harper makes history by naming 18 senators in one day
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/081222/n122280A.html

Stalled investigation
In April of last year Elections Canada asked the RCMP to help raid Conservative headquarters in Ottawa to search for evidence. Investigators seized dozens of boxes of documents and copied millions of files from the party's computers. But according to an affidavit filed in court, the Conservatives' lawyer claimed virtually all the documents were subject to solicitor-client privilege. Meaning everything had to be sealed.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2009/01/stalled_investigation.html

'NAFTAgate' began with PM's chief of staff
http://news.therecord.com/article/318895

Harper says Obama leak might have been illegal
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says leaks from his government that rocked Barack Obama's U.S. presidential campaign were "blatantly unfair" - and may have been illegal.
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=114599&sc=505

Not investigating 'NAFTAgate' leak: Conservatives
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/309381

Prentice defends use of government jet
An analysis of federal air travel by a French-language television network found that 15 ministers had used the private plane 72 times after four years in office, including 31 trips that did not appear to meet government criteria for use of the plane.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Prentice+defends+government/2421858/story.html

Tories stall on Liberal request for jet passengers
The Harper government says it is unable to provide the names of passengers who have flown on its fleet of Challenger executive jets since 2006 because it would take longer than a month-and-a-half to assemble the list.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+stall+Liberal+request+passengers/2240281/story.html

Change for the worse
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/754677--harper-s-change-not-for-the-better

CONTEMPT FOR ETHICS
People don't care about Afghan detainee issue: Harper
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/746448--people-don-t-care-about-afghan-detainee-issue-harper?bn=1

PM's former adviser accused of peddling access to corridors of power
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081212.wbrodie12/BNStory/Front

Bureaucrats objected to gov't ad campaign: sources
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091008/govt_advertising_091008/20091008?hub=Politics

PM ignores fixed-election date law
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/CanadaVotes/News/2008/09/07/6690346-cp.html

Conservatives confusing public on 'in and out' financing says Prof. MacIvor
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=2008/april/21/legislation/&c=2

RCMP raids Tory party headquarters
The Conservatives insist the transactions were legal but Elections Canada disagrees and rival parties have labeled the scheme outright fraud
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/414652

Tories overspent on election by $1M: warrant
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/20/rcmp-torieswarrant.html

Tory dissenters 'idiots, turds'
Workers on the campaign of a Conservative MP who declined to participate in the in-and-out advertising scheme in the 2006 election were denounced as "idiots" and a "bunch of turds"
by senior party officials, who wanted to "put the fear of God" into them for not taking part in the contentious TV and radio purchases.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/decisioncanada/story.html?id=060d55a6-71be-4426-9188-f67987e472f9

Tory MP admits he broke elections law
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090401.wPOLelxn0401/BNStory/politics/home

Tory MP derides jobless as 'no-good bastards'
MPs' comments on unemployed, abortion show party's 'meanness,' opposition critics say
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/730478--tory-mp-derides-jobless-as-no-good-bastard
and here:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2009/11/24/liberals-want-tory-mp-to-apologize-for-calling-unemployed-citizens-no-good-bastards.aspx

Finley under fire for 'lucrative' jobless comment
Conservative government has no interest in increasing Employment Insurance payments and making it “lucrative” for jobless workers to sit around the house
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Finley+under+fire+lucrative+jobless+comment/1245571/story.html

“In terms of the unemployed... don't feel particularly bad for many of these people. They don't feel bad about it themselves, as long as they're receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance.”
Stephen Harper, Speech to the [American] Council for National Policy, June 1997
Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/

PM's Jewish pitch hits a new low, critics say Tory flyer suggests Liberals are anti-Semitic
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/727885--pm-s-jewish-pitch-hits-a-new-low-critics-say

Speaker slaps Tory wrists over hyper-partisan flyers
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091119/n1119147A.html

Speaker rules flyers may have damaged MP's reputation
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Speaker+rules+flyers+have+damaged+reputation/2273061/story.html



“… new book made the claim that former Conservative MP Chuck Cadman was essentially offered financial inducements [ a $1 million life insurance policy] by Conservative party officials to vote down the Liberal government's 2005 budget …. Chuck Cadman's widow [a current Conservative MP] has said her late husband told her about the offer. Two other family members say Cadman told them the same thing ….”
Quoted from “Dion, Harper clash over Cadman allegations”, http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080303/harper_lawsuit_080303/20080303

