While the majority of Canadians support same-sex marriage, softening of marijuana laws, agreed with the former Liberal government's day care proposal, and the Kelowna accord signed with all the provinces and the Assembly of First Nations last November, the Conservatives decided they knew better. They decided their day care plan was superior to the one the Liberals had worked out with the provinces. Even though it would do nothing to create more desperately needed spaces or help those who needed it most, single parents, they made the unilateral decision that it would be better. No need to consult with the provinces at all. Just because they happen to have jurisdiction over day care doesn't mean they should have any input on policy.
Even though the majority of Canadians think there are far too many people in jail for having smoked marijuana, the Conservatives know better. They know that we must continue with the war on drugs and keep increasing the strain on our overburdened prisons and the taxpayers to keep our streets safe from such ner'-do-wells.
Ever since the Supreme Court of Canada said it violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to deny same-sex couples the right to marriage, provinces across Canada have been quietly passing resolutions allowing gay marriages. Nothing’s been said mandating religious organizations to perform same-sex unions if it goes against their belief; all that's been guaranteed is the right to a civil union.
With same-sex marriage now protected by the Charter of Rights, it is impossible for any government to prevent them from taking place without invoking the Not Withstanding Clause that allows it to override civil liberties decisions made by the court. In spite of that fact, Steven Harper has been promising an open vote on the issue by this fall. He's not answered whether he'd be willing to invoke the Not Withstanding Clause; he just keeps nattering on about protecting the sanctity of marriage. In other words, he's playing to his constituents and making it seem like he can do something that is not within his power to accomplish and that he has no intention of doing.
Maybe he figures he can define himself as both defender of "family" to the social conservatives while not alienating the social liberal vote he needs to win another election. Perhaps he thinks they don't read or listen to the news so they won't notice he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. Or maybe he thinks people are just too stupid to know what he's doing. It's a good thing this isn't an arrogant government.
Article comments
1 - rob
Harper being so damned controlling of his MPs and suspicious of the media isn't going to endear him to the majority of Canadian voters, if anything, it will backfire. It smells of arrogance and deceit. To gain the public's trust, you have to open up to them. I'm surprised he hasn't figured that out yet.
2 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Richard,
Very interesting and informative. However a prime minister operates, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. For example, had Harper been open with the press and tempering of his decisions, the press would have been all over him for indecision. I'm not defending the man, mind you, merely pointing out that when dealing with the press, it is always a Hobson's choice.
3 - Deano
"There's nothing that a party as corrupt and venal as the Liberals like more than being able to assume the air of violated virgins"
Nice turn of the phrase! Bravo!
4 - RealityBites
I am by no means a defender of Harper or the Conservatives, but in fact Harper has decisively ruled out the use of the notwithstanding clause - in effect admitting the entire exercize is a complete sham, a sop towards the ultra-lunatic fringe of his lunatic party - a group of people whose hatred of minorities is exceeded only by their gullibility.
Also, provinces haven't been quietly passing resolutions allowing equal marriage. There is no need for them to do so, as the definition of marriage is federal. All but two provinces allowed it before the passage of the federal law, as the result of court cases. Bill C38 forced the two remaining provinces (PEI and Alberta, where no court cases had been filed) to comply as well.
5 - Steve
I agree, Ruvy, no government can do anything right when partisans are the ones doing the criticising. Unfortunately, I have heard that some in the media have been proclaiming themselves part of the 'unofficial' opposition to the govt.
Which, of course, is way beyond what the role of the media is supposed to be (i.e. reporting the news). Alas, this idea spouted by some in the Ottawa press gallery has not appeared to receive much debate. Too bad.
After all, the more a govt. is criticised (fairly or unfairly), the more cynical the voting public will become. And the more secretive and untrusting a govt. will be with the media. It's a shame that some in the media fail to realise they are part of the problem.