These are from a post by Andrew Aulenback that I came across the other day.
I
have been asked recently by some of my Conservative-Party-Loyal
friends why I would ever support someone other than Stephen Harper as
Prime Minister. "What has he done that every other politician
hasn't?" I am asked. Well, in the interest of keeping my
promise, here is a short list. I apologize for the obviously partisan
[well, not party-loyal to any party, but the focused on what Stephen
Harper has done to dissuade me from his consideration] nature of the
post:
*
Stephen Harper Found in Contempt of Parliament
For
refusing to disclose information on the costing of programs to
Parliament, which Parliament was entitled to receive, the Harper
government became the first in Canadian history to be found in
contempt of Parliament. This alone is a big deal. Even the Speaker of
the House found it indefensible.
*
Against Court Order, Refusal to Share Budget Info
Even
though it lost a court case and was ordered to comply, the Harper
government nevertheless still refused to share 170 times reasons and
impacts for cuts with Canada's independent budget watchdog, mocking
Parliament's right to control the public purse.
*
Conservative Cabinet Staffers Granted Immunity from Testimony
A
PMO edict absolved, or claimed to absolve, political staffers from
ever having to testify before parliamentary committees.
*
Conservatives Falsify Reports and Documents
Among
documents deliberately altered in the writing or the quoting by the
government: CIDA document by Bev Oda's office on Kairos; the Senate
Committee Report on the Duffy affair; a report by former auditor
general Sheila Fraser on financial management.
*
Repeated Duplicity in Afghan Detainees Controversy
Among
the abuses: Parliament was misled and denied documents. An inquiry
was shut down. CPC MPs attempted to discredit diplomat Richard Colvin
whose testimony diverted from the government's line of denial.
*
Repeated Duplicity on Costing of F-35 Fighter Jets
An
auditor general's report revealed serial deceptive practices used by
the Conservatives in misleading both the public and especially
Parliament on the projected cost of the fighter jets. Additionally,
after the government agreed to review the purchase, perhaps even open
it up to competitive bidding, the committee chosen by the Harper
Government reported (18 months later) that the review will recommend
buying the same plane, on the same terms — without competition.
*
CPC Minister Lies, Blames Statistics Canada for Killing Long Form
Census
Under
fire for Conservatives killing the long form census, Industry
Minister Tony Clement falsely stated that StatsCan backed the idea
and assured the voluntary substitute would yield valid statistical
data. Neither was true, outraged StatsCan sources confirmed, such
that the head of StatsCan publicly refuted the lies about his
statements and support, stepping down in protest as well.
*
Conservative MP Lies to Parliament, Later Admits He Lied to
Parliament
As
opposition members claimed the Harper government was out to rig
election rules in its favour, Conservative MP Brad Butt rose in the
House of Commons to say why the bill was needed -- all the voter
fraud he had personally witnessed in Nova Scotia. Weeks later he rose
again to say his statements had been entirely false. Delivering his
strained apology, he failed to explain why he lied in the first
place.
*
Conservative House Leader Admits to Mockery of Question Period
Criticized
far and wide for farcical answers in question period, Paul Calandra,
parliamentary secretary to Harper, made a tearful apology for abuse
of the democratic process, in this case for having pretended to
repeatedly hear "Iraq" as "Israel." He continued
to fail to answer questions by instead giving spurious and "comedic"
answers, however, as time went on.
*
Harper Maligns the Supreme Court Chief Justice
The
Prime Minister took the unprecedented step of alleging inappropriate
conduct by Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin. Facts undermined the
credibility of the PM's position.
*
Conservatives Engage in Abuse of Process with Omnibus Bills
Harper's
party pushed legislation through Parliament via omnibus bills, the
scale of which Parliament had never seen. Such bills are widely
condemned as an abuse of the democratic process, because they blend
and bury so many controversial laws within one dense package. Harper
himself once railed against them, and his born again love for them
made his own MPs queasy. Referencing such bills, former auditor
general Sheila Fraser said that "Parliament has become so
undermined that it is almost unable to do the job that people expect
of it."