PM's cutback plan: Choke rival parties
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/544388

NDP considers legal action after Tories tape private meeting
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article725170.ece

Recreational stimulus favours Tory ridings
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/recreational-stimulus-favours-tory-ridings/article1332609/

Tory ridings get more stimulus money
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/22/stimulus-spending.html

Stimulus funds forget high jobless areas
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091111/n111141A.html

Lobbying czar probes firm with ties to Tories
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/lobbying-czar-probes-firm-with-ties-to-tories/article1339588/

Raitt accused of expense abuse: She improperly approved her London trip, Port Authority's former chair says
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/721434--raitt-accused-of-expense-abuse?bn=1

Why were port authority board minutes altered?
Documents approved in December 2008 differ greatly from those rewritten and approved six months later, Star examination finds
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/722028--why-were-port-authority-board-minutes-altered

Raitt under fire for calling cancer, isotope crisis 'sexy
http://www.canada.com/news/Raitt+refuses+apologize+calling+cancer+radiation+sexy/1678638/story.html

Tories overstate cost of Liberal EI plan: budget office
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/09/11/employment-insurance.html

Tory attack on carbon tax is dishonest: economist
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080610/tory_ads_080610?s_name=&no_ads=

Harper won't rule out carbon tax
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/741961--harper-won-t-rule-out-carbon-tax

Tories outspent Liberals on consultants
The Conservative government spent almost $1 billion on consultants in its first two years in office – nearly double what the Liberals spent in a similar time period, a Toronto Star investigation shows
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/550044

PM's pal gets government job
Appointment to board of directors is geologist's third posting to be criticized for favouritism
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/624802

Conservative spending on polls hits $31-million, DOUBLES Liberals [under the previous gov’t] http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=142342

Tory MP who led anti-drug campaign charged with cocaine possession
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/090916/n0916139A.html

Tories spend 5 times more on ads than H1N1 prevention
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/698415

Harper so far unscathed by HST blowback
Federal support key to tax harmonization that has been poorly received by Canadians
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-so-far-unscathed-by-hst-blowback/article1308907/

Tories reject fast-tracking of sentencing bill
Conservatives rejected a bid Thursday to expedite a key piece of their tough-on-crime agenda, even as they continued to bash Liberal senators for holding up the legislation
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091009/nicholson_legislation_091009/20091009?hub=Canada

Canada quietly asks EPA to weaken anti-pollution measures
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-quietly-asks-epa-to-weaken-anti-pollution-measures/article1327805/

Ethics czar to investigate Tory logos on cheques
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091020/cheque_probe_091020/20091020?hub=TopStoriesV2

Taxpayers on hook for $1.7-million as PMO rolls out video
Extra funding requested to help bolster Stephen Harper's communications support services
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/taxpayers-on-hook-for-17-million-as-pmo-rolls-out-video/article1393248/

Tories spend $108,000 on 1-hour event
The Conservative government spent more than $100,000 staging a one-hour event in June to provide an update on its economic recovery program
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712078--tories-spend-108-000-on-1-hour-event

John Baird won't let truth blunt a good barb
For second consecutive day, Transport Minister misquotes Liberal defence critic in fending off criticism on Afghan detainee torture allegations
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/john-baird-wont-let-truth-blunt-a-good-barb/article1384665/

Climate walkout `certainly happened'
Despite minister's denial, email confirms incident
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744092--climate-walkout-certainly-happened

Flaherty's deficit plan: Take an axe and cut deep
'I've done it before,' in Harris-era Ontario
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/742220--flaherty-s-deficit-plan-take-an-axe-and-cut-deep?bn=1

Tory prison policy 'wedge politics': study
Critics say Harper's blueprint for revamping corrections policy disregards studied evidence
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tory-corrections-policy-just-wedge-politics-study/article1300457/

Tory suspended for comments about dead soldier's father is back on job
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/10/21/sparrow-tories.html

Harper was in on the ground floor of coalition building
Ironically, it was Stephen Harper who first brought the option of vaulting to power from the benches of the official Opposition to the fore in the early days of Paul Martin's 2004 minority regime.Even before the presentation of Martin's Speech from the Throne, Harper had sought out his two opposition rivals to lay the groundwork of an alliance to unseat the Liberals.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712078--tories-spend-108-000-on-1-hour-event

