Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Federal Election 2015: Trudeau Says Harper Has Turned Ottawa Into 'A Partisan Swamp'

MONTREAL — Stephen Harper has "turned Ottawa into a partisan swamp" during his years in power, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Tuesday as he promised a more transparent government if he is elected in October.

"We will make information more accessible by requiring transparency to be a fundamental principle across the federal government," Trudeau said in Montreal on Day 10 of the election campaign.

The Liberal leader accused the outgoing prime minister of leading the "most secretive, divisive and hyper-partisan government in Canada's history."

"We will clean up his mess."

Trudeau also said a Liberal government would bring substantial change to the scandal-tainted Senate by bringing in a merit-based appointment process.

"Partisanship and patronage need to be eliminated from the Senate," he said. "Harper turned Ottawa into a partisan swamp."

It was no coincidence the Liberals talked about Senate reform. On Wednesday, the trial of embattled former Conservative senator Mike Duffy resumes after a two-month hiatus.

The first witness will be Nigel Wright, Harper's former chief of staff and the man who provided Duffy with $90,000 of his own money to repay his disallowed housing and travel expenses.

Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges, including fraud, bribery and breach of trust.

Trudeau also promised more free votes as well as greater independence for parliamentary committees.

"For Parliament to work best, its members must be free to do what they have been elected to do — represent their communities in Parliament and hold the government to account," Trudeau said.

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.ca/
Author: CP

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