*
Harperites Deliberately Sabotage, Stymie Committee System
Conservatives
used tactics such as barring witnesses, closure, time limitations,
and in camera sessions to an extent rarely, if ever, witnessed in
Canada. In their early days in power, top Conservatives prepared a
handbook instructing committee chairpersons how to obstruct
proceedings.
*
Harper's Own CPC MPs Protest Muzzling
In
a caucus known for his tight discipline, in 2014 some members finally
rose up to contest being censored at question period by the Prime
Minister's Office. Former Conservative backbencher Brent Rathgeber
turned independent and published a book, Irresponsible Government,
decrying anti-democratic practices.
*
Conservative Bill Back-Dates Bill To Before Bill Was Enacted to
Protect Mounties from Potential Criminal Charges Against Access To
Information Violation
To
protect the RCMP's acceding to demands from the PMO to illegally
destroy records early, the government made an old bill come
retroactively into force before it had actually been passed by
Parliament.
*
Harper Minister Caught in Advertising Scam with Public Funds
The
Globe and Mail revealed that Harper's chosen Minister for Democratic
Reform Pierre Poilievre commissioned a team of public servants for
overtime work on a Sunday to film him glad-handing constituents. The
vanity video on the taxpayer dime was to promote the government's
benefits for families.
*
Access to Information System Impeded
Many
new roadblocks have been put up by the Harper Conservatives. Former
Information Commissioner Robert Marleau concluded that having
obtained absolute power, the prime minister "has absolutely
abused that power to the maximum."
*
The Silencing of the Public Service
The
PMO took an unprecedented step in instituting a system wherein the
bureaucracy has all its communications vetted by the political nerve
centre. The policy contribution role of the public service is
significantly reduced. Complaints from insiders allege that the Privy
Council office has become increasingly politicized. In particular,
science and scientists have been controlled and impeded in their
communications, especially but not exclusively in preventing
information on climate change.
*
Loyalty Oaths Imposed on Public Servants
Archivists
and librarians were made to swear strict oaths of allegiance and were
hit with restrictions on freedom of speech that editorialists of the
right and left described as chilling, as they are not being applied
to the crown or the nation, but to the party and politicians in
power, and are expected to apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
*
Harper Government Sued by Justice Department Whistleblower
Time
and again the Harper government propose bills that end up being shot
down by the courts, prompting critics to say such legislation is more
about making political statements than lasting policy. The wasted
efforts bothered senior justice department lawyer Edgar Schmidt so
much he finally sued the government for breaking the law by
inadequately evaluating whether proposed bills violate the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms. He was promptly suspended without pay.
*
Conservatives Block Accreditation for Opposition MPs
In
another example of partisanship taken to new heights, the PMO blocked
opposition members from being accredited for international
environment conferences and from visiting military bases.
*
Clampdown on Freedom of Speech of Diplomatic Corps
Ottawa's
diplomats must get all communications approved from Conservative
political operatives. Under Harper, the country's ambassadors are
hardly heard from any more. In a recent speech, former United Nations
ambassador Stephen Lewis said our political culture under the
Conservatives has descended into "a nadir of indignity."
*
Marine Science Libraries Decimated
The
Harper government's downsizing of federal libraries included sudden
closing of seven world famous Department of Fisheries and Oceans
archives. A leaked memo revealed the destruction and consolidation
would save less than half a million dollars. Scientist patrons of the
libraries, who witnessed chaotic chucking of rare literature, called
it a "book burning" with no logical purpose other than to
restrict environmental information. The Harper government claimed
vital works would be digitally preserved, but never provided a plan
or cost for doing so, nor any proof it had happened. No scientists
interviewed by The Tyee believed digitizing would or could replace
what was lost.
*
Harper Government Denies Khadr Basic Rights
Defying
court rulings, the Conservative government refused to accord Omar
Khadr basic rights such as access to media. Editorialists of right
and left persuasion described the move as unbefitting a democratic
government.
*
Illegitimate Prorogation of Parliament, Twice
Prorogations
are a legitimate procedure that can be abused depending on
motivations. The Harper government provoked 60 protests across Canada
and beyond its borders in 2010 after shutting the legislature's doors
to escape condemnation on the Afghan detainees' file. It was the
second prorogation in a year's period.
