Here we go!

Posted on: Friday, March 25, 2011
Posted at: 4:57 PM

Remember, remember the 25th of March…

For the first time in the history of Canada, a government — Stephen Harper’s Conservative government — has been found in contempt of Parliament.

That means the majority of the MPs in the House of Commons found Stephen Harper and the Conservative government in contempt of Parliament.

How did we get here?

The Harper government had big plans: super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. But the Harper government offered up very little by way of information and failed to disclose even less details — often citing ‘Cabinet Confidence’ when repeatedly asked what these big ticket items were going cost Canadian taxpayers.

Canada’s Parliamentary Process requires that MPs debate and decide the merit of any government’s plans — even the Harper government’s plans for super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc.

That means, MPs need to see the actual estimates and real figures for these big ticket items.

For months now, the Harper government refused to provide adequate, complete and true information regarding how much these super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. would cost Canadian taxpayers.

Not knowing how much these super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. would cost Canadian taxpayers makes it impossible for MPs to debate and decide the merit of these big ticket items.

That in mind, MPs sought a ruling from the Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House initially ruled that the Harper government had not been forthcoming and gave the Harper government another chance to provide all the information requested.

Again, the Harper government failed to provide adequate, complete and true information regarding how much these super jails, stealth fighter jets, corporate tax cuts, etc. would cost Canadian taxpayers.

Finally, the House of Commons moved to find the Harper government in contempt. With 156 Yeas/Pour and 145 Nays/Contre, the Speaker of the House declared the non-confidence motion carried.

And then what happened?

Shortly thereafter, Stephen Harper held a press conference…

Prior to this press conference, Stephen Harper told the press gallery that he would be reading from a prepared statement and would not be taking any questions.

At no time during his prepared statement did Stephen Harper even acknowledge the contempt ruling.

In fact, rather than talk about the vote of non-confidence which just brought down his Conservative government, Stephen Harper opted to talk about a budget that never passed — a budget that never will pass now that the 40th Parliament has been dissolved.

And at the end of his prepared statement, Stephen Harper did not take any questions.

What happens now?

Tomorrow, Stephen Harper will walk across the street from 24 Sussex Drive to Rideau Hall and ask the Governor General of Canada for an election…

Here we go!

Questions/comments? Email somecanuckchick.

2011-03-25  »  scc