Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

Tory connections lead to top jobs

CAMPBELL CLARK

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 12:00 PM EDT 08/12/07

Seven of 11 federal appointments given to those with long-time Conservative ties ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Jack Knight from Canada writes: Presumably the appointed individuals have the required skill set and are the best candidates for these positions. If not, this is not a best practice and is in no ones best interest.
  2. Elmo Harris from Niagara, Canada writes:
    Political appointments are a fact of life in every civilized country. What really galls me is how the Conservatives screeched continuously while in opposition against the Liberals, who, by the way, were much less partisan than the Conservatives. The sanctimonious Conservatives have done the opposite of almost everything they promised not to do when they were seeking to get elected during the last election. Sadly, Conservatives are the biggest liars and hypocrites ever to be in power in this country. They are turning just about everything they touch to filth.

    I want my Canada back!
  3. David E from Canada writes: Agreed, Elmo Harris. This pathetic excuse for a government has also been incredibly incompetent in addition to being liars and hypocrites as you say.

    The odd time they give a position to a non-Conservative, they will still make sure that the person is chosen for his CPC-friendly views like when they chose the most pro-war Liberal John Manley to join a panel of Conservatives to write a review of the Afghanistan mission.

    Again, they are parroting the George W. Bush model of government where you simply hire those who will tell you exactly what you want to hear, and ignore all the experts.
  4. fuzzy bare from Ontario, Canada writes: Elmo Harris... The Canada you want back is the corrupt Canada where all good Liberals got their entitlements. That is no more, the Canadian voter finally said, enough is enough.

    You don't think the Conservatives would appoint more Liberals to government positions, do you? It is obvious there are many Liberal supporters in appointed positions, that, in some cases, creates the impression that our non-partisan Public Service is not non-partisan. There needs to be some balance in appointments and qualified people should be appointed, even if they are not Liberals.
  5. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Oh well, Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
  6. sean smith from Canada writes: The Harpercrit strikes again.
  7. robert quinn from Japan writes: Unmentioned in the article is who these individuals replaced. Well-connected Liberals perhaps?
  8. Jimmy K from Toronto, Canada writes: Hmm, so it seems Conservatives are also entitled to their entitlements.
    Well, better than just handing out money in stuffed envelopes I suppose. At least this way they will have to show up to work every now and then in order to justify their salaries, which I assume will be fairly hefty.
  9. Kevin Desmoulin from Toronto, Canada writes: Maybe his transparency ethics plan was just do the same as always so the cons are being true to their nature.
    Same always it seems, They just strengthen their position as always.
    Lately I been thinking that the picture is getting pretty clear to most people what this government is about.
  10. Michael Sharp from Victoria BC, Canada writes:

    The tide turns.

    Desperate, the Liberals seek to keep the Senate as is.

    It's their only hope.
  11. Devil's Advocate from Canada writes: Honestly folks, partisan squabbling gets us nowhere. The Liberals did this when in power, the Conservatives are doing this while they are in power, and the NDP would do it if they were in power. Can we drop the partisan crap and quit pretending your politicians are more honest than my politicians? They're all looking out for themselves, and until we demand some drastic reforms to the system we'll continue to get these kind of politicians.
  12. J Law from Canada writes: Elmo Harris from Niagara
    What was your Canada, Elmo? I only saw a bunch of talking heads there for thirteen years. Talking heads who signed agreements they knew they could not live up too; Talking heads who signed agreements without though except to buy voyes; talking heads who had their underlings passing brown envelopes from hand to hand until it ended in their coffers; talking heads who were entitled to their entitlements.
    That is not what I want back. I don't want patronism either, but at least we have a government who is finally acting to move this country forward; a government who stands up for the working people of this country and doesn't flinch when the press or special interest groups say flinch. I think I would rather move ahead instead of going backwards in time, Elmo.
  13. Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: very clear and transparent. we will remember this next election.
  14. Michael Powers from Canada writes: This is a normal practice - you appoint your friends to positions of authority when you are in power. That way they can implement your decisions and you can trust that it is getting done. You don't have to keep checking and waisting your time if you trust the people working for you.

    It is done in Buisness as well as in Politics - how many time have you seen the new boss promote his buddies over other types that were just as good or better? The simple reason is that he trusts them and he does not know you.

    Most of the people who get these jobs have performed well in other positions and have latched their horse to someone who was definitly going up - hence they get the job.

    It is a good lesson to learn when starting out in the job place - make alliances with those on the rise or you will spend your life toiling away at lesser jobs. It took me a while to figure it out but when I finally it was an immense help.
  15. Popeye Dillon from North Vancouver, Canada writes: It'll take a generation to get the entrenched Liberals out of the trough.
  16. Cryin Outloud from Canada writes: Popeye Dillon from North Vancouver, Canada writes: It'll take a generation to get the entrenched Liberals out of the trough.

