Governments Anti Democratic Actions.

This then is not about Conservative policies in regard to the direction they are taking us but more about the manner in which they are doing it. I have no real means of knowing if these methods are supported by the majority of Conservative MPs because few, if any have spoken out on the issue, I suspect that it is more a directive from the PMO with the knowledge and support of the few in cabinet and inner circle who have the ear of the PM. In order to illustrate my concerns for our democratic process I will list just some of the things that have come to my attention that show that this government has little regard for said system and is in fact knowingly destroying or subverting the normal checks and balances that customarily separate our system from that of an Oligarchy. Here is my partial list of this governments anti democratic actions:- 1) Appointed Michael Fortier as Minister of Public Works rather that an elected MP. 2) Encouraged and enabled reelected Liberal Minister, David Emerson to cross the floor and move directly into a key position in the Conservative cabinet. 3) Refusal to talk with the press except in rare, highly controlled and predetermined, government dictated press conferences. 4) Dictating to elected MPs what they can and cannot say to the electorate and to the press. (All parties try and control the message to some extent but this one has gone way beyond the norm) 5) The summary removal from the party of any MPs who do speak out against a particular party policy. (Garth Turner, Bill Casey) 6) Dictating to the local party organizations who they can and cannot propose as their candidate for election. (as above, Mark Warner and others) 7) Actively disrupting the free and open debate of amendments in parliamentary committees by directing the appointed Conservative chairs to obstruct unfavourable comment and testimony. 8) Producing and distributing to said chairs a 200 plus page document to assist them in this disruption. (witness the committee debate on SPP) 9) Deciding to prorogue parliament rather than just the normal summer recess thus unnecessarily effectively killing any pieces of legislation already in progress. 10) Upon return dictating / threatening that ANY legislation proposed by the government shall be a matter of confidence and that NO opposition amendments will be considered. 11) The PMs threat to the Senate that there would be “consequences” if they stalled his big crime bill., (before it has even been voted upon by the MPs). He has also said several times that abolishing the Senate would be an option if it cannot be reformed. 12) Your choice, the list expands with each day this government feels it has “The Right to Govern” without regard to democratic process. If anyone can explain how any of these things enhance our democracy or increase the “openness and accountability” of our government as promised during the 2006 campaign I would really like to hear the explanation! Please feel free to add to the list if you have a particular concern about the workings of parliament no matter which party (or individual) is subverting our democratic process. (This article is an original piece by “rural” and may be distributed in whole or in part for the purpose of highlighting the necessity of parliamentary reform and increased vigilance upon our political parties and their leaders. He is a Canadian citizen who believes we must actively protect our country, our sovereignty and our democratic process from those who would steal it from us, whether by public apathy, stealth, purchase or outright manipulation. He is not associated with any political party.)