Bloc part of secret coalition plot in 2000 with Canadian Alliance
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article725469.ece

Tory aide tried to scuttle Hanukkah event: organizer
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081224/Hanukah_Flap_081224/20081224?hub=Canada

Payroll taxes to wipe out income tax cuts in 2009: watchdog group
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/12/30/taxes.html



Harper zigzags on economy
For the past three months, the only thing consistent about Prime Minister Stephen Harper's position on the economy has been its inconsistency
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/554978


CONTEMPT FOR CANADA AND CANADIANS

“Canada appears content to become a second-tier socialistic country, boasting ever more loudly about its economy and social services to mask its second-rate status….”
Stephen Harper,
National Post editorial, 2000

“It may not be true, but it's legendary that if you're like all Americans, you know almost nothing except for your own country, which makes you probably knowledgeable about one more country than most Canadians.”
Stephen Harper, Speech to the [American] Council for National Policy, June 1997
Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/

“Canada is a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term, and very proud of it.”
Stephen Harper, Speech to the [American] Council for National Policy, June 1997
Full text of Stephen Harper's 1997 speech
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20051213/elxn_harper_speech_text_051214/20051214/

Flaherty calls Ontario 'last place' to invest
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/03/01/flaherty-budget.html

Economists warn against Flaherty's attacks on Ontario
http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=360520

Conservative government seems to be picking on Ontario
http://www.navdeepbains.ca/.%5Cupfiles%5CBram%20Guard.pdf

"Whether Canada ends up as one national government or two national governments or several national governments, or some other kind of arrangement is, quite frankly, secondary in my opinion ….”
Stephen Harper,
Speech to the Colin Brown Memorial Dinner, National Citizens Coalition, 1994

“If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away… This is one more reason why Westerners, but Albertans in particular, need to think hard about their future in this country. After sober reflection, Albertans should decide that it is time to seek a new relationship with Canada …Having hit a wall, the next logical step is not to bang our heads against it. It is to take the bricks and begin building another home – a stronger and much more autonomous Alberta. It is time to look at Quebec and to learn. What Albertans should take from this example is to become “maitres chez nous”.
Stephen Harper
National Post, December 8, 2000

“You’ve got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from eastern Canada: people who live in ghettoes and who are not integrated into western Canadian society."
Stephen Harper,
The Report newsmagazine, January 22, 2001

"I think in Atlantic Canada … there is a culture of defeat that we have to overcome. …Atlantic Canada's culture of defeat will be hard to overcome as long as Atlantic Canada is actually physically trailing the rest of the country.”
Stephen Harper,
New Brunswick Telegraph Journal, May 29, 2002

Harper agrees to give away more Canadian sovereignty while Parliament is closed
http://www.jameslaxer.com/2010/02/urgent-national-debate-needed-on-harper.html

CONTEMPT FOR PARLIAMENT

WAR WITH ELECTIONS CANADA

RCMP raids Tory party headquarters
The Conservatives insist the transactions were legal but Elections Canada disagrees and rival parties have labeled the scheme outright fraud
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/414652

Tories oppose Bloc motion supporting Elections Canada
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/29/elections-motion.html

Legal fees mount in Tory case against Elections Canada
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/article729554.ece


PARLIAMENT DIMINISHED

PM's 'bizarre' report card under attack
Critics charge that not only are his claims that he and the Conservatives saved the economy meaningless, his pattern of disdain for Parliament reached new levels when he upstaged his finance minister and delivered the [economic] update while overseas.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/733969

But Mr. Harper has gone to new lengths, using prerogative powers to shut Parliament itself.
http://impolitical.blogspot.com/2010/01/shuttered.html

PROLOGUE: THE FIRST LIES ABOUT DETAINEE TORTURE EXPOSED

April 27, 2007
Reports confirm Canada’s complicity in Afghan state torture
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=5501


Nov.15, 2007
'Credible' case of torture found in Afghanistan
http://www.thestar.com/article/276691

Transfer of detainees is complicity in torture
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/276161


THE FIRST WAR ON PARLIAMENT: LOCKING OUT PARLIAMENT TO SAVE STEPHEN HARPER’S JOB

Opposition parties won't support Tory economic update
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/27/question-period.html

