The Canadian Press
In a rare intervention, Peter Milliken appealed to all parties to "address themselves to the crisis in the committee system that is teetering dangerously close to the precipice at the moment."
Traditionally, committees are masters of their own business and the Commons Speaker has been loath to intervene.
But partisan shenanigans at various committees compelled Milliken to speak out about what he called "this anarchy that appears to be serially afflicting committees in recent weeks."
"Frankly speaking, I do not think it is overly dramatic to say that many of our committees are suffering from a dysfunctional virus that, if allowed to propagate unchecked, risks preventing members from fulfilling the mandate given them by their constituents," Milliken told the Commons.
The lack of decorum and civility in the Commons and its standing committees is not a new problem and they've arguably been more dysfunctional at various times in the past. However, recent hijinks appear to have goaded Milliken into issuing his unusual admonition.
For instance, for two days in a row this week, the Conservative chairman of the justice committee walked out of a meeting rather than allow an opposition challenge to his ruling that the committee has no business investigating the Cadman affair.
The opposition parties last week combined to remove Gary Goodyear as the Conservative chairman of the procedure and House affairs committee after he repeatedly blocked attempts to investigate allegedly illegal Tory spending practices in the 2006 election. Milliken noted that the opposition members chose a new chair, Tory MP Joe Preston, even though he "had stated unequivocally that he did not want the nomination."
In this minority Parliament, Milliken said rulings by committee chairs are being routinely overturned by majority votes, even when the rulings are procedurally sound. Such a state of affairs has led to "general lawlessness" at committees.
While the various parties acknowledged the validity of Milliken's warning, each side blamed the other for provoking the problem.
"This is an important statement and a serious criticism of the opposition's anti-democratic tactics at committee," said Peter Van Loan, the government's House Leader.
"Parliamentary committees are becoming irrelevant sideshows due to partisan hijacking and manipulation of rules and votes."
But Libby Davies, the NDP House leader, said the Conservatives - and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office in particular - are to blame.
"I think it's clearly the government (at fault) and it's the PMO and the control that they want to exert over committees to carry through their own political agenda instead of allowing the committees to do their own business and do it in a democratic fashion," she said.
Stumble It!
Political parties by their nature are vehicles used to hijack the government, at the present time the Liberals, Conservatives and yes even the NDP have loaded up the BUREAUCRACY with their minions . Yes the NDP might not have quite as many in position, but just by the mere fact that they are a political party that thrives on "government" employee unions and god knows we sure as hell have them, this is where and how the NDP position themselves within the bureaucracy.
To clean out the shit that these parties have planted within our government , it going to take one hell of an ENEMA to do the job. If one takes the time to reflect on just how abusive the system is and how it lacks accountability, tell me, what is the point of voting?
You see all of these political parties pretty much live by the same rules and operate under the same party constituation and principles. This is why, when we vote one out and the other in, nothing truly changes.
Basically by the mere fact "we" vote, they, (the parties) take our voting to mean , we are just not happy with the governing party of the day, which is screwing us to death with taxes and corruption, and we like the system to keep on abusing us, because we voted giving our approval.
Get my point? This kind of political abuse will continue, until we decide "WE" do not want to support it. I do not support a political party using the taxation system to extort money out of me or my friend , just so that money can be used to finance "theparties" business friends.
I also carry scars of this political system...Ottawa ( the bureaucracy ) back in 1966 and 1967 tried to kill hundreds of Canadian soldiers,when they used Agent Orange on us. It does not stop there either..
You take care
Cheers Wayne Coady
Libby Davies "I think it's CLEARLY the GOVERNMENT (at fault)" she said.
Well hello Libby ... every single one of you, that are elected ARE GOVERNMENT, you are just dealing with an out of control BUNCH OF CABINET CABINET MINISTER, so bring them in line.
It is time all MPs took into consideration they sit in Parlianment as elected representatives of the people who sent them there , they all are required to hold the CABINET ACCOUNTABLE and THE BUREAUCRACY.. YOU are all there in the capacity to look out for the PEOPLE GOVERNMENT., you are not there to serve your chosen parties, if you are, then start picking up your pay check from the damn party.
CHEERS
WAYNE COADY
" YOU are all there in the capacity to look out for the PEOPLE GOVERNMENT., you are not there to serve your chosen parties, if you are, then start picking up your pay check from the damn party."
RIGHT ON!
So, if we cannot hold those who have been entrusted with OUR taxes accountable, or the bureaucracy ... why vote.
Now, if you feel the Green Party might be any different, then please take a look at their; rules, constituation, and their mandate. Show me where they or any other party is committed to working for the people and not the party.
I will not vote or support a political system that abuses and uses its tax payers and we cannot hold the system accountable for,; mismanagement, bungling, deceit. apathy and out right abuse. If I vote...they take my vote to mean..stay the course and I will not give them my approval.
Cheers
Wayne Coady
If they do not clean you, if they do not bring accountability into the peoples government, then they will fall. At that point..the alternative will be they will have no choice but to reform.
As it is right now, political parties have become lobbyist for special interest groups and business, we do not have a bureaucracy that functions as a democratic instituation.
We have given the system, the bureaucrats, the elected way to many chances to prove that they have the will, to do the right thing, they have not. I do not support a bank robber, a child abuser , so why should I be expected to support any one of these political parties,,when they do not support accountability?
Cheers
Wayne Coady Cole Harbour NS
The political parties are only the curtain on which the the illusion is projected
I would have though by now and all the information you have been given you would have gotten it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dY4WlxO ... ed&search=
Yep, that's pretty much of it works. You are also correct that voting does little more than to legitimize the hopelessly broken and corrupt system that we have.
