The government of Stephen Harper has failed to decentralize power in the prime minister's office, a trend that is a "danger to Canadian democracy," retired judge John Gomery said Thursday.
Gomery appeared in Ottawa before the Commons estimates committee to address the implementation of his recommendations into the sponsorship scandal.
Although Gomery said some of his reforms were addressed in the government's accountability legislation, "the basic problem described in the report has not been dealt with."
Gomery said that problem is "the growing imbalance between the executive side of the government represented by the prime minister and his cabinet and the legislative side represented by parliament."
Gomery said his report warned of the "greater and greater concentration" of power within the executive.
Speaking to the committee, he raised concerns about the political staff in the PMO, saying they are not elected and are not subjected to any rules or laws, yet "have the ear of the most important and powerful person in Canadian government."
"I suggest that this trend is a danger to Canadian democracy and leaves the door wide open to the kind of political interference in the day-to-day administration of government programs that led to what is commonly called the sponsorship scandal."
In his first report in November 2005 about the sponsorship scandal, Gomery concluded that millions of taxpayer dollars had been skimmed by Liberal-friendly ad agencies and some of the cash had flowed back to the party in under-the-table kickbacks.
'Black hole' of indifference
In a second report, Gomery recommended reversing the growing trend toward centralization of power in the hands of the prime minister and his inner circle.
But in an interview with the Canadian Press in January, Gomery said that since Harper took power, "there's more concentration of power in the Prime Minister's Office than we've ever had before, which is quite remarkable in a minority government, but he's pulled it off."
Gomery said most of the political and bureaucratic changes he proposed fell into a "black hole" of indifference or were rejected out of hand.
In the interview, Gomery also slammed the Tories for not revamping the Access to Information Act to make it easier for journalists and other citizens to get documentation from the government.
He also took the prime minister to task for abandoning the effort to install a new appointments commissioner to ensure that merit — not patronage — would be the main criterion in naming people to the boards of Crown corporations and other key posts.
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Failure To Decentralize PMO Power Poses Danger To Democracy: Gomery
Posted on Thursday, March 13 at 08:16 by C.M. BurnsContributed By
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Just two brief phrases sum it up..
"The government of Stephen Harper has failed to decentralize power in the prime minister's office, a trend that is a "danger to Canadian democracy,"
Speaking to the committee, he raised concerns about the political staff in the PMO, saying they are not elected and are not subjected to any rules or laws, yet "have the ear of the most important and powerful person in Canadian government."
"I suggest that this trend is a danger to Canadian democracy and leaves the door wide open to the kind of political interference in the day-to-day administration of government programs"
Which is just about the exact definition of an Oligarchy!
Every time you turn around the bureaucray at both the provincial and federal level of "governments" and their spin doctors have been dumbing down the citizens.
I have noticed that there are people who think that we need to be regulated and baby sat by legislation that controls society. These regulations are mainly introduced to the people at the Regional Government level, you know, what you where you can walk, where you can walk your dog , wearing a helmet, wearing a seat belt, putting up a close line on your property, burning, to yes even putting up a fence. All small little regulation , but never the less a test , a test to see how far we can be pushed.
We started off being told that we would be paying taxes to finance the war efford, slowly but surely they have used the taxation laws to extort money out of the good people of Canada to build one of the largest employer, yes we are now financing a very large bureaucracy, that feed like a leach ..sucking the life out of its victim.
Now, those taxes are being used to finance the business friend of the political parties we crazy people vote for...we are our own worst enemies aren't we ? I might suggest that since those idiots that were elected in the last election are not listening to us, then if you feel the need to vote, then do not vote for the same idiot you sent to Ottawa...vote for a new idiot... stop giving these professional politicians a job for life.
I must be honest, everytime I look at Harper and his followers in the House of Commons , I see a gang that resembles Hitler and his follower. This present Conservative gang are arrogant and lie to the people, they put the screws to the veterans and the widows of our veterans...these are not honourable people, they cannot be trusted. Heir Harper is a control nut ..just like Hitler. The Liberal are no different, they are true supporters of the Conservative Party annd as far as Harper sueing the Liberals..it will never happen, it is all smoke and mirrors.
How the conservative minority is still in power boggles the mind, which says a lot about Dion and the Liberals.
Next election, lets try something new, and vote for a whole new government, not the same old batch of corrupt/inept professional politicians.
I've always felt Harper to be a Bush wannabe. He holds the reins of power to tightly, vetoes cabinet minsters speeches, tries to force his own agenda on the House and the people of Canada. Given his way, the freedoms we all enjoy will be stripped from us, and we will become more like Americans, with their Homeland Security (Gestapo) removing yet more rights.
How the conservative minority is still in power boggles the mind, which says a lot about Dion and the Liberals.
Next election, lets try something new, and vote for a whole new government, not the same old batch of corrupt/inept professional politicians.
I take it you think we should let the NDP run the place
This situation was cleverly morphed into existence quietly during the Cretin Regime and can be dismantled in much the same manner.
The PMO has become an unconstitutional branch of government, with too much power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats.
I've always felt Harper to be a Bush wannabe. He holds the reins of power to tightly, vetoes cabinet minsters speeches, tries to force his own agenda on the House and the people of Canada. Given his way, the freedoms we all enjoy will be stripped from us, and we will become more like Americans, with their Homeland Security (Gestapo) removing yet more rights.
How the conservative minority is still in power boggles the mind, which says a lot about Dion and the Liberals.
Next election, lets try something new, and vote for a whole new government, not the same old batch of corrupt/inept professional politicians.
I take it you think we should let the NDP run the place
For years, I voted NDP, but no more. Much to my surprise, I found the Green Party platform more to my liking, not to far left, not too far right, but actually sensible, not tired old rhetoric.
actually the liberals have a good green platform as well...
green with envy...
13 years of nothing , is Kyoto the dog going to write it for Dion.
The green pary's support is spread far to evenly across the country to elect a single member. The NDP elects members because it has strongholds. Thus a green party vote is a wasted vote, giving the two right wing parties an even freer hand, and fewer NDP members to deal with, until we get PR. They don't even get in the TV debates.
Brent
Voting counts, no matter who one votes for. But,one must ask oneself, does my vote for a non-mainstream party count? Yes it does. The mainstream parties want your vote, and will adapt their policies to get it. That does not mean they will change their platform, but then, their promises have never had more value than a tonne of steer manure. Actually, a tonne of steer manure is far more valuble than an election promise.