Harper's reckless game of chicken could lead to election
http://www.montrealgazette.com/harper+reckless+game+chicken+could+lead+election/1013467/story.html

Conservatives 'fume' about blunder
Their blades remain sheathed but astonished Conservatives are quietly fuming about the tactical blunder they fear could toss them into opposition. And the blame seems to be landing on the prime minister's doorstep.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/546661

Harper to blame for political crisis
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/546179

Fighting for his career, Harper will use all weapons at his disposal
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081202.wcosimp03/BNStory/politics

Tories may dodge confidence vote
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+dodge+confidence+vote/1025030/story.html

PM hangs on as Parliament shut down for seven weeks
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/548382#video

Canadian Leader Shuts Parliament
Canada’s parliamentary opposition reacted with outrage on Thursday after Prime Minister Stephen Harper shut down the legislature until Jan. 26, seeking to forestall a no-confidence vote that he was sure to lose and, possibly, provoking a constitutional crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/world/americas/05canada.html?_r=2&hp



THE SECOND WAR ON PARLIAMENT

ACT I: ESCAPING THE COPENHAGEN FIASCO

Canada contradicts climate change consensus at Commonwealth
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Canada+contradicts+climate+change+consensus/2275617/story.html

Canada falling behind U.S. in clean-energy efforts: experts
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Canada+lags+behind+clean+energy+experts/2382672/story.html

No faith in Harper on climate
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/no-faith-in-harper-on-climate/article1394595/

Harper lies low in Copenhagen
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-lies-low-in-copenhagen/article1404101/

With the world watching, Canada draws line in the oil sands
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/with-the-world-watching-canada-draws-line-in-the-oil-sands/article1401901/

Prentice hints there may be 'special breaks' for tarsands
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/739078--prentice-hints-there-may-be-special-breaks-for-tarsands?bn=1

Ontario and Quebec slam Ottawa on climate
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/738264--ontario-and-quebec-slam-ottawa-on-climate

Prentice delivers Canada's unpopular position
Harper leaves it to his Environment Minister to present plenary session
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/climate-change/prentice-delivers-canadas-unpopular-position/article1404676/

Harper lays low, Prentice addresses UN in Copenhagen
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/740177--harper-lays-low-prentice-addresses-un-in-copenhagen

Groups declare Canada world's biggest environmental offender at climate talks
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091218/n121867A.html

Canada's a joke at climate talks
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/739272--canada-s-a-joke-at-climate-talks

Quebec premier tears into Harper government's performance on environment
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091222/n122287A.html

Charest rips into Harper government over environment
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091222/charest_harper_091222/20091222?hub=TopStoriesV2

Canadians cool to Harper's climate change stand
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Canadians+cool+Harper+climate+change+stand/2371025/story.html

Canadians, Conservatives differ on climate: poll
Petition, protest keep pressure on Harper government, as key U.S. agency moves on greenhouse gas emissions
http://www.thestar.com/news/sciencetech/environment/copenhagensummit/article/735389

PM suspends Parliament
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744175--pm-suspends-parliament?bn=1



ACT II: WAS THE HARPER GOVERNMENT COMPLICIT IN WAR CRIMES?

Scene I: THE ACCUSATION

Canada handed over innocent Afghans to torture: diplomat
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-handed-over-innocent-afghans-to-torture-diplomat/article1368631/


Scene II: THE VILLAIN’S ROLE IS MISCAST

Tories attack credibility of diplomat who blew whistle on torture
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-attack-credibility-of-diplomat-who-blew-whistle-on-torture/article1369993/

Canada generals deny ignoring Afghan abuse warnings
Generals say crucial reports did not mention torture
"Ludicrous" to say most detainees abused – general
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN25361220


Scene III: THE SUPPORTING CAST REVEALED

PMO issued instructions on denying abuse in '07
Former NATO official says response to reports was 'scripted' in Ottawa
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/729157--pmo-issued-instructions-on-denying-abuse-in-07

Diplomats told to keep quiet on torture allegations, sources say
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diplomats-told-to-keep-quiet-on-torture-allegations-sources-say/article1367390/

Many detainees were just farmers, Afghan official says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/many-detainees-were-just-farmers-afghan-official-says/article1372428/

Detainee ties to insurgency could not always be established: Afghan agency
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Detainee+ties+insurgency+could+always+established+Afghan+agency/2285358/story.html