We are the players.... when WE vote... WE are lending our support to a political system that; gets away with incompetence, mismanagement,bungling, is deceitful, and remains unaccountable. This is our doing, we keep this system alive, when we vote.
One problem and most likely the biggest problem, people forgot how to think for themselves, there are those who need to be involved in a political gang, because they cannot think for themselves.
I am not knocking religious groups,but they too draw people who cannot think for themselves. You can have faith and believe in ones self...with out having some preacher shove his or her religious values down your throat.This is what political parties do..they feed you their garbage and look what we end up with, really!
So, I address and protest this present misguided bureaucracy in my own peacful way. I do not lend it my support at the ballot box...because by being recorded as being at the polling station, they get $1.65 based on the assumption that I voted, when I might have spolied my ballot. By protesting the way I do, this misguided and confused bureaucracy cannot send our tax funded police out to mace me or tazer me or make me out to be a radical protester.
Look at the voter turn out in Alberta..41% , and the turn out in the byelections last night 19%, this is all good. People are wakeing up and they are starting to think, they realize they matter want or which party is in control, there is no accountability.
No if the MEDIA pulled their head out of these political parties ass, took a look around at the bureaucracy and did a little investigative reporting, things might start to turn around. My biggest piss off, is how these political parties or should I call them private clubs, use the power and legislation of Revenue Canada to extort money out of us and then use those taxes collected to finance "their"private business friends. This is legalized extortion and it makes me sick, to think that my vote would only legitimize and be used to suppport such a dirty system. NO THANK YOU!
rate post
Diogenes: I do not need to do myself a favour , nor do I need to watch a video to understand who the players are.
In which case all that can be said is you arrogance is only surpassed by your ignorance
We are the players.... when WE vote... WE are lending our support to a political system that; gets away with incompetence, mismanagement,bungling, is deceitful, and remains unaccountable. This is our doing, we keep this system alive, when we vote.
That all you are able to see is the smallest part of the picture , like a child looking through a knot-hole at a sporting event, you fail to grasp all that goes into the game of control. The “our “ that you continuously bleat about is a disjointed body without the will to agree or care enough to, like you educate themselves, to the full immensity of what they are involved in.
One problem and most likely the biggest problem, people forgot how to think for themselves, there are those who need to be involved in a political gang, because they cannot think for themselves.
In this over generalised opinion and finger pointing you have given, is there anywhere directions on how to think? There is not, Furthermore, for one such as your self to make such a claim is akin to the pot calling the kettle black as when you are pointed in the direction on how to think, truly think for your self , you continue to dig your heels in and hold to the ways that enslave you.
I am not knocking religious groups,but they too draw people who cannot think for themselves. You can have faith and believe in ones self...with out having some preacher shove his or her religious values down your throat.This is what political parties do..they feed you their garbage and look what we end up with, really!
Ah, But you are knocking and by doing so pushing away rather than drawing to those you perhaps could be your allies. I have suggested to you in our past communications you learn critical thinking as a skill and that too is an area where you refuse to go. As a side bar, what has happened to the organisation you used to trumpet? Has there been even enough interest to hold together?
So, I address and protest this present misguided bureaucracy in my own peacful way. I do not lend it my support at the ballot box...because by being recorded as being at the polling station, they get $1.65 based on the assumption that I voted, when I might have spolied my ballot. By protesting the way I do, this misguided and confused bureaucracy cannot send our tax funded police out to mace me or tazer me or make me out to be a radical protester.
Wayne, Wayne, Wayne, it is abundantly clear that you, in your efforts are far more misguided than the ones holding you captive. By being a petulant little boy-slave your reward is to be ignored as well as Ignorance.
Look at the voter turn out in Alberta..41% , and the turn out in the byelections last night 19%, this is all good. People are wakeing up and they are starting to think, they realize they matter want or which party is in control, there is no accountability.
What you identify as was ‘waking up’ is only going deeper into a trance of inactivity and handing over total power to the elected to as both they and their paymasters wish. That you have once again, as is your wont, failed to comprehend what happened belies any hint of your knowing what happened.
No if the MEDIA pulled their head out of these political parties ass, took a look around at the bureaucracy and did a little investigative reporting, things might start to turn around. My biggest piss off, is how these political parties or should I call them private clubs, use the power and legislation of Revenue Canada to extort money out of us and then use those taxes collected to finance "their"private business friends. This is legalized extortion and it makes me sick, to think that my vote would only legitimize and be used to suppport such a dirty system. NO THANK YOU!
The media is faithfull to the cause for which they owe their existence too. No more. No less.
Until you or anyone now enslaved by a system of laws deeply encoded and burned into the minds of lesser men start to study and deconstruct the procedures by which you are enslaved you will forever be at the mercy of the rules of “the game”
Talk to you friend Paul, unless he has been lying to me he is beginning to catch on to a reality you refuse to see.
And if my "ignorance" is being capiable of thinking once again for myself then that they are two qualities I have that you do not, now please do not bother me again and go watch a VIDEO .
irrefutable fact.
Show where and what you see me ignorant of.
"And if my "ignorance" is being capiable of thinking once again for myself then that they are two qualities I have that you do not, now please do not bother me again and go watch a VIDEO ."
The optimum word in you ever so cute ass wiggle is “if”. That you haven't all the facts whatever "thinking" is done by you is incomplete.
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&rlz=1 ... ns&spell=1