Games in Sochi, Good Stuff - Games in Ottawa, Just Beginning

Whispering in the Wind (WITW 15) February 12, 2014

Like millions of Canadians I’ve been glued to a television set watching the Sochi Olympics games – that’s not to say there are no games being played in Ottawa:      

Harper’s Proposal, the Fair Elections Act

The tight time-frame to debate Mr. Harper’s electoral reform bill has resulted in an outright rejection by the leader of the official opposition Thomas Mulcair – Mr. Mulcair said the Conservatives were cheaters in the last election, therefore they lack credibility in their proposed Fair Elections Act.  Justin Trudeau is equally suspicious saying that the legislation limits the investigative powers of the chief electoral officer.  Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand said the proposed legislation is “an affront to democracy”.  I liken the government’s proposed legislation to having a front-line police force without any investigative powers – powers to determine evidence, establish the possibility or likelihood of a wrong doing and authority to interrogate and arrest – it is then up to a judge to make a final determination of wrong doing.  Under the proposed bill, the only role of the chief electoral officer would be to inform the public of when, where and how to vote.  The whole proposal is bizarre – it wipes out the front line enforcers of a truly fair electoral process – hopefully the drafters of this ill-conceived bill see their errors.

Harper’s Proposed Aboriginal Education Program

Last October Mr. Harper put forward a sweeping aboriginal education program that puts the education of aboriginal people on to the backs of individual reserve authorities.  Recently Mr. Harper attached some hefty dollar figures which pleased a good number of First Nation’s chiefs, including Assembly of First Nation’s national chief, Shawn Atleo.  No doubt in my mind, Mr. Harper has shown that he is a true master at political strategy.  Mr. Harper has passed on the responsibility for the education of aboriginal youth to the chiefs of 611 reserves, ten provinces and three territories.  Mr. Harper has absolved the federal government of any liability attached to the education of aboriginals and he will not be attached to a residential school type legacy.  Mr. Harper has even downloaded the setting of performance and teaching standards on to the provinces and territories – it is worth noting the provinces and territories were not consulted on the matter. 

Trudeau’s Senate Reform Initiative

Another brilliant strategy was unveiled a couple of weeks ago by the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau.  By declaring his Liberal Senators “Independent” he introduced a novel thought:  make Senators independent no matter what their political stripe might be.  The concept.is bold and just might work.  One media observer suggested that if Mr. Harper had declared his Conservative Senators to be “independent” it would be a stroke of genius.  So I’m going back to watching the Sochi Olympics - it’s easier and faster to pick the winners and losers, it’s the guy or girl wearing the gold.