Harper: Abuse of Power or Just Politics

Whispering in the Wind – (October 28, 2013) WITW: 2

Canadians have been drawn into a bizarre, all-consuming soap opera entitled the “Senate Expenses Scandal”.  Actually the scandal has been around for about a year and there is no letting up, it’ll be around for some time to come.  What’s so fascinating about this scandal is that it has all the elements of an intense drama that has been known to bring down governments and its leaders.  The “Senate Expenses Scandal” is all about an elite group of well known political personalities with at least a couple of its stars offering passionate, tear-jerking monologues.  Other wan-a-be stars are offering contrary views and speeches leaving most political observers confused and befuddled.  Typical in this type of saga the truth is forgotten and substituted with intriguing conspiracies and mishandled cover-ups; all negotiated in the back rooms of the political power centres of Ottawa – and that in itself adds to the drama, anticipation and speculation.  The whole thing is wrapped up on daily news broadcasts leaving many Canadians feeling that they have been conned.  In the meantime a cloud of suspicion is hanging over the Ottawa skyline with important questions unanswered, all lost in the political fog.  When it comes to soap operas, it’s a winner but it does not make for good government.    From my perspective it is all about the governance of Canada and how it can go astray.  Simply put our politicians (both elected and appointed) have forgotten about their supreme obligation to the country, the constitution and the rule of law.  As the saga unfolds in the days and weeks to come I think it is important to keep in mind one important question:  Is the “Senate Expenses Scandal” a result of an “abuse of power” or is it just plain old Canadian party politics?   

Abuse of Power or Just Politics?

The :”Senate Expenses Scandal” continues to be a very fluid situation but a compromise appears to be developing that would at least delay any major confrontations until after the Conservative convention in Calgary.  It seems that the three Senators involved – Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau – will be given some sort of reprieve without further discussion.  If you ask me to speculate on the future of these three Senate stars:  Mike Duffy is toast; Patrick Brazeau will be dealt with in the courts on his assault charges, so he’s toast and Pamela Wallin will end up being a survivor.

The “Senate Expenses Scandal” has severely damaged a very important institution within the Parliament of Canada – the so-called Red Chamber is the chamber of sober second thought and is clearly challenged, if not under threat – it is broken and new codes of conduct must be introduced, new methods of selection of appointees must be considered, its independence from the standing government must be strengthened.  From my perspective it is extremely important that the Senate be strengthened and that it remain a chamber of sober second thought – it must be repaired and not discarded.  It’s going to be up to Prime Minister Harper to lead the charge.

The “Senate Expenses Scandal” will have a major impact on the Conservative Party of Canada and their conference deliberations in Calgary.  The Senate scandal exposed a rift within the Conservative caucus of the Senate.  A severe censure motion was tabled by the Conservative leader in the Senate and was against three Conservatives sitting in the Senate – the “slash and burn” strategy appeared to follow the wishes of Prime Minister Harper.  Not all Conservative Senators agreed and wanted “due process” – and that was the first exposure that rifts exists within the Conservative Party ranks.  How it plays out on the convention floor in Calgary is anybody’s guess but no question in my mind there is a split – the “Progressive Movement” and the “Reform Movement” based in western Canada.