Canadians warned early that Afghan detainees faced torture
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadians-warned-early-that-afghan-detainees-faced-torture/article1323231/

EU diplomat backs claims on torture
Canadian's warnings on Afghan detainees reflected common view, says his European colleague
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/728958--eu-diplomat-backs-claims-on-torture

Dutch raised concerns over conditions in 2006: Netherlands suggested a separate facility
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/731044--dutch-raised-concerns-over-conditions-in-2006

Coalition allies faulted Canada over handling of detainees
Complaint was lodged over secretive approach on captures as early as summer of 2006
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/coalition-allies-faulted-canada-over-handling-of-detainees/article1400522/

Red Cross warned Canada of Afghan prison abuse
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091202/red_cross_091202/20091202?hub=TopStoriesV2

Afghans rejected Canadian-captured prisoners for 'insufficient evidence'
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/734238--afghans-rejected-canadian-captured-prisoners-for-insufficient-evidence

Hillier accused of 'trivializing' torture at detainees hearing
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Hillier+accused+trivializing+torture+detainees+hearing/2371954/story.html

The record and the falsehoods: The government's insistence it knew nothing about the torture of Afghan detainees becomes more and more tenuous
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/editorials/the-record-and-the-falsehoods/article1392183/

Canada defended Afghan 'human-rights abuser,' memos allege
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/738292--canada-defended-afghan-human-rights-abuser-memos-allege

Canada kept feared Afghan governor in power despite rep as 'human-rights abuser'
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091213/n121375A.html


Scene IV: PETER MACKAY, CANADA’S VERSION OF SARGEANT “I KNOW NOTHING” SCHULTZ, DELIVERS HIS SOLILOQUY

Government denies liability in torture cases despite report
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/697974

Tories reject call for Afghan torture inquiry
No proof detainees were tortured, defence minister says
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/11/19/afghanistan-torture-colvin-inquiry.html



Scene V: NEMESIS, THOU ART A BITCH!
Proof of detainee abuse exists, despite MacKay's denials
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/subscribe.jsp?art=1390782

Ex-ambassadors condemn gov't on detainee issue
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091208/afghan_ambassador_0911208/20091208?hub=TopStoriesV2

Warnings on detainees were e-mailed to MacKay's office
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/warnings-on-detainees-were-e-mailed-to-mackays-office/article1377821/

MacKay's office got Red Cross warnings about Afghan treatment
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/731056--mackay-s-office-got-red-cross-warnings-about-afghan-treatment

Documents confirm whistleblower's emails were sent to then-Foreign Affairs minister Peter MacKay's office
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/733623--heavily-censored-afghan-abuse-memos-released?bn=1

Why was Harper so blind to abuse?
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/736829--why-was-harper-so-blind-to-abuse


Scene VI: HARPO, I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE!

Natynczyk makes major reversal on detainee story
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091209/mackay_oconnor_091209/20091209?hub=TopStoriesV2


Scene VI: TWAS BUT A DREAM AND THE BLACKED OUT MEMOS ARE STILL A BIT FUZZY

Harper government changes tune on Afghan prisoner issue
MacKay says Tories were aware of concerns and began to act shortly after taking office
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/harper-government-changes-tune-on-afghan-prisoner-issue/article1381187/

Heavily-censored Afghan abuse memos released
Documents confirm whistleblower's emails were sent to then-Foreign Affairs minister Peter MacKay's office
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/733623--heavily-censored-afghan-abuse-memos-released?bn=1


Scene VII: FRAILTY, THY NAME IS PARLIAMENT!

Parliament in showdown with Harper government over Afghan documents
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/091211/n1211113A.html

Ottawa won't release Afghan documents
Harper government says it will not comply with Opposition motion passed by Parliament, setting stage for legal battle
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/737634--ottawa-won-t-release-afghan-documents

Tories to ignore vote on releasing prisoner reports
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091211/afghanistan_motion_091211/20091211?hub=TopStoriesV2

Tories refuse to release uncensored documents on Afghan detainees
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Tories+refuse+release+uncensored+documents+Afghan+detainees/2330193/story.html

Conservative boycott shuts down Afghan detainee hearing
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservative-boycott-shuts-down-afghan-detainee-hearing/article1401524/

Tories force shutdown of hearing on torture
Opposition blasts boycott as whistleblower readies rebuttal to Ottawa today
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/739427

Tories dodging detainee debate to slurp eggnog?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/tories-dodging-detainee-debate-to-slurp-eggnog/article1409101/


ACT III

Scene I: THE DEMOCRACY DEATH SCENE?