*
Undue Interference with Independent Agencies
Command
and control system was extended to meddling in bodies like National
Energy Board and CRTC whose arms-length autonomy is significantly
reduced. A special target was the Parliamentary Budget Office, which
was hit with condemnations and budget cuts for its critical reports.
*
Billions Borrowed without Parliament's Permission
The
auditor general sounded alarms about the "prodigious"
growth and size of federal borrowing. Those billions in
"non-budgetary" spending used to get Parliament's
oversight, but no more. The finance minister can borrow what he wants
without Parliament's permission. Why? A loophole buried in a 2007
Harper omnibus bill.
*
Lapdogs Appointed as Watchdogs
The
most controversial was the case of former Integrity Commissioner
Christiane Ouimet. Her office reviewed more than 200 whistleblowing
cases. Disciplinary action followed on none of them. Ouimet's own
angry staffers blew the whistle on their boss. The auditor general
foundOuimet intimidated her employees, took "retaliatory action"
against them and may have breached their privacy, all part of the
Harper appointee's "gross mismanagement." Ouimet was paid
more than $500,000 to leave her post.
*
The 'Harper Government' Labelling Deception
Public
servants were told to use "Harper Government" instead of
"Government of Canada" in publicity releases. The
Conservatives denied it was happening -- until internal memos
revealed by the Canadian Press revealed the denial to be without
basis.
*
Conservatives Place Party Logos on Government of Canada Cheques
Once
"caught red-handed," they backed off. The federal ethics
commissioner, adopting the exasperated tone of an adult lecturing a
child, noted: "Public spending announcements are government
activities, not partisan political activities, and it is not
appropriate to brand them with partisan or personal identifiers."
*
Record Amounts of Partisan Political Advertising, on the Public Purse
Several
media reports told how the Conservatives used taxpayer money for
partisan political advertising in record quantity, costing the public
treasury $750 million since Harper became PM. In one instance, the
Tories spent lavishly on ads for the promotion of a jobs grant
program that had yet to be made public or presented to parliament or
the provinces. Even more nakedly partisan, a mailed blast, charged to
the taxpayers, targeting Justin Trudeau.
*
Government Muzzles Science Community
Top
scientists came under such heavy monitoring by the Conservatives that
they staged "Death of Evidence" protests for being denied
freedom of speech. The Conservatives sent out chaperones or "media
minders" to track Environment Canada scientists and report on
them. Continued and repeated silencing of scientists and scientific
dialogue continues.
*
Like Never Before, Limits Placed on Media Access
Journalists
have been hard-pressed to recall another time when controls put on
them were so tight. At the Conservatives' 2013 Calgary convention,
reporters wrote of being harassed and penned in at every turn by the
PMO's command and control system. In his book Killing The Messenger,
journalist Mark Bourrie charts the many examples of new limits on
freedom of speech introduced in the Harper era.
*
Harper's Team Tries to Ban Journalist for Asking Question
Veteran
TV cameraman Dave Ellis covered a Harper speech about oil to a
business audience. Though media had been instructed no questions
allowed, Ellis posed one about charges laid against a Conservative
MP. The PMO tried to punish Ellis and his network by kicking him off
covering Harper's trip to Malaysia. After media hue and cry, Harper
backed down and Ellis went.
*
Suppression of Research
In
the gun registration debate, incriminating research and documents
such as a Firearms Report were deliberately withheld from the public.
While ramping up their prison building, Conservatives suppressed
related research and studies contradicting their political
priorities.
*
Protesters Put under Blanket Surveillance
According
to a leaked memo, as part of its command and control approach, the
Conservatives have approved a system wherein all advocates,
protesters and demonstrations can be monitoredby authorities. The
Government Operations Centre has requested federal departments to
assist it in compiling a comprehensive inventory of protesters.
Security specialists have called it a breach of Canadians' Charter of
Rights. Conservatives have moved to give CSIS even more powers than
the spy agency wants.
