Tyee staff and contributors have compiled a list of 70 government assaults on democracy and the law. As a list of 70 is pretty difficult for anyone to verify all at once we have been posting a few at a time. To read the entire list at once go to this link.
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/08/10/Harper-Abuses-of-Power-Final/
Harper
Government Sued by Justice Department Whistleblower
Time and again
the Harper government proposes bills that end up being shot down by the courts,
prompting critics to say such legislation is more about making political
statements than lasting policy. The wasted efforts bothered senior justice
department lawyer Edgar Schmidt so much he finally sued the government for breaking the law by
inadequately evaluating whether proposed bills violate the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms. He was promptly suspended without pay.
Conservatives
Block Accreditation for Opposition MPs
In another
example of partisanship taken to new heights, the PMO blocked opposition members from being
accredited for international environment conferences and from visiting military
bases.
Tactic Borrowed
from North Korea's Dear Leader
Ostensibly
neutral public servants were used as stooges, falsely posing as new
citizens in a staged Citizenship Renewal public relations exercise by the
Immigration Department. Media critics had a field day comparing the charade to
practices undertaken by North Korean dictators.
Clampdown on
Freedom of Speech of Diplomatic Corps
Ottawa's
diplomats must get all communications approved from Conservative political
operatives. Under Harper, the country's ambassadors are hardly heard from any
more. In a recent speech, former United Nations ambassador Stephen Lewis said our political culture under the
Conservatives has descended into "a nadir of indignity."
Marine Science
Libraries Decimated
The Harper
government's downsizing of federal libraries included sudden closing of seven
world famous Department of Fisheries and Oceans archives. A leaked memo
revealed the destruction and consolidation would save less than half a million
dollars. Scientist patrons of the libraries, who witnessed chaotic chucking of
rare literature, called it a "book burning" with no logical purpose other than to restrict environmental information. The Harper
government claimed vital works would be digitally
preserved, but never provided a plan or cost for doing so, nor any
proof it had happened. No scientists interviewed by The Tyee believed digitizing would or could replace what
was lost.
UN Blasts
Canada's Treatment of Immigrants
Changes made to
the Canada's immigration and refugee system under Harper were investigated by
the United Nations Human Rights Committee, whose report blasted how thousands of migrants are detained
indefinitely without due process, many for over a year or more, as well as poor
mental health support for those incarcerated.
Harper
Government Denies Khadr Basic Rights
Defying court
rulings, the Conservative government refused to accord Omar Khadr basic rights such
as access to media. Editorialists of right and left persuasion described the
move as unbefitting a democratic government.
Illegitimate
Prorogation of Parliament, Twice
Prorogations
are a legitimate procedure that can be abused depending on motivations. The
Harper government provoked 60 protests across Canada and beyond
its borders in 2010 after shutting the legislature's doors to escape
condemnation on the Afghan detainees' file. It was the second prorogation in a
year's period.
Undue
Interference with Independent Agencies
Command and
control system was extended to meddling in bodies like National Energy Board
and CRTC whose arms-length autonomy is significantly reduced. A special target was the Parliamentary Budget Office,
which was hit with condemnations and budget cuts for its critical
reports.
Billions
Borrowed without Parliament's Permission
The auditor
general sounded alarms about the "prodigious" growth and size of
federal borrowing. Those billions in "non-budgetary" spending used to
get Parliament's oversight, but no more. The finance minister can borrow what
he wants without Parliament's permission. Why? A loophole buried in a 2007 Harper omnibus bill.
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