Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler
Beware of Entitlements
This last week politics in Canada got interesting. Most people won’t know it because all eyes, including those of our media, appear to be on the Presidential election in the United States. No doubt, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is quite content to allow that to overshadow events in Ottawa, because last week Justin Trudeau gave us a glimpse into his sense of entitlement and that of his Liberal Government.
I have long felt that it is the little things, revealing tidbits of conversations, impulsive movements, that provide insights into an individual’s true character; much more so than what one learns through long speeches, elaborate promises or public posturing. In that regard, Justin Trudeau recently lit up the screen in an interview with a major Quebec newspaper, Le Devoir.
The following day, the P.M. recommitted himself to Electoral reform, but it’s important to focus on what he actually said to Le Devoir. The implication is clear. He believed that electoral reform was a way to keep Conservatives from governing, but now that he’s in the driver’s seat, all is well and there is no real need for election reform. What else could it possibly mean? Even former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, who is no friend of the Tories, said the Prime Minister edged “close to being undemocratic”
I will go further than Mr. Broadbent and say that it was totally undemocratic and whatever one’s political preference, that statement should be seen as offensive and disturbing. Once said, you cannot take it back. To rig the electoral process to favour one political party over another, smacks of entitlement and third-world politics. That is why electoral reform, if it is to take place, cannot be introduced by this government. Their intent now is clear and that is to meddle with the most basic tenets of democracy. Electoral reform must be determined only by a national referendum, as a majority of Canadian voters have indicated they want. Any other method should merit a constitutional challenge.
While Mr. Trudeau’s statement to Le Devoir is a stunning admission of entitlement, there have been other disturbing signs during the first year of his government. In spite of campaign promises to reform pay-for-play fundraising, to crack down on perks for members of his government, and to work cooperatively with Parliament and the Provinces, misuse of power and self-serving spending are quickly becoming the hallmark of the Trudeau Administration. Let’s look at a few examples.
First, there was that ugly scene in the House of Commons when the Prime Minister strode from his side of the aisle to manhandle an opposition member into his seat in an arrogant display of control and entitlement and in a manner totally opposed to parliamentary practise and tradition. Then there was the payment he authorized of nearly a quarter of a million dollars to move his top two aides to Ottawa. And while selfies and photo shoots seem to be a staple of his Administration, isn’t $10,681 for photos of Environment Minister Catherine McKenna at the Climate Change Conference in Paris just a little much? Not to mention $12,000 for meals for three bureaucrats at the same meeting.
Then we learned that Finance Minister Bill Morneau, on the eve of budget consultations, held a pay-for-play fundraiser at $1500 a pop. There was also the Minister of Justice taking advantage of fundraising with law firms who have the capacity to provide extensive legal advice to the government in general and to her office in particular. And remember, it was Justin Trudeau who said that even the perception of selling access for political donations would not be tolerated. Well, it appears that they are, especially with another estimated dozen or more to come this year, and that comes with a powerful sense of entitlement.
Don Martin, host of CTV’s Power Play, recently said, “That double helix of political favouritism and entitlement so dominant in the DNA of Liberals past, is staging a biological comeback in Justin Trudeau’s government.” He is right to point that out. Justin Trudeau may still be Canada’s poster boy and the media’s darling, but someone still needs to hold him accountable. Three more years of unfettered entitlement by this government will not bode well for Canada.
Seems to me , a lot of ” School Yard Bickering ” was about Broken Promises.
Trudeau , simply follows Liberal policy handed down through the ages. Say anything , do anything and PROMSE anything to get elected and then discard those Promises if they in fact get in the way of our real agenda.61% of the population said no to Trudeau a greater % than those who said no to Trump as President.It must be very difficult to defend the indefensible and trying to justify Promise breaking is wrong. The word Promise is now an alternative fact when used by Liberals both Federally and Provincially. Shameful ! O for Common Sense in Politics.It works in the Real World !
Key words here, to me, are “demanding” and “you promised”. Trudeau seems to think that demanding this, that, and the other, are what the people of Canada want to hear and see, without any further communication. This man-child should realize that not all of us voted for him, and those that did, wanted changes made to what they saw as an existing mess. Having him alone, without the benefit of enhanced public communication, make statements on MY behalf, is not acceptable.
Mr. Trudeau, you promised a lot, but your total lack of political experience and grass roots understanding is so evident every time you open your mouth, and your inability to transmit your responses without the continual use of the word “um” numerous times in each sentence, is ludicrous.
Actions speak far louder than words and selfies, and it is about time you worked WITH all parties to run the country to the benefit of all – you initial actions and activities leave such a great deal to be desired. Totally agree with Dale Peacock’s assessment of ‘schoolyard bickering’ and it is definitely time to get out of the little leagues to work WITH, not IN SPITE OF the people of Canada.
Hugh, can you please link to the sources when you make claims. This will make it easier for readers to follow your logic. Thanks.
This is one of few policies on which I was in total disagreement with the Liberals. I can stomach the odd Mike Harris if it means I get a Chretien (balanced budget) or a Trudeau as well. I look at the American checks and balances and nothing gets done. I look at other jurisdictions that have abandoned first past the post and the cost of frequent elections is astronomical; the importance of fringe parties and their religious agendas are given far too much importance in relation to the number of citizens actually voting for them. So I’m happy about the change in direction and the Conservatives should be too I would think. Once any other form of election is adopted we would never be able to get first past the post back.
A significant part of the federal Liberal platform was electoral reform but I’m not so sure that it was that important for many Canadians. It WAS important for Canadians who were deciding between Liberal and NDP and to everyone who wanted the Harper Conservatives out. I don’t think this is particularly devious given how obvious it was.
Yes, Trudeau campaigned on implementing electoral reform and he was given a mandate by the people to investigate an alternative to FPTP.
So…here we are one year later. I do not think that a comment to a reporter in Le Devoir is can be taken as a declaratory statement on abandoning electoral reform. Perhaps we should wait for the parliamentary committee to report its findings to parliament, and how the government will proceed. Trudeau says he remains “deeply committed” to reforms, but conceded it’s a challenge to find consensus among a broad spectrum of public opinion
I personally want reform but I am only one voice. If it comes back that Canadians do not want to change our voting system, I am prepared to accept it. Is that not listening to the people? It isn’t about broken promises, it’s about asking Canadians what we want and listening to their answers.
I would prefer that our PM make changes only when they are clearly and demonstrably of benefit to Canadians. Demanding changes be made just because “you promised” is unreasonable and sounds somewhat like schoolyard bickering.
Hugh you almost seem surprised by this discovery. The National Press in this country has always been Liberal leaning just as it is the United States. The press is always happy to spread Liberal propaganda and why shouldn’t they. Liberals are continually spending our hard earned tax dollars buying advertisements to promote themselves, even their union contributors are spending bigger buys in order to convince us that our education system is great, hydro is really cheap and our health care system provides equal levels of service for everyone. Just because the Americans are happy with their Democratic pay for play politics doesn’t mean we should be. Thanks for being a voice for the truth, not that it will get you anywhere.