*
Rights and Democracy, Other Groups, Dismantled
In
a show of brute force, the Montreal-based group Rights and Democracy
was pole-axed for its alleged political leanings and eventually
disbanded. Organizations like the church group Kairoswere de-budgeted
or dismantled for political leanings. Nuclear Safety Commission head
Linda Keen was dumped. Among the complaints cited by the PM was that
in her distant past, she had some Liberal ties.
*
Harper Government Spied on Aboriginal Critic, 'Retaliated'
Aboriginal
child welfare advocate Cindy Blackstock was spied on by the Harper
government, and when she arrived for a meeting with other First
Nations leaders at the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs only she was
barred entry. Finding Blackstock had been "retaliated"
against by a ministry official, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
awarded her $20,000 for pain and suffering.
*
Revenue Canada Targeted to Attack Charities
Not
all charities, just the ones that don't seem adequately aligned with
the Harper brand. Enough to include many environmental, aid, human
rights and free speech charities that banded together to push back
against what looks like a politically motivated witch hunt. When an
investigation into whether there was PMO coercion became possible,
Revenue Canada instructed all staff to destroy all text message
records, against standard procedures.
*
Conservatives Use Unheard of Tactic to Force through Anti-Union Bill
Conservative
senators went to the unprecedented extent of overruling their own
Speaker. What could be so important to break Senate rules? A bill
pushed by Harper that is almost certainly unconstitutional for its
privacy invading measures forced onto unions, unlike other groups.
Latest in a steady stream of Conservative attacks on organized labour
in Canada.
*
Harper Smears Liberal Sikh MP, Insinuating Tie to Terrorism
When
Liberals opposed a 2007 Conservative plan to extend anti-terror
legislation, Stephen Harper singled out Grit MP Navdeep Bains,
seeming to suggest that Bains' party was motivated by a desire to
protect Bains' father-in-law, Darshan Singh Saini. A recent news
story had claimed Singh Saini was on a list of witnesses sought by
the RCMP for its Air India investigation, but provided no proof he
was involved. In the House, Liberals erupted with outrage and Bains
asked, in vain, that Harper apologize.
*
Veterans' Advocates Smeared
Medical
files of Sean Bruyea, a strong advocate for veterans' rights, were
leaked in a case that privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart
described as "alarming." Veterans Affairs Canada ombudsman
Pat Stogran was dumped after criticizing the government.
*
Conservative Convicted on Robocalls Scam
Tory
operative Michael Sona was given jail time for his role in the
robocalls scam. The judge indicated more than one person was likely
involved. In another court judgment in a case brought by the Council
of Canadians, the ruling said the robocalls operation was widespread,
not just limited to the Guelph riding. Donald Segretti who did dirty
tricks for the Nixon White House told a Canadian reporter his
skullduggery didn't go so low as to run schemes sending voters to the
wrong polling stations.
*
Harper's Ex-Parliamentary Secretary Jailed for Breaking Election Law
Dean
Del Maestro was one of Harper's favourites. As his parliamentary
secretary, the PM frequently used him as an attack dog to allege
misdeeds by opposition members. Del Maestro was given a jail sentence
in June for his own election spending violations, which is to say,
cheating.
*
'Reprehensible' Dirty Tricks Campaign against Irwin Cotler
Conservative
Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer ruled his party's own tactics in
running a surreptitious misinformation campaign in the riding of the
highly respected MP were "reprehensible.
*
Election Violations Prompt Resignation of Cabinet Member
Peter
Penashue, another Harper Conservative was compelled to step down over
election spending violations.
*
Harper's Office Deploys Interns for Dirty Tricks
In
one instance that brought on allegations of Nixonian tactics, junior
PMO staffers in the guise of normal citizens were sent out to disrupt
a Justin Trudeau speech.
*
Citizens Ejected from Conservative Rallies
Tory
operatives hauled out citizens from a Harper rally in the 2011
campaign because they had marginal ties to other parties. A
spokesperson for the PM was compelled to apologize. Problem fixed
this time around: Only fully vetted Harper supporters will be
allowed, by invite only, to attend the PM's campaign stops. If they
have a ticket.
