Stephen Harper had the opportunity Tuesday to quell the controversy surrounding the Senate and the Prime Minister’s Office. He didn’t take it. He made it worse. In a televised speech to the Conservative caucus, the Tory leader expressed his unhappiness at the conduct of some senators and staff in his office.
He reminded Tories they won office on the promise to make government more transparent and accountable. He admonished those who might be tempted to use public office for personal gain, suggesting they “leave the room.” Then he launched into a litany of all the good things his government has done for the country and how Conservatives need to refocus on jobs, trade, etc., etc. The caucus applauded as required, at least while the media lingered.
If this had been an election event such a cheerleading speech might have been acceptable.
In this case, however, the prime minister failed to take advantage of one of his rare media appearances to speak directly to Canadians about a scandal that has, to put it mildly, angered them.
At no point in his public address did he mention his former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, who resigned on the weekend following the uproar over his giving a $90,000 personal cheque as a “gift” to Senator Mike Duffy so the parliamentarian — a much prized fundraiser for the Tories — could repay claims on ineligable expenses. It appears Wright’s “gift” might have violated some rules as well as basic ethics. Wright has subsequently resigned and Duffy departed the Conservative caucus.
The PMO has insisted that Wright did not inform Harper about the cheque or the arrangement. In question period, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird repeated that, and even called into question the very existence of the agreement between Wright and Duffy, which served to only confuse the story further.
There are still many questions and Canadians have a right to the answers, not through leaks to the media but straight from the prime minister’s mouth. What exactly was the understanding between Wright and Duffy? Was it a gift or a loan? What did Duffy do or promise to do in return for the cheque? And when was Harper aware of the arrangement? Did he approve or did he think it wrong? The prime minister has a reputation for being controlling, so it’s hard to believe he was kept entirely in the dark.
Beyond these questions, though, you also have to wonder whether after seven years in power has Harper has walled himself off like some ancient potentate surrounded by courtiers who bring him only what he wants to hear.
His unwillingness to address the substance of this scandals suggests the prime minister is so out of touch with Canadians that he doesn’t realize the seriousness with which the public regards it. People might have trouble getting their heads around the idea of the government being unable to identify $3 billion in program spending, but it’s easy to comprehend a $90,172 cheque that smacks more of a bribe to shut someone up than a gift to a friend.
Clearly, there is something rotten on Parliament Hill. It was the diligence of reporters — particularly CTV’s Robert Fife and the Citizen’s Glen McGregor, who first broke the story about senatorial housing expenses — that this affair has come to light, not any internal parliamentary investigation. The revelations have certainly sparked public anger, judging by the letters-to-the-editor flooding newspaper inboxes and the outrage on talk shows.
No doubt, Conservatives would like to shoot the messengers, but if that is their only response they are ignoring the very real predicament they face as a party and a government. So long as the prime minister fails to forthrightly address questions that need answering the Tories greatly risk losing much-needed support in the next election. It may be two years away but the electorate doesn’t forget this kind of misconduct. (Just ask the Liberals.)
But then this affair goes beyond the fortunes of a particular party or government. If parliamentarians in general are perceived, unfairly or not, to be using their offices for personal gain, the entire edifice of the Canadian political system is undermined.
The notion the PMO struck a deal with the Senate regarding Duffy’s treatment suggests undue interference by the executive branch on a legislative branch of Parliament. Of course, such conduct alone won’t cause the system to collapse, but scandals such as this one are like acid dripping on stone, eroding public confidence in those charged with maintaining the institutions of law and order.
Harper presumably does not want this to be his legacy. If so, he needs to sideline the cheerleading and demonstrate the accountability and ethical government he once claimed the Conservatives were elected to provide.
Original Article
Source: ottawacitizen.com
Author: Editorial
He reminded Tories they won office on the promise to make government more transparent and accountable. He admonished those who might be tempted to use public office for personal gain, suggesting they “leave the room.” Then he launched into a litany of all the good things his government has done for the country and how Conservatives need to refocus on jobs, trade, etc., etc. The caucus applauded as required, at least while the media lingered.
If this had been an election event such a cheerleading speech might have been acceptable.
In this case, however, the prime minister failed to take advantage of one of his rare media appearances to speak directly to Canadians about a scandal that has, to put it mildly, angered them.
At no point in his public address did he mention his former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, who resigned on the weekend following the uproar over his giving a $90,000 personal cheque as a “gift” to Senator Mike Duffy so the parliamentarian — a much prized fundraiser for the Tories — could repay claims on ineligable expenses. It appears Wright’s “gift” might have violated some rules as well as basic ethics. Wright has subsequently resigned and Duffy departed the Conservative caucus.
The PMO has insisted that Wright did not inform Harper about the cheque or the arrangement. In question period, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird repeated that, and even called into question the very existence of the agreement between Wright and Duffy, which served to only confuse the story further.
There are still many questions and Canadians have a right to the answers, not through leaks to the media but straight from the prime minister’s mouth. What exactly was the understanding between Wright and Duffy? Was it a gift or a loan? What did Duffy do or promise to do in return for the cheque? And when was Harper aware of the arrangement? Did he approve or did he think it wrong? The prime minister has a reputation for being controlling, so it’s hard to believe he was kept entirely in the dark.
Beyond these questions, though, you also have to wonder whether after seven years in power has Harper has walled himself off like some ancient potentate surrounded by courtiers who bring him only what he wants to hear.
His unwillingness to address the substance of this scandals suggests the prime minister is so out of touch with Canadians that he doesn’t realize the seriousness with which the public regards it. People might have trouble getting their heads around the idea of the government being unable to identify $3 billion in program spending, but it’s easy to comprehend a $90,172 cheque that smacks more of a bribe to shut someone up than a gift to a friend.
Clearly, there is something rotten on Parliament Hill. It was the diligence of reporters — particularly CTV’s Robert Fife and the Citizen’s Glen McGregor, who first broke the story about senatorial housing expenses — that this affair has come to light, not any internal parliamentary investigation. The revelations have certainly sparked public anger, judging by the letters-to-the-editor flooding newspaper inboxes and the outrage on talk shows.
No doubt, Conservatives would like to shoot the messengers, but if that is their only response they are ignoring the very real predicament they face as a party and a government. So long as the prime minister fails to forthrightly address questions that need answering the Tories greatly risk losing much-needed support in the next election. It may be two years away but the electorate doesn’t forget this kind of misconduct. (Just ask the Liberals.)
But then this affair goes beyond the fortunes of a particular party or government. If parliamentarians in general are perceived, unfairly or not, to be using their offices for personal gain, the entire edifice of the Canadian political system is undermined.
The notion the PMO struck a deal with the Senate regarding Duffy’s treatment suggests undue interference by the executive branch on a legislative branch of Parliament. Of course, such conduct alone won’t cause the system to collapse, but scandals such as this one are like acid dripping on stone, eroding public confidence in those charged with maintaining the institutions of law and order.
Harper presumably does not want this to be his legacy. If so, he needs to sideline the cheerleading and demonstrate the accountability and ethical government he once claimed the Conservatives were elected to provide.
Original Article
Source: ottawacitizen.com
Author: Editorial
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