PM suspends Parliament
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744175--pm-suspends-parliament?bn=1


EPILOGUE: AT HOME AND ABROAD

Democracy diminished, accountability avoided
By suspending Parliament, Stephen Harper allows the governing party to elude the detainee issue, a move that undermines the democratic rights of the people
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/democracy-diminished-accountability-avoided/article1415461/

Prorogation redux: Harper in contempt of Parliament
His request to shut down the House again undermines Canada's democratic institutions
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/745949

The Economist vents spleen on PM's decision to prorogue
“His officials faced grilling by parliamentary committees over whether they misled the House of Commons in denying knowledge that detainees handed over to the local authorities by Canadian troops in Afghanistan were being tortured. The government would also have come under fire for its lack of policies to curb Canada’s abundant carbon emissions.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/the-economist-vents-spleen-on-pms-decision-to-prorogue/article1422507/

'Harper goes prorogue,' The Economist laments
"Never mind what his spin doctors say: Mr. Harper's move looks like naked self-interest," says the editorial. The editorial likens Canadian ministers to hapless former U.S. president Gerald Ford, "who could not walk and chew gum at the same time."
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/01/07/harper-economist.html

Canadian Leader Shuts Parliament
Canada’s parliamentary opposition reacted with outrage on Thursday after Prime Minister Stephen Harper shut down the legislature until Jan. 26, seeking to forestall a no-confidence vote that he was sure to lose and, possibly, provoking a constitutional crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/world/americas/05canada.html?_r=2&hp

Afghans violating detainee-transfer agreement
A number of insurgents handed over to Afghan police can't be accounted for, despite Ottawa's assertion transfer
http://www.A.com/news/politics/afghans-violating-detainee-transfer-agreement/article1399050/



And, a final word from Defend Parliament:
Reply to all. I've been saving these links for a few years and finally found a forum to paste them. I've organized them in a logical way, which I hope shows a persistent pattern of attack on Canada's democratic institutions, of which the latest prorogation is only the latest example. The scale of this attack is truly frightening! As you can see from the sheer volume of HEADLINES and LINKS alone (with very little content) that fear for our democracy should not be limited to a few paranoid types or to anyone of a particular political persuasion but to anyone that cares about living in a free society.

Sorry that I can't reply to all of you individually (that are posting right now) but I've been at this project for several days and need to get some sleep.

Enjoy these links. It would be great if the members of the site could send some of this stuff in an e-mail to 2 or three of their friends, get them to join the page and then send the content to 2 or 3 of THEIR friends, etc. We could easily hit 1,000,000 members if people knew what our autocratic government was actually doing.

Good night and hopefully the fight to make Canadians aware has begun in earnest!

ADDENDUM

If this is not mentioned above

CBC Report on Conservatives' leaked "dirty tricks manual"

www.youtube.com

Only days after filibustering several committees, a leaked document seems to prove the Conservative government has been deliberately wrecking havoc. The CBC's Susan Bonner gives the full report.
From the Spring of 2007: a Conservative manual to purposely and deliberately disrupt and make the government committees dysfunctional.

WHEN THEY TRY TO BLAME SOMEONE ELSE ...

Conservatives and supporters often try to blame the Liberals before them, or someone else.

The following (might as well keep all the links in one spot) are links to show that the Conservatives are the ones at fault (or the ones currently at fault for continuing on with obvious bad policy):

Flailing, Flailing

The Conservatives try to blame the Liberals for the Afghan Detainee scandal. But it wasn't until the Conservative government was in power that problems began to surface (and it was the Conservatives who did nothing about the problems) Fact: General Rick Hillier, acting on his own or not as the case may be, signed a deeply flawed agreement to turn over detainees to the Afghan authorities in December, 2005, during an election campaign. The Conservatives were elected a month later. Instances of mistreatment were reported by Richard Colvin to his superiors, first in May 2006, and well into 2007.

Rebuttal to Conservatives who protest that proroguing of parliament is "routine"

Except it's not routine in a minority Parliament. It's not routine when you have dozens of bills on the table and work left undone. And it's not routine to do it two years in a row, and in both cases when you're under intense political pressure from the opposition.

