The Harper Way - Not the Canadian Way

Whispering in the Wind (WITW 71) April 1, 2015

Sorting out the political chaos in Ottawa is not an easy undertaking.  For many analysts the answer is that Canada is well into a national election campaign and it’s a no-holds barred contest.  I agree that a national election campaign is underway and it is a particularly dirty one but what is being ignored by analysts and pundits in this election campaign, Canada’s character as a nation is being reshaped – and in my view, it’s going in the wrong direction. 

Canada’s ISIS War, Extended and Expanded     

Last week Mr. Harper’s “majority” government voted in favor to extend its war efforts against ISIS terrorists in Iraq for another year.  As well, Canada will expand its bombing efforts against the ISIS movement into Syria without the consent of Syria’s despot leader al-Assad – Canada’s opposition leaders Mulcair and Trudeau have both voted against the motion to extend and expand these military efforts.  While there is logic for Mr. Harper’s expanded war efforts in Syria, critics have suggested that Mr. Harper’s initiatives in Syria are illegal.  What is so bewildering about Mr. Harper’s singular, military approach against the ISIS movement, there is a lack of clarity (if not contradiction) in Canada’s approach to international affairs and how he is addressing other explosive areas of international conflict – the Israeli, Palestinian conflict; the Ukraine, eastern Ukraine provinces (Russian) conflict; the Boko Haram, Nigerian conflict; the Yemen, Hutchie conflict.

Canada’s War on Terrorism, Bill–51

Mr. Harper’s anti-terrorism bill is working its way through the hallowed halls of parliament and is currently in committee for a clause by clause review.  The proposed legislation would give the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) more power to investigate and thwart suspected terrorist plots.  The proposed legislation would expand the sharing of federal security information, broaden no-fly-list powers, create a new criminal offence for encouraging someone to carry out a terrorist act, and with a judge’s approval, allow CSIS to violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provisions in the constitution.  While the Harper government will entertain amendments to the proposed legislation it appears that the government will not budge on two critical issues – having reasonable sunset clauses in the anti-terrorism legislation and having appropriate parliamentary oversight of ongoing CSIS operations.  From my perspective if Mr. Harper does not budge on having effective oversight of Canada’s spying operations, the country is heading toward police state status.    

Canada’s 2015 Economic Performance – Atrocious

First quarter economic results are starting to dribble in on Canada’s economic performance and according to Stephen Poloz, the performance is “atrocious”.  How Mr. Harper reacts to the Bank of Canada governor’s remark is going to be interesting.  Coming in the next week or so are the March, 2015 unemployment figures, hopefully they will not be equally atrocious.  The thought of a June election has again emerged as a possibility.