Democratic Reform

THE LIE
“Canada's New Government has an ambitious and extensive legislative plan to strengthen accountability in government through democratic reform.

• First, we are eliminating the influence of big money in the political process by regulating the financing of political parties.
• Second, we've introduced legislation to modernize the Senate to make it more democratic, more accountable, and more effective.
• Third, we are enhancing our electoral system to make it more responsive, fair and effective.

While we have accomplished a lot to date, we will continue to move forward with our plan to strengthen accountability through democratic reform.”
Technically, not a Harper quote. Cited from the Ministry of Democratic Reform website

THE TRUTH
We’ve covered some of this already, but to recap:

• Harper threatened to remove the Government grant to political parties in December 2008, an action viewed by some as the precipitant to the threat of a coalition between the Liberals and NDP.
• Harper crammed the Senate with his appointees in December 2008.
• Harper broke his own law and called an early election.

On the threat to the grant
On the Senate
On the early election call

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, far right, watches as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivers the
government's fiscal update in the House of Commons on Nov. 27. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

Elected Senates

THE LIE
"We believe that wherever the people of a province or territory by democratic election choose persons qualified to be appointed to the Senate, the government should continue the practice it started in the 39th Parliament of filling any vacancy in the Senate for that province or territory from among those elected persons."
from the Conservative Party of Canada Policy Declaration, November 15, 2008

THE TRUTH
On Monday, December 22, 2008, barely six weeks after the above principle was reaffirmed at a party national convention, Stephen Harper stuffed the Senate with a slate of 18 unelected appointees, including broadcaster Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin.

Duffy has since become infamous for his comment about Premiers Danny Williams (NL) and Robert Ghiz (PEI): "You know what happened, what a grotesque scene that is. You know what happens when two politicians climb into bed together. One of them comes out on top and I'm afraid when you're in bed with Danny Williams, he's going to be on top." He has also been accused of baldfaced partisanship while hosting a show on CTV that featured Stephane Dion false-starting an interview three times during the lead-up to last fall's election. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council ruled that Duffy was not "fair, balanced, or even-handed," and that his rebroadcast of the miscues were in breach of industry code.

Harper's equal, elected, and effective senate
Duffy's hoof in mouth disease
Duffy's partisan parry

Prime Minister Stephen Harper walks away following a television interview with
Mike Duffy in Ottawa in February 2007. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)