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PARLIAMENT'S BACK!
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by Michael Terry
March 11 - 17, 2010 |
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Welcome back to the circus. Parliament is finally in session, and for us political junkies who were forced to spend the last month feigning interest in the contours of a luge track and the other various melodramas that played out in Vancouver, there's something worth watching again. Indeed, as is the tradition, things kicked off with a bang, when Governor General Michelle Jean (who gave the go ahead to halt Parliament), was given the honour of starting the new session. In keeping with the tradition, the speech was full of just enough transparent hypocrisy to keep things interesting. To her credit, Jean flew out of the blocks, when in her very first sentence, she proclaimed, “We are a country whose citizens do not turn back when confronted by obstacles, whatever they are.” For someone addicted to the manipulation of word and deed practiced by political figures, it was difficult to ask for anything more. This tactic is unusually effective and is tragically both tried and tested. You take your weakness and run with it, not against it. You merely portray your actions however it is you wish them to be portrayed and while the heads of reasonable members of the body politic are spinning, you simply carry on. This statement is about meeting challenges and taking responsibilities. And yet, the last time this woman and the fine Conservative folks who crafted the speech got together, they were bailing on the nation, refusing to overcome the very real obstacle of allegations of torture, willing to simply shut up shop in order to avoid having to even pretend to be accountable.
With all that time away from the job, one may have hoped that the Conservatives would come to grips with what it meant to be a minority government, that they could look to their neighbours to the south and see the dangers of staunch ideological warfare, partisanship, refusal to compromise. But hope is best left to the dead these days, and instead of recognizing its role as minority ruling party (remember that about 65 percent of Canadians did not vote for them), they rolled out an agenda that would push Canada further to the right; Corporate tax breaks, regulation reduction, cuts in social services, increased powers for law enforcement. The speech clearly showed that the Conservatives are more concerned with carving out an identity that will lead to another return as a minority government in the next election, than with finding the common ground necessary to build strong coalitions and bring pragmatic and constructive legislation to the Canadian people.
One thing that caught the attention was the declaration that the words of the National Anthem should be reviewed. In particular, the words “In all they sons command” are seen to be gender-exclusive and thus should perhaps be changed. It is amazing that at a time of economic uncertainty, political gamesmanship, and high global tension, such a concern could even be uttered. But if we all must declare our thoughts on this important issue, here is mine; I do not give a shit either way.
After the symbolic tradition was over, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty took to the floor of the House to give the budget speech. Once again, lines in the sand were drawn and once again, they were on the right side of the desert. Declaring Canada “Open For Business”, it was revealed that American companies would be allowed to compete for contracts from municipal and provincial governments (no matter the wishes of those particular bodies). Local companies are no longer to be given an inside track on such job-creating projects, we are entering the degrading era of the Lowest Bidder.
In keeping with form, disrespect for the environment was once again high on the list of priorities for this group of brave citizens. Under the hated term 'red tape', environmental regulation is to be stripped away in the name of business and growth. Environmental reviews for energy and mining companies will be less substantial, less effective. More freedom for us Canadians to hack away in the Tar Sands.
Ultimately, these speeches are mere formalities and they will can do little else but show us the direction that Parliament is headed. It seems that the Harper Government has placed itself on a collision course with any and all opposition forces. Clearly, the belief is that they can hold onto their minority rule, that they can push the nation to the right while daring the other parties to call an election. Comfortable in the knowledge that whoever finally demands a vote will be placed in a political hole from which it may not be possible to escape. The fragile civility that has guided Canadian politics for decades is showing signs of collapse. Quickly, the ideological camps are reinforcing, readying for battle. Compromise may just be impossible and stalemate may just continue to be the order of the day. Welcome back to the circus.
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