    Further, it will obviously take a generation or more to get people that actually have the best interests of this country and the citizens that vote for them into positions where they actually listen to what those people need and want for a country. A generation or more for the voters to actually give a damn about the direction the country takes and to understand that they have to take charge for that to happen. Replacing one paritsan person with another is in no way going to improve this country.

    What this country really needs is non-partisan elections, non-partisan people overseeing our portfolios. When I stop to think about the possibilities this country could really have and the diffences it could really make given a group of elected officials and civil servants that would do the jobs they are hired to do without wasting our hard earned tax dollars on partisan politics it makes me breathless. If this country can be this rich with such blood-sucking elected and life-draining corporate politics just think how incredible it would be with people in charge that actually cared about me and you, your and my family, your and my workplace, your and my education and your and my heathcare? An elected group that actually cared about what I care about?

    It's beyond me how people, not just settle for mediocrity, but actually fight to maintain it.
  17. Robert Langabeer from Canada writes: What is your point? The Libs were doing worse for years and I don't recall a big uprising from the Leftists of the world. Look at what the Libs did with the Senate.
  18. Steven Koning from Bloomfield, ON, Canada writes: I am very disappointed. Why did they not all have Conservative credentials? As far as appointing Liberals is concerned, none could be found qualified other than in the practice of kickback schemes.
  19. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Robert Langabeer from Canada writes: What is your point? The Libs were doing worse for years and I don't recall a big uprising from the Leftists of the world. Look at what the Libs did with the Senate.
    ___________________________________________________________
    I hear this excuse for bad behavior by the Conservative government on so many files: 'Well the Liberals were just as bad, or the Liberals were even worse'

    The point is that many of us voted for the Conservatives because they promised to be different. To be clean, accountable , and transparent. So far, as all the Conservative excuse makers prove, they are not.
    The Liberals did the same=The Conservatives are no better than the Liberals.

    For those who voted for the Conservatives primarily on ethics grounds, and there are many, what reason is there to repeat the exercise next election?
  20. Peter W from Canada writes: Too bad they made these meritorious appointments on a Friday. Canada's New Government is denying itself of the public kudos it deserves.
  21. Vern McPherson from writes: Transparency ? Accountability ? Accountability Act with an Appointments Commission with teeth ?

    AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA !!

    harpercrite incorporated !!!

    AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!
  22. Fred Heff from cowtownCalgary, Canada writes: Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Robert Langabeer from Canada writes: What is your point? The Libs were doing worse for years and I don't recall a big uprising from the Leftists of the world. Look at what the Libs did with the Senate.
    ___________________________________________________________
    I hear this excuse for bad behavior by the Conservative government on so many files: 'Well the Liberals were just as bad, or the Liberals were even worse'

    The point is that many of us voted for the Conservatives because they promised to be different. To be clean, accountable , and transparent. So far, as all the Conservative excuse makers prove, they are not.
    The Liberals did the same=The Conservatives are no better than the Liberals.

    For those who voted for the Conservatives primarily on ethics grounds, and there are many, what reason is there to repeat the exercise next election?

    KY from Toranto ! The reason is the opposition has no ethics at all. Are you watching the witch hunt of the Liebranos who have 'social values' on the Crieber affair, are you watching how the Dippers are IMPLODING on how rightous they are. Even the 'duff' is pissed off.
  23. Fred Heff from cowtownCalgary, Canada writes: Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: very clear and transparent. we will remember this next election

    Yes, we will all the way to a majority. Now if we can get those immigration people to get their s$$t together.
  24. earl pearl from Canada writes: Patronage appointments are concerning but a fact of life.

    But where has the Globe and Mail been the past decade and a half . It's almost humourous when the Conservatives get tagged for doing something that every government in history has done.

    I guess that's what happens when a country has a well run and scandal free government. It's been so long I forgot.
  25. J Taylor from Central Alberta, Canada writes: No doubt replacing all of the Liberal appointees that have served out their terms.

    Why is this news when the Cons do this but we never heard about it when the Liberals made the same appointments?

    What ever happened to balanced unbiased reporting?
  26. Joe Loria, card carrying Conservative from Calgary, Canada writes: Just to refresh everyone's memory ...

    This story, from May, 2006 ...

    'Amid concerns about his views on immigrants, members of a House of Commons committee have rejected Stephen Harper's nominee to head a new review board for public appointments.

    Calgary businessman Gwyn Morgan, the former president and CEO of energy company EnCana Corp., was personally selected by the prime minister to chair the new commission.

    However, in a 6-5 vote Tuesday, the government operations committee rejected his nomination, calling Morgan unsuitable for the job.

    Harper signalled that the move effectively kills the commission, a key part of his accountability and ethics package.

    Tory MP Jason Kenney called the vote a partisan lynching of a man with a record of 'sterling service' in the business community.

    A key plank in the Conservative government's accountability package, the appointments commission was to develop guidelines and oversee major federal appointments. Morgan would have been paid $1 a year, an honourary amount.'

    link:http://tinyurl.com/ythswa
  27. jer greene from montreal, Canada writes: Leave it to old Sandra to set it right. She's more Ayn Rand than the rest! Well, once the Con Party is gone again and soon, we will celebrate. (The right is on its way out in Australia and USA. Chubby Canada is next.)
  28. Neutral Observer from Ottawa, Canada writes: hahahaha-yea, right and chretien and martin hired conservatives and ndp types for the plum jobs like canada post and the mint.........I'm entitled to my entitlements say the trough feeding lieberals.Are you liberals that stupid? Guess you are!
    Liberals don't need a war chest for advertising, they have this tabloid that is so pro liberal it makes people puke!Makes FOX news look balanced!
    Vern McPherson get off the booze you make libs look even more stupid,
  29. Paul H from Kitchener, Canada writes: What a scandal...
    Conservative government appoints an astounding 7 out of 11 people with supposedly conservative backgrounds to positions. What were they thinking? Aren't Liberals entitled to all those positions?
    G&M playing politics for the Liberals as usual...
    never mind these people are qualified
    Liberal patronage was decided on a full brown bag of cash.
  30. Vern McPherson from writes: harper took the high road and citizens get the low road.

    AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA

    Clean up the way this country is governed ??

    AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA !!

    This is a joke right ?
  31. Vern McPherson from writes: Joe Loria, card carrying Conservative from Calgary, Canada writes: Just to refresh everyone's memory ...

    ------------------------------------------------------------------

    joe you are truly displaying your own stupidity or your conviction others are stupid this morning. Either way it's stupid to quote that inane story.

    Why would the refusal of the opposition ( who represent 65 % of voters), to accept the rabid right winger, COns Morgan as head of the Appointments Commission 'effectively kill' the Appointments Commission LOL !!!

    Is it a case of little stevie taking his ball and runing home to mamma ? Or What ?

    ROTFLMAO !!!
  32. d h from Canada writes: J Taylor: 'we never heard about it when the Liberals made the same appointments?'

    where the hell have you been for the past 20 years? To say that Liberal appointments were never report by the G&M is simply untrue. Either you have a memory problem due to some sort of brain injury or drug abuse, or you are incapable of overcoming your partisan loyalties and have an honest debate. So, brain damaged or dishonest?
  33. Still Learning at 77 from Canada writes: Control Freak Harper has everything under control, he would not tell a falsehood now would he. No-- he did NOT say a independent committee would oversee appointments.

    Have a good day everyone and may the GREASE MONEY be returned,
  34. Vern McPherson from writes: Are we counting the other 2500 appointments harper has made since 06 when he began his quest for the high road ?? LOL !!!!
  35. Joe Loria, card carrying Conservative from Calgary, Canada writes: The fact is, in Canadian politics, Conservatives are held to a higher standard than Liberals. That's just the way it is. No matter what Harper does, some group on the left--opposition party, media, advocacy group, whoever-- will nitpick some aspect of it.

    No point whining about it, but just carry on, doing as good a job as possible, within the current political environment.

    This debate, like the others, needs to be settled at the ballot box.
  36. Vincent Clement from Windsor, Ontario, Canada writes: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

    I don't understand how people can justify these actions on the basis that the 'Liberals did it'. Shouldn't successive government be better, or at the very least, different, than previous governments? Shouldn't we breaking the old habits that seem to be part of the problem? Shouldn't Harper believe in accountability and transparency?

    Joe Loria: So without a 'commission' Harper is unable to develop guidelines for major federal appointments? He is unable to transparently appoint qualified people to various positions? Give me a break.
  37. Balboa R. from Toronto, Canada writes: The Liberals do the same thing and so do the NDP. All the parties do it so stop you complaining you wimpy lefties. Look at your idol David Miller - he fired all the non-ndp thinking people at the city hall and brought in his NDP losers. Now the city is broke. By the way, Trudeau was great at giving plum jobs to his buddies. Chretien was another plum job give awayer.
  38. Vern McPherson from writes: 'The House of Commons operations committee voted 6-5 to ask Harper to withdraw his appointment of the former energy executive because of controversial remarks Morgan has made over immigrants and multiculturalism.' ''The NDP and the Bloc will have to explain why they co-operated with a party that doesn't want to clean up the government appointments process to snub one of Canada's most respected business leaders,' she said. Nash, who put forward the motion, said she considered Morgan's appointment inappropriate because of his previous controversial comments about immigrants bringing violence to Canada.' http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060516/ethics_role_060516/20060516?hub=TopStories Did Carolyn Stewart Olsen say the COns intended to: 'clean up' or did she mean ' clean up the government appointments process ??? LOL !!! She obviously meant to have the COns clean up. But the plan failed when Morgan said some of his best friends were blacks. Now ask yourselves folks do you want such a person like amorgan who ' only wanted to help his country' heading a national Appointments Commission ? joe loria thinks it's alright. And joe thinks it's alright for little stevie to take his ball and run home every time he doesn't get his own way - don't you joe. That's real leadership isn't it joe ?
  39. Vern McPherson from writes: 'In a Feb. 22 speech in Toronto, Morgan blasted corruption under the previous Liberal government before questioning the wisdom of multiculturalism, saying it's a value that divides Canadians rather than unites them. ' Morgan

    same link.

    ''The social side is too evident with the runaway violence driven mostly by Jamaican immigrants in Toronto'.'
    Morgan denied he was intolerant, saying: 'We basically love the Caribbean. We tend their churches. In fact, in January we were at an all-black church.'

    Is this the guy little stevie wants ruling a national Commission which makes appointments to government jobs ?

    AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA

    Then little stevie takes his ball and bat and runs home to mamma.

    Who cares eh stevie ? Freak the high road. We'll appoint whomever we want.

    2500 appointments later ..............

    AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHA
  40. Vern McPherson from writes: 'Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a ringing defence of cultural diversity yesterday, rejecting calls for Canada to be less open to immigration as a way of curbing terrorism. “I believe, actually, the opposite is true,” Mr. Harper told the opening session of the United Nations’ World Urban Forum here. “Canada’s diversity, properly nurtured, is our greatest strength.” http://www.safiyyah.ca/wordpress/?p=261 ------------------------------------------------------------------ But Morgan said: 'In a Feb. 22 speech in Toronto, Morgan blasted corruption under the previous Liberal government before questioning the wisdom of multiculturalism, saying it's a value that divides Canadians rather than unites them. 'Recent riots in France and Australia are timely and troubling examples,' said Morgan. 'It seems as if 'multiculturalism' in these countries has created 'subcultures' bearing little relation to the mainstream culture and values of the country.' http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060516/ethics_role_060516/20060516?hub=TopStories Can little stevie and morgan get their stories straight ? Which is it ? Is multiculturalism a farce or not ? Or does it depend on what the audience thinks ? I'd say with harper it depends which side of his mouth he is using at any given time. What do you think Joe ?
  41. Double Speak from Canada writes: This is nothing new as old as life itself...All political parties has done this even the Liberals . Big Deal. This is a yawn story

    Liberals and Conservatives are the same. Perhaps it might make more sense to have a US approach in appointing people to top positions in Gov't instead of the PMO.
  42. E. Biggs from Canada writes: Thanks to all you posters. You have weaned me off this site and I have found something useful to do like clean the toilet which is a lot more productive than reading all of this drivel.
  43. earl pearl from Canada writes: Mods, please lock Mchperson out, and keep him out. It's great that the internet gives access to information for the mentally disabled but how much of this guy are we expected to take? An 'ignore' feature would be greatly appreciated.
  44. rick from river city from Canada writes: rooting out tired out entitled liberal appointments, one loser at a time... and listening to their blind sheeple whine...all part of making a better Canada.
  45. Joe Loria, card carrying Conservative from Calgary, Canada writes: Vincent Clement from Windsor, Ontario, Canada writes: 'Joe Loria: So without a 'commission' Harper is unable to develop guidelines for major federal appointments? ' Yes of course he can. But then you would complain that he should let an independent third party develop the guidelines. That's my point. No matter WHAT Harper does, the left will nitpick some aspect of it. If he does A, they say he should have done B. If does B, they say he should have done A. Harper was trying to FULFILL a campaign promise. i.e. to have an INDEPENDENT person develop guidelines for the appointment process. And to Vern: If Harper now appointed someone else, 1. that would be a slight to Morgan. 2. the new appointee would be tainted by everyone's knowledge (including his own) that he was second best. 3. the opposition would be emoldened that Harper was bending to their will. 4. nothing would stop the opposition parties from nitpicking some other aspect of the next appointee, and reject him or her as well. Just for the heck of it Vern, put forward a name that you think the Liberals,NDP and BLOC would all agree on. It has to be a living person, so Mother Theresa is out. As to my point #2. Vern, remember when you were a teenager at a dance, and you walked up to a group of girls, and you asked girl A to dance with you ? Then when she rejected you, you asked girl B within that group to dance with you. What do you make of the fact that EVERY girl B said NO ?
  46. by jove from Canada writes:
    'Devil's Advocate from Canada writes: Honestly folks, partisan squabbling gets us nowhere. The Liberals did this when in power, the Conservatives are doing this while they are in power, and the NDP would do it if they were in power. Can we drop the partisan crap and quit pretending your politicians are more honest than my politicians? They're all looking out for themselves, and until we demand some drastic reforms to the system we'll continue to get these kind of politicians.'

    Great post - just telling it like it is.
  47. Vern McPherson from writes: Joe Loria, card carrying Conservative from Calgary, Canada writes

    -----------------------------------------------

    joe your 12:17 post might make sense except you got your facts wrong.
    harper did indeed promise to clean up appointments and did indeed promise an Appointments Commission. But the legislation he brought forward cleared up the fantasy when it stated in the Accountability Act the government 'MAY' establish and appointments Commission. It didn't say it 'WOULD' after harper's promise. It said 'MAY' .

    So the centrepiece of harper's campaign on cleaning up government was compromised from the getgo and for that my friend you and all COns ought to be ashamed.

    So don't lie here and obfuscate and spin because Canadians know the truth about this fiasco.

    Now tell us harper will run on his record next election !!!!!
  48. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:
    VERNIE: I know you can handle the truth! For you!

    And in the 1993 Red Book of election promises, the Liberals vowed to restore integrity to government and review the appointment process to ensure jobs were filled on the basis of competence. Seven years later, the famed Grit patronage machine is humming along, apparently cranking out Liberals for one out of every two new appointments-if July 27, 2000, is any indication.

    On that day, about 40 of the 80 appointments made by the cabinet were filled by Liberals who either contributed money to the party, ran as party candidates in previous federal and provincial elections, or worked on Liberal election and leadership campaigns. The total annual salaries of the 80 jobs filled is more than $3.8 million.

    The appointments included Chretien cronies, former Liberal MPs, some defeated candidates, and in one case, the daughter of a Newfoundland Liberal member of the provincial legislature.

    There were a handful of noteworthy Liberal appointments including Robert Fung, the man who brought Mr. Chretien to a Bay Street brokerage house as a well-paid 'special adviser' when Mr. Chretien left politics in the mid-1980s.
  49. rick from river city from Canada writes: Amazing how people who supported entitled liberals for over a decade now demand instant changes, to their liking, when another party is leading government. Harper's attempts to clean up government have been more successful, and more frequent than anything seen in previous liberal governments. The fact it isn't to the liking of liberal sheep is not surprising but it is so obviously hypocritical. Liberals whinning because attempts to clean up how they governed for over a decade are now occuring. The death of the liberal status quo is depressing to some, nirvana to others. Canadians voted for change, Harper is delivering.
  50. Vern McPherson from writes: R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:
    VERNIE: I know you can handle the truth! For you!

    ----------------------------------------------

    Good day carrierre.

    I have no problem with the truth you present. There is in fact no doubt whatsoever about previous governments making partonage appointments. It's as old as the proverbial hillz in politics carrierre. You and I both know it.

    But if, as in joe loria'a quaint hyperbole, if a new guy enters the fray after what he calls 'the greatest government scandal in modern times' and asks citizens to waltz him at the dance of cleaner and more transparent more accountable government they ought to expect HE will take his own promises seriously.

    steive has not only not done that, he has done the complete opposite. HE was supposed ot be the oracel here not previous governments. HE was the one who was supposed to clean up government appointments. HE promised and HE renegged. Clearly !! Plain as the nose on yer face and HE and all loudmouthed COns ought to be pained for it.

    HE is in office and HE has the oportunity to do something and he did NOTHING !!!

    N-O-T-H-I-N-G !!!

    And that is the truth.................
  51. Harper is a liar from Canada writes: Disgraceful. More attemps by the Conservatives to rig, control, and politicize every aspect of Canadian society.

    Though these thieving, self-interested, liars out of office.
  52. rick from river city from Canada writes: When you inherit such a scandalous, broken, entitled government it takes time to identify the issues and address them. Did we ever hear a single Liberal even talk about transparency and accountability? No, they were quite happy misleading and stealing from Canadians and believed they would continue to do so forever. Apparently these are new concepts to those enamoured with the liberal status quo for running government.
  53. earl pearl from Canada writes: All this story does is take away from the effort to turn Schreiber into a rock star.
  54. allah akbar from Canada writes: Being a member of Conservative party while you were 10 years old also counts?
  55. allah akbar from Canada writes: It's called the six degrees of separation.........
    somewhere along the line you will be related to a Tory somehow....
  56. Jack Knight from Canada writes: Michael Powers above you make some good points; however, incompetence breeds incompetence. This is a product of the so called grade 12 mentality that has prevailed and still exists to some extent in the workplace. In other words there are still a lot of senior executives that simply do not have the skill set to occupy the positions they occupy. In these situations the Boards of Directors are asleep and going along for the ride while collecting their retainer and per diems. This is a good recipe for self-destruction which has happened.
  57. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    Vern McPherson from: Afternoon VERNIE:

    Look,we all know how it goes in either business or politics.You choose the people you trust-or in politics, the ones who may have 'helped out.' Before the Chretien/Harper changes, only god knows how much $$ was flying around and the favours owed and repaid!!

    Is it better now than it was before? Who knows! (beauty is always in the eye of the beholder)

    The problems I have with all of this are Senate appointments by the government in power, and the plum jobs in Crown Owned Corps. The oportunity to abuse today appears to be much more difficult according to some aquaintances who hold some very high positions in some of the COC? I still say we should sell off or privatise as many as possible, but that's for another day and time........

    So what could the solutions be? At that level of involvement, there is no one who exists that is non partisan-everybody is backing a horse and some back all the horses as a hedge!

    As for completely judging Harper on this one, the jury is still out. We'll see!

    .

  58. Vern McPherson from writes: rick from river city from Canada writes: When you inherit such a scandalous, broken, entitled government it takes time to identify the issues and address them. Did we ever hear a single Liberal even talk about transparency and accountability? No, they were quite happy misleading and stealing from Canadians and believed they would continue to do so forever. Apparently these are new concepts to those enamoured with the liberal status quo for running government.

    --------------------------------------

    It didn't take long for little stevie to introduce his Accountability Act did it ? It didn't take long for him to reneg on his original promise did it ?

    harper lied through his teeth when he promised to clean up government appointments didn't he ?
  59. Luke R from Toronto, Canada writes: But I thought that Canada's New Government(TM) was supposed to do away with these type of patronage. They (rightfully) criticized the Lieberals for doing it (although another Con, Brian Mulroney, still holds the record for patronage appointments). But now they're doing the exact same thing. This is why people hate politicians. Now cue the Con sheep that will say, 'the Liberals did it too', while conveniently forgetting that Stevie Boy said he would be better than that.
  60. rick from river city from Canada writes: No vernom, with each entitled liberal that is replaced Prime Minister Harper is succeeding at cleaning up government for at this point any change is better than the liberal status quo. The fact Prime Minister Harper can't, won't or shouldn't do it in a manner that pleases neoliberal dinosaurs like yourself is something few will be concerned about. We now you're a frustrated neolib whose time at the trough has ended. But keep whinning, it seems to suit you and you're good at it. You must have been a liberal for a long time.
  61. Orest Zarowsky from Toronto, Canada writes: 'Meet the New Boss. Same as the Old Boss. YEEAAH!' to quote Peter Townsend - from way back in 1968. Just remember the slogan: Transparent, Accountable Government'. HOOWAH.
  62. Vern McPherson from writes: R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes: Vern McPherson from: Afternoon VERNIE: Is it better now than it was before? Who knows! (beauty is always in the eye of the beholder).... So what could the solutions be? At that level of involvement, there is no one who exists that is non partisan-everybody is backing a horse and some back all the horses as a hedge! As for completely judging Harper on this one, the jury is still out. We'll see! --------------------------------------------------- 'So what could the solutions be? ' To be very frank carrierre the COns had a solution proposed in their 06 platform and told Canadians they were going to do something about this. Then they introduced liegislation with a 'MAY' rather than a 'SHALL' appointmets commission. When they didn't get their way stacking the Commission in COMMITTEE, THE FIRST TEST OF THE CPC SHAM, harper took his ball and ran. He covered his a$$ because unlike the CPC platform and his holier than thou pronouncements during that campaign, which promised one thing, his legislation said something entirely different. So harper accomplished NOTHING of substance. And here we are 2 years later still arguing about something that, accordinng to the CPC platform, should have been handled already. What does that tell you ?
  63. Vern McPherson from writes: rick from river city from Canada writes: No vernom, with each entitled liberal that is replaced Prime Minister Harper is succeeding at cleaning up government for at this point any change is better than the liberal status quo. The fact Prime Minister Harper can't, won't or shouldn't do it in a manner that pleases neoliberal dinosaurs like yourself is something few will be concerned about. We now you're a frustrated neolib whose time at the trough has ended. But keep whinning, it seems to suit you and you're good at it. You must have been a liberal for a long time.

    -------------------------------------------------

    wriquie, do you appreciate someone who lies in your face ? when he bends over do you kiss his a$$ ? Because little stevie lied to you on this issue. He promised on thing and delivered nothing but a scam.

    I'll ask again, ....... do you appreciate liars ? If you do vote CPC.
  64. Paulo Garrido from Barrie, Canada writes: MMMMMMmmmmm Plum Patronage Pudding.

    Every day, Harper must wake up, look himself in the mirror and ask:
    How can I make myself even more of a bloody hypocrite than I've already proven myself to be?'

    And he certainly gets the job done in that regard.
  65. Vern McPherson from writes: CONSERVATIVE CAMPAIGN PLATFORM' http://www.evilscientist.ca/filemgmt_data/files/20060113-Platform.pdf Quote: 'The plan A Conservative government will: • Ensure that all Officers of Parliament are appointed through consultation with all parties in the House of Commons and confirmed through a secret ballot of all Members of Parliament, not just named by the Prime Minister. This appointment process will cover: - The Ethics Commissioner - The Auditor General - The Chief Electoral Officer - The Information Commissioner - The Privacy Commissioner - The Registrar of Lobbyists • Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted. • Prevent ministerial aides and other political appointees receiving favoured treatment when applying for public service positions. CAN I REPEAT: '• Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted.' Now COns tell us if that was a lie or is the statement no longer operative LOL !!!
  66. earl pearl from Canada writes: Let's face it, what are Harper's options?

    If you want to get something done do you want to fill the job with someone associated with the Liberal party?

    Even Liberals must be aware of their own uselessness by now.
  67. Vern McPherson from writes: STAND UP FOR CANADA !!!!!!!!!
  68. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    Vern McPherson writes, ' And here we are 2 years later still arguing about something that, accordinng to the CPC platform, should have been handled already. What does that tell you ?'

    Well VERNIE, it tells me he should have kept his mouth shut like Chretien should have concerning the GST and NAFTA in the infamous little red book.

    A little off topic, but I have never been so disillusioned and disappointed about Canadian politics in general, its perceived 'leaders' (and I use that term so very lightly), the decoram in the House, and the lack or respect and morals shown by all parties-the James Moore issue of this week as an example.

    The LPC has a puppet being controlled by the past (renewal??), the CPC...hll, I don't even know where they are going, and yes, they CONCERN me-the NDP is the NDP-and we have a Party that sits in the HOC with its sole goal to force separation from Canada. And then, as the ultimate slap in the face to Canadians, collect pensions from the Government of Canada. These batards should be outlawed-or at least to take an oath to act in a manner that promotes the unity of Canada. 'Rights' has its limits!
    MY rant for the day....LOL!!
  69. rick from river city from Canada writes: Vernom, what you loosely, and constantly attribute to as lies are steps forward from where we've come from. Taking action is not lying just because the actions are not to the extent that would be required to satisfy someone of your pathetically extreme liberal ilk. Liberals have nothing else to resort to right now but to furiously attack Prime Minister Harper for not fulfilling their old liberal agenda and for not accomplishing every statement ever made to the absolute fullest extent. Canadians are happy with Harper Vernom, there's only so far left sensible centrist conservatives can go. Prime Minister Harper's changes will lead to more focus on the things the Conservatives were elected to accomplish.
  70. Jesse Winger from Cardston, Canada writes: So if it was wrong for the Libs and their 'entitlements' why is right for the Cons and their 'entitlements'?

    The Cons under Harper loudly and longly complained about Liberal patronage appointments, now they're doing the EXACT SAME THING! AND TRYING TO JUSTIFY IT!

    Stephen Harper and the Cons, while in Opposition, harshly condemned the Libs for spending $25 Million on polling. Well, since Harper and his Conservatives have been in power they have spent $31 Million on polling!!

    Do the Conservative backers on this forum not see their own blatant moral hypocrisy on these issues? Harper is the King of Hypocrites for running the 'DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO' style of government. That's why Canadians should never trust Stephen Harper and his conniving Conservatives.
  71. rick from river city from Canada writes: work in progress Vernom. Get that hard hat on. No, not the foil one.
  72. Anti Fascist from Canada writes:
    When the Fiberals were in office the headline was 'Grit connections lead to top jobs' no flippin' diff.

    Tweedle-dee or Tweedle-dum no difference other than the way they are spelled. FIBS or CONS same thing, and dangerous to your way of life.

    Next election vote NDP, elect Jack Layton! Bring an end to hog-trough government.
  73. Compos Mentis from in the Wild 'n Snowy West..., Canada writes: Joe Loria, card carrying Conservative from Calgary, Canada writes: 'The fact is, in Canadian politics, Conservatives are held to a higher standard than Liberals. That's just the way it is. No matter what Harper does, some group on the left--opposition party, media, advocacy group, whoever-- will nitpick some aspect of it. ...'

    Joe, there is no double standard here. Whomever composes the current government gets scrutinized much more than any other party. After all, they are the ones on the podium. And as such, people expect results - not rhetoric.

    But the Conservatives have grown so used to criticising and not having to backup any of their rhetoric while in opposition that now they are the governing party, they can't accept the criticism when they get called on broken promises or crass political behaviour (e.g. appointments).

    And please, bringing up what the Liberals did or didn't do is irrelevant to the discussion. The Conservatives are in the hot seat now.

    Actions speaks louder than words.
  74. Vern McPherson from writes: rick from river city from Canada writes: work in progress Vernom. Get that hard hat on. No, not the foil one.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    No progress ? No work done.
  75. John E7 from Saltspring Island, Canada writes: NEo-con talking points: 1) they did it worse, 2) patronage appointments are a fact of life. 3) its a control mechanism.
    Without the blue tinted glasses on it looks like - Meet the new boss same as the old boss ;)'
  76. Vern McPherson from writes: Lets not think for a moment the appointments commission scandal is the only promise broken by little stevie as far as his Stand Up For Canada slogan went or his centrepiece legislation - The Accountability Act - is concerned.

    It was all a smokescreen anyway. Lets look at the state of the lobbying provision in the CPC platform for 06 and the actual results !!

    Platform says:
    The plan
    A Conservative government will:
    • Extend to five years the period during which former ministers, ministerial staffers, and senior public
    servants cannot lobby government.
    • Ban success or contingency fee arrangements.
    • Require ministers and senior government officials to record their contacts with lobbyists.
    • Make the Registrar of Lobbyists an independent Officer of Parliament.
    • Give the Registrar of Lobbyists the mandate and resources to investigate violations.
    • Extend to ten years the period during which violations can be investigated and prosecuted.

    Is that what they did ?
  77. mike mcarthur from Vancouver, Canada writes: Yet another example of Harper's hypocrisy.
  78. Double Speak from Canada writes: Whats the difference between the Liberals and Conservatives?? Not much ..

    Vote Green!
  79. Kenneth Yurchuk from Toronto, Canada writes: Vern McPherson from writes:
    No progress ? No work done.
    ___________________________________________________________
    Well Vern, It has worked for the Conservatives before! Didn't one of them get $300,000 (instead of 500K) for no progress, no work done?
  80. Mervin Hollingsworth from Saskatoon, Sk., Canada writes: Who else would you expect Mr. Harper to appoint. Liberals? The Liberals have had their kick at the can and do very well by it I might add. As long as the people being appointed are qualified then that is the issue.
    It amazes when these stories come out. Never saw this kind of story when the Liberals were stacking the courts, appointing their cronies to the Senate and any other tribunal they could find in order to reward their friends. Unbelievable the media in this country
  81. MARK S from Calgary, Canada writes: OH!!! I get it now they should have appointed 7 NDP'S even with the Liberals and only 4 Tories. Well you people would still say it's wrong. Should have been 6 Liberals and 5 NDP'ers. Now that would be fair.
  82. Vern McPherson from writes: Mervin Hollingsworth from Saskatoon, Sk., Canada writes: Who else would you expect Mr. Harper to appoint. Liberals? The Liberals have had their kick at the can and do very well by it I might add. As long as the people being appointed are qualified then that is the issue.
    It amazes when these stories come out. Never saw this kind of story when the Liberals were stacking the courts, appointing their cronies to the Senate and any other tribunal they could find in order to reward their friends. Unbelievable the media in this country

    -------------------------------------------------------------

    Marvin we would expect harper to do what he said he would do. And that is:

    'Establish a Public Appointments Commission to set merit-based requirements for appointments to government boards, commissions, and agencies, to ensure that competitions for posts are widely publicized and fairly conducted. '

    little stevie was the rapture candidate who said he would clean up government appointments. So far all he's done is clean up for COns.

    COns = liars
  83. Reg Anderson from Canada writes: It wouldn't be all that bad if we were talking about true conservatism. But Harper is not a conservative. He is a neo-conservative. Extreme far right-wing. The ends support the means type individual. And that equates to an agenda with no conscience. And our Canada is disappearing into the muck.
  84. Tom Morrison from Calgary, Canada writes: Yes, one would need to dig very deep to find an example of liberal patronage. Anyone ever heard of Wendy Cukier?

    Didn't the liberals pay her to lobby themselves? Didn't the G&M sing her praises the other day on the pretext of remembering the victims of Montreal?
  85. Jesse Winger from Cardston, Canada writes: Tom Morrison from Calgary: Why did Harper condemn the Libs under Chretien/Harper for patronage appts' and then do the very same thing himself?

    What's your definition of hypocrisy, anyway?
  86. Brendan Caron from Vancouver, Canada writes: One would think that it is the Conservatives trying to bring their friends into the trough over a long period of time so as not to arouse the suspicions of the electorate that they are just as greedy as the next party. Reality is that there isn't enough brain power around and it has taken them this long to find frontmen for their legacy. Hmm? In twenty years they could rule the senate.
  87. Tom Morrison from Canada writes: Winger from Cardston, Canada writes: Tom Morrison from Calgary: ... What's your definition of hypocrisy, anyway? ------------------------------------------------------- I'm not defending the cons, just stating that the libs, and the G&M are no better. I'm a former liberal supporter actually who could just not stomach Paul Martin's blatant hypocracy wrt gun crime in this country heading in to the last federal election. Cheers
  88. DON BARTA from Canada writes: Lots of BS and bafflegab about these appointments -
    Rule #1 is to appoint qualified people -
    Rule 2 is that you appoint your friends not your enemies -
    If anyone has a problem with 'Politics 101' you can use the ballot box to change the party in power - but you will NEVER change the rules..............
  89. D Lefebvre from Canada writes: It is interesting to see the same people who go on and on and on and on..about the liberals appointing Senators and other posts but will so quickly defend their CPC doing the same. So is it ok now? Is it a Liberal thing then if the CPC do the same?
    Perhaps you all can just gripe about their policies then and stop whining about how the Liberals appointed Liberal supporters b/c the CPC is no different.
  90. Jesse Winger from Cardston, Canada writes: Tom Morrison: so we both agree that Harper is a shameless hypocrite. That's progress, I guess.

    The Libs were strong on gun control - I believe it's the Cons who dismantled the Gun Registry (against the advice of our top cops).
  91. Rob G from Calgary, