It is no secret the Conservatives are heading for confrontation with the Supreme Court over its reckless and irresponsible notion that unconstitutional legislation should be passed. From the spat between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin to Justice Minister Peter MacKay’s reluctance to consult the courts and public on legislation that is predictably going to be shot down, it is clear the Conservatives will try to break the system to get their unconstitutional legislation passed – particularly in the domain of Law and Order.
Canadian citizens have a right to be concerned, their government is taking the most unprecedented steps in recent history to monitor and manipulate our rights and freedoms. George Orwell wrote his “1984” as a warning and Harper’s government is obsessed with turning it into a handbook.
Recent events have trumped Conservative tough on crime rhetoric. From the Duffy Affair to Rob Ford’s drug problems, the Conservatives have been slow to realize these events are their time to shine, not fail as miserably as they have.
Elections Canada has laid charges on Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro and one of his campaign staffers after a two year investigation into his campaign finances. If convicted, Del Mastro could face a $5,000 fine and 5-year jail sentence for concealing $21,000 in campaign expenses. The PMO has since expelled him from the Conservative caucus and his court date is set for November 7, 2013.
As Quebec corruption comes under the microscope in the Charbonneau commission, it appears Quebec politicians aren’t the only ones who need to be worried about the ongoing collusion. It turns out the Conservative Economic Action plan didn’t escape the hands of corrupt engineering firms and construction unions which colluded federal stimulus contracts. It is also notable that a former Conservative candidate in Montreal faces corruption charges under the same investigation.
Effective tomorrow, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will resign his cabinet post and his seat as MP. Not only does Toews join a list of MPs walking out the door, Toews makes room for Harper’s attempt to put new blood into the front benches of his government – which he hopes will revive the dying brand. Toews is leaving to spend time with his family and pursue opportunities in the private sector.
The Alberta floods weren’t without its controversy – from a PMO that tends to get itself deeper into problems every time it acts on something. The PMO ordered the RCMP return guns that officers took from the abandoned homes of High River as a standard safety procedure to prevent crimes in the wake of disaster.
On May 23, Federal Judge Richard Mosley ruled he won’t toss the election results in six ridings amid finding “thinly scattered” voter suppression and fraud in the May 2011 election. The case comes amid a challenge from citizens and democracy advocacy groups after learning of election fraud. The Conservatives cheered the ruling and recently, Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand demands a crackdown.
Two days after Conservative ads were deemed to be failed, Prime Minister Stephen Harper took it upon himself to use the Boston Marathon terrorist attack as an opportunity to attack Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. The bombing led to 3 deaths, including that of an eight year old boy. Harper made the comments unprompted at Margret Thatcher’s ceremonial funeral in England. Trudeau accused Harper of politicizing a tragedy.
It has been nearly 2 years since the election that gave the Conservative Party a majority mandate and since alleged robocalls took the political scene by storm with the sole intention of misleading voters. The Conservatives may have tried to deny it and derail any investigations, but Elections Canada has moved forward with its investigation placing charges in the riding where it all started.