Tories blasted for handbook on paralyzing Parliament (Canada)

[Ediacara]

Source: The Globe and Mail

JOAN BRYDEN
Canadian Press
May 18, 2007 at 7:13 PM EDT

Ottawa — The Harper government is being accused of a Machiavellian plot to wreak parliamentary havoc after a secret Tory handbook on obstructing and manipulating Commons committees was leaked to the press.

Opposition parties pounced on news reports Friday about the 200-page handbook as proof that the Conservatives are to blame for the toxic atmosphere that has paralyzed Parliament this week.

“The government's deliberate plan is to cause a dysfunctional, chaotic Parliament,” Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale told the House of Commons.

New Democrat Libby Davies said the manual explodes the Tories' contention that opposition parties are to blame for the parliamentary constipation.

“So much for blaming the opposition for the obstruction of Parliament,” she said.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070518.wtorytrouble0518/BNStory/National/home

[Newsjock]

1. Way to go, George W. Harper

And I wouldn't be at all surprised to see some College Republican go-getter's grubby fingerprints all over this thing. Think of it as an apprenticeship program before trying the real thing down here.

[Hekate]

2. Sounds like they read Newt Gingrich's playbook. Watch out, Canadians! This gets dirty. nt

[provis99]

5. thats exactly what they did; stole ideas from Newt Gingrich

god(s) help the Great White North.

[OnyxCollie]

3. This is a surprise? Harper's aligned with Chimpy. nt

[MrPrax]

4. That's what I like about American politicians!

Most American politicians already know that stuff in spades.

Their Congress works like a game of chess between the formal parties and it's inner factions. The top down hierarchy is usually mitigated by 'vote' buying that crosses party lines and tend to enhance the power of the individual 'backbencher'.

Canadian 'backbenchers' are scenery.

They serve little purpose other than votes and committee busy work. The individual parties mimic the structure of Parliament.

Top-down elite structure where the Party Leader/Governor ultimately 'appoints' it's party's 'backbenchers' in much the same way, the PMO/Governor 'appoints' the entire infrastructure of domestic government without even so much as a 'senate review'.

... and they NEED a manual to tell them how to go to the bathroom.

The fact this one got leaked, and obviously so, suggests mutiny on the Tory side. Maybe they got a small bit of integrity and figure that Harper's inner circle is too radical, even for them.

[BlueManDude]

6. Canada's left of center parties need to find common ground.