Harper's Move To Control Independent Officers Of Parliament Is Unprecedented In the British Parliamentary System
In a move that is fairly unprecedented in the British Parliamentary System, our control freak Prime Minister is trying to bring Independent Officers of Parliament under his thumb.
"Auditor-General Sheila Fraser found allies yesterday who condemned the Conservative proposal, which could mean that Parliament's officers must vet their public statements through a wing of the Prime Minister's Office, as an unprecedented attack on the independence of the officers, who are supposed to work at arm's length.
The draft proposal would lump in Fraser, along with other officers of Parliament such as the head of Elections Canada, and the privacy, information and ethics commissioners with all other government departments and demand they get high-level approval before speaking out."
The Star
At some point, Canadians need to wake up to the fact, that this minority Conservative government is making moves towards an authoritarian society where the Office of the Prime Minister trumps Parliament.
"Well, I can tell you there is no way that my press releases about my report are going to go to Privy Council Office or our communications strategies are going to be vetted by Privy Council Office."
Sheila Fraser
Auditor General
"Auditor-General Sheila Fraser found allies yesterday who condemned the Conservative proposal, which could mean that Parliament's officers must vet their public statements through a wing of the Prime Minister's Office, as an unprecedented attack on the independence of the officers, who are supposed to work at arm's length.
The draft proposal would lump in Fraser, along with other officers of Parliament such as the head of Elections Canada, and the privacy, information and ethics commissioners with all other government departments and demand they get high-level approval before speaking out."
The Star
At some point, Canadians need to wake up to the fact, that this minority Conservative government is making moves towards an authoritarian society where the Office of the Prime Minister trumps Parliament.
"Well, I can tell you there is no way that my press releases about my report are going to go to Privy Council Office or our communications strategies are going to be vetted by Privy Council Office."
Sheila Fraser
Auditor General
Enough is enough is enough! Time to force an election to end this destructive minority government!
Posted by
Proudpinko |
10:57 am, May 01, 2008