Lying about the crime bill implementation delay - saying it was the opposition - when they are the ones at fault
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/01/truth-in-talking-about-the-truth-in-sentencing-act.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

TWO-TIER CITIZENSHIP

The Harper government has failed to help a number of Canadian citizens in trouble outside the country. This link contains a lot of information and coverage of the incidents and issues:
http://drdawgsblawg.blogspot.com/search?q=abdelrazik

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY VS. THE WHEAT BOARD
The Harper government resorted to dirty tricks to try to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board:
http://myblahg.com/?p=2015

VIDEOS

101 Reasons not to vote for the Conservative Party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNJvWt7syfU

HYPOCRITICAL HARPER QUOTES

"The first principle of a democracy is that the Prime Minister is supposed to be able to face this House of Commons any day on a vote. This government now has the deliberate policy of avoiding a vote. This is a violation of the most fundamental constitutional principle of our democracy." - Stephen Har...per as Leader of the Opposition attacking the Martin government, May 3rd 2005

"When a government starts trying to cancel dissent or avoid dissent is frankly when it's rapidly losing its moral authority to govern " Stephen Harper Canadian Press, April 18, 2005"

CONTEMPT FOR CANADIAN LAW AND CONSTITUTION, INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND THE LIVES OF CANADIAN CITIZENS

The plight of Omar Khadr is well documented, as is the lack of compassion and the contempt of law that Harper and his Conservatives have regarding this victim. These posts have many links detailing this evidence. "...Federal Court Justice James O'Reilly ruled toay that Ottawa must request that the "United States return Mr. Khadr to Canada as soon as practicable." O'Reilly wrote that Canada's "ongoing refusal" to request that Khadr be sent home "offends a principle of fundamental justice" and violates his constitutional rights...."
http://drivingtheporcelainbus.blogspot.com/search/label/Omar%20Khadr

http://freshmeat-thor.blogspot.com/search/label/Omar%20Khadr

The Supreme court ruled against ordering the Canadian government to request that Omar Kadr be returned to Canada. But, they also declared that there is a clear breach of section 7 of the Charter, and that Canadian officials have violated their international human rights law obligations. It issued a “declaration” that stated clearly the actions of Canadian officials contributed to the continued detention of a young person who had no access to legal counsel, was subjected to “improper treatment” through sleep deprivation, likely aided his upcoming criminal prosecution, and violated principles of fundamental justice.
http://www.thestar.com/specialsections/omarkhadr/article/757580--court-refuses-to-order-khadr-home?bn=1

CONTEMPT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS, AND CONTEMPT FOR DEMOCRACY ABROAD

Harper has changed the makeup of the board of directors of the Rights and Democracy agency so that instead of it having a mandate to promote human rights and help the victims of human rights violations, its mandate is now to promote violation of human rights and help the violators of human rights.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/755064--siddiqui-stephen-harper-s-homegrown-human-rights-problem?bn=1

CONSERVATIVE PARTY ATTACK ON WOMEN

"There has been a systematic erosion of the human rights of women and girls in Canada."
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/769954--canadian-women-s-rights-in-decline-report-says?bn=1

BACKGROUND ON STEPHEN HARPER
Many years before Harper became Prime Minister, he gave a speech to a US right-wing think tank. Then, in 1997, Harper was vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition. This speech shows just how little Harper understood of Canada, and it also shows the great amount of contempt he had for Canada's citizens, its government and values.
http://drivingtheporcelainbus.blogspot.com/2010/01/insight-to-stephen-harper-from-his-1997.html

Religion
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thesearch/archive/2008/09/10/why-stephen-harper-keeps-his-evangelicalism-very-private.aspx

http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20060220_121848_121848&source=srch

SUPPORT FOR THE TROOPS? NOT FROM THE CONSERVATIVES

Besides trying to shift the blame for the Afghan detainee torture scandal onto the troops, the Conservatives clawed back disabled war veteran support payments.
http://buckdogpolitics.blogspot.com/2010/01/myth-that-stephen-harper.html

LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION

http://www.notmyprimeminister.ca/archive/

http://www.100reasons.ca/

http://www.harperindex.ca/index.cfm

EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF THE PROROGATION (2) ISSUE:

http://www.acreativerevolution.ca/node/2326