On a day when Stéphane Dion did the right thing and offered to help keep Parliament working, the prime minister could have bee conciliatory and acted like a statesman. Instead, he blusters that the government’s “crime bill” will be a matter of confidence and that he will not tolerate amendments or delay. Stephen Harper likes to talk about the importance of Parliament and strengthening parliamentary democracy, but what respect does he show for the people’s elected representatives when he announces, in advance, that they may not amend government bills in any way or he will call an election? I accept that he might want to treat it as a matter of confidence if the opposition “gutted” a government bill but no responsible leader rejects all amendments in advance.
It seems the prime minister can’t help showing his scary side.
It seems the prime minister can’t help showing his scary side.
