Canada recently had a general election. The conservative party has formed a minority government.
Mr Harper, the prime minister-elect, has appointed Michael Fortier, a member of his campaign team, as Minister of Public Works. In doing so, he has put control of the majority of Canada's federal governmental spending, regulation of all public lands and property, and the execution of any government member's bidding firmly outside the system of checks and balances which our parliamentary democracy exists to provide.
Mr. Harper has placed control of Canada's cheque- and rule-books in the hands of an unaccountable, non-representative individual.
He has also appointed Mr. Fortier to the senate, the body which, under Canada's parliamentary system, serves to hold parliament accountable to the interests of the country at large.
In other words, Mr Fortier, inaccessible to the remained of parliament (he is not a member of parliament, and is therefore unable to sit/speak in the house) is effectively accountable to himself only.
I have sent the below letter to my member of parliament. I urge all Canadians to do the same. (
http://www.parl.gc.ca allows you to look up your MP and obtain their email address). You will need to include your full name and address (with postal code - important!) in your email or letter, as these are used to ensure that correspondence has been sent to the correct member of parliament. MPs act based on the opinions expressed to them by their constituents. Use the power that you have to help take back the house!
(Incidentally, it is the 80th anniversary of the first and last time that a Governor General refused to dissolve parliament upon the fall of a government. High time for a repeat! Write to her, too!)
-m
--------------
Mr Peterson,
As many other Canadians, and, I am certain, yourself, I am deeply concerned about the Prime Minister's recent appointment of Mr. Fortier to the ministry of public works.
It is my understanding that only members of parliament may sit and speak in the house. It is also my understanding that the senate serves as a check/balance on parliament. How, then, can an unelected minister, unaccountable to parliament by virtue of having no right to speak in the house in the same breath sit in judgement of and hold accountable that same house with a seat in the senate?
Handing the reigns of the public works ministry to an unaccountable, unrepresenting functionary strikes me as a fundamental blow to the very political philosophy upon which our system of representation and governance are based. It is most definitely does not lend any credence to the motto of 'good governance'.
I urge you to take all possible measures to see that this government falls at the earliest opportunity!
Yours,
Martin Kuplens-Ewart