*
Conservatives Make Campaign Event Attendees Sign Gag Order
Not
only have Harper's campaign handlers made his campaign events by
invite only, they are forcing anyone let in to sign an agreement not
to transmit any description of the event or any images from it.
*
Conservatives Unfix Their Own Fixed Date Election Law
In
2008, Harper pulled the plug on his own government, violating his own
new law, which stipulated elections every four years
.
*
Guilty Plea on In and Out Affair
The
Conservative Party and its fundraising arm pled guilty to some
Elections Act charges stemming from their exceeding spending limits
in the 2006 campaign. The investigation cost taxpayers over $2
million.
*
CPC Elections Bill Strips Power from Elections Canada
The
Fair Elections Act also makes it harder for Canadians to vote as more
ID is required. Nationwide protests in which more than 400 academics
took part forced Pierre Poilievre to withdraw some measures in the
bill because of their alleged anti-democratic bent.
*
Harper Minister Smears Head of Elections Canada
In
a bid to impugn his integrity, Democratic Reform Minister Pierre
Poilievre accused the Elections Canada CEO Marc Mayrand of being a
power monger and wearing a team jersey.
*
Copyright Grab for Attack Ads
CTV
News found out Conservatives aimed to rewrite copyright law to let
political parties grab any media content and use it for free in their
ads. The impact, warned CTV's Don Martin, "will be to cast a
chill on every broadcast appearance" by MPs, commentators and
reporters, who "must now be aware their views could end up
featured in a political attack ad." By asserting "unlimited
access to the airwaves for propaganda purposes," Martin said,
the Harper government "could be seen as flirting with fascism."
*
Conservatives Use Terrorists' Propaganda in Attack Ad Immediately
After Making That Illegal
Harper's
party created a political ad incorporating music and horrifying
images of doomed captives pulled straight from the Islamic State's
own promotional video. The target: Justin Trudeau, whose views on the
risks and rewards of bombing ISIS differ from Harper's. This
immediately after making it illegal to spread terrorists' propaganda
even incidentally or accidentally.
*
Canada Is The Only UN Member To Reject Landmark Indigenous Rights
Document
CPC
aboriginal affairs deputy minister Colleen Swords represented Ottawa
at the United Nations assembly in New York, where Canada was the only
nation to object to a non-legally binding UN outcome document which
promotes indigenous peoples' legal and political standing and
participation in their various home countries. This after UN Special
Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples found in the UN's 2014
report that Canada's relationship as a nation with its indigenous
peoples continues to be an antagonistic rather than cooperative one.
*
Prime Minister's Office Charged in Court By Information Commissioner
Canadian
Press submitted Access to Information request identified 28 pages of
documents available, according to the Privy Council Office, but the
PMO refused to allow access to 27 of the 28 pages, despite being
legally obliged. The case has gone to federal court.
*
Conservative Party's Lawyers Declare No Responsibility Between
Government And Combat Veterans.
In
response to a lawsuit by Canadian combat veterans over the new
Veterns Charter, wherein the veterans stated "The social
covenant is this promise that our country, Canada, has promised
service people they will be protected when they get maimed and their
families will be looked after if they are killed," the federal
government responded that "At no time in Canada's history has
any alleged 'social contract' or 'social covenant' having the
attributes pleaded by the plaintiffs been given effect in any
statute, regulation or as a constitutional principle written or
unwritten." That the government has no obligation to care for
wounded combat veterans. The lawsuit has been put on pause during the
election, and will resume afterward.
*
Department of Foreign Affairs Instructed To Meet Quota Of Terror
The
Prime Minister's Office instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs
in April of 2015, with an election looming, to ensure a minimum of
three Terrorism Warning media releases each week. The bureaucrats of
the Department declined to meet the "odd" demand for a
quota,
--
These
are a number of things which help Stephen Harper and, through the
"Harper" brand, the Conservative Party of Canada, stand out
from other politicians and other parties current and historic.
David
Beers has a more extensive listing of this list and more, over at The
Tyee. His version of this list breaks 70 items. I am evidently more
conservative than that, and consider mis-spending and pork-barrel
scandals to be similar enough to previous governments to not be worth
listing.
