Understanding the Canadian prime minister’s war against our democratic institutions, freedoms and legitimate dissent

Editor’s Note: In June 1997, Stephen Harper addressed a Montreal meeting of the Council for National Policy (CNP), a right-wing U.S. think tank. His speech unequivocally foreshadowed his ongoing war against Canadian democracy. Harper described Canada as “a Northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term” with “a standard of living substantially lower” than that of the U.S. On our cherished bilingualism he said “the important point is that Canada is not a bilingual country.” The Senate then was a chamber where the Prime Minister “puts buddies, fundraisers and the like. So the Senate also is not very important in our political system.” And then he said the New Democratic Party (NDP) was “kind of proof that the Devil lives and interferes in the affairs of men.”

“Canada’s system of one-party-plus rule has stunted democracy.” – Stephen Harper (and Tom Flanagan)

By Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive, March 1, 2012:

Photo: Remy Steinegger. Via Wikimedia Commons

Not long ago, Stephen Harper suggested that “although we like to think of ourselves as living in a mature democracy, we live, instead, in something little better than a benign dictatorship.” He bemoaned the fact that “our parliamentary government creates a concentrated power structure out of step with other aspects of society.”

That day, Harper talked about governments as “defenders of the social safety net”. And then he suggested: “For Canadian democracy to mature, Canadian citizens must face these facts, as citizens in other countries have, and update our political structures to reflect the diverse political aspirations of our diverse communities.”

How prophetic.

By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive:

The New Democratic Party (NDP) suggested in a press conference today that the Conservatives rigged the May 2011 federal election against the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Liberals. Call it election rigging western style. Apparently, RackNine Inc, a Conservative Party-linked firm called 18 key swing ridings and sent opposition voters to false voting stations or incorrectly advised them of changed polling locations.

Outspoken Winnipeg NDP Member of Parliament Pat Martin (pictured) is understandably furious. This is a naked assault on Canadian democracy.

Martin has called the scandal, unraveled by Ottawa Citizen, the “largest electoral fraud in Canadian history.”  He’s called on the RCMP to investigate.

By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive:

For over a week now, politicians, the media and pundits have relentlessly sniped interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel for her past association with the Bloc Quebecois. To them, it’s not enough that Turmel canceled her membership with the Quebec separatist party in January before registering to run for the New Democrats.

That the rookie MP for Hull—Aylmer has been a member of the federalist NDP since 1991 isn’t enough either. Even the fact that she has told us: “I’m a federalist!”

NDP Leader Jack Layton Greets Supporters in Toronto on Election Day 2011

NDP Leader Jack Layton announced Monday he’s is taking a temporary leave of absence to receive treatment for a new cancer. The Canadian Progressive World wishes Layton a speedy recovery.

Layton has not only been the public face of the federal New Democrats in the last eight years. His leadership has changed Canada’s political landscape.

Laytn led the NDP to its biggest electoral performance at the federal level in 50 years. The NDP won 103 seats nationally, making it Canada’s Official Opposition and government-in-waiting for the next four years. 58 of the seat came from Quebec, mostly from the separatist Bloc Quebecois.

In the process, Layton and the NDP gave Canada and federalists a priceless gift. The spectre of Quebec’s separation from Canada has haunted us since the Bloc stormed the political scene in 1993. It’s been every federalist party’s dream to woo Quebecers away from the Bloc and preserve Canada’ national unity. Without success.

Layton and the NDP did it!