Harper Again Shows No Respect for Democracy
By allowing the Senate to go against the will of the majority of
Members of Parliament and the Canadian public, Stephen Harper has once
again shown no respect for the democratic process. After a surprise vote
and without any debate, unelected Conservative senators killed the Climate
Change Accountability Act which was passed by a majority of the elected
members of the House of Commons.
Earlier in the week, Mr. Harper unilaterally announced an extension to
Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan, once again without even so much
as a debate and vote in Parliament.
Not long ago, he refused to comply with an order from a federal court
judge to seek the repatriation of Omar Khadr; the judge ruled that Kahdr had
been denied his constitutional rights to a fair trial and treatment as a child
soldier.
Last year, Parliament voted in favour of allowing American soldiers
who refused to fight in Iraq the right to stay in Canada; again, Harper
ignored the will of Parliament and sent them back.
By banning British MP George Galloway from Canada, Harper’s
immigration minister Jason Kenney stifled freedom of speech.
Canadians should be concerned about the direction in which this
country is headed.
Katy Austin,
Simcoe Grey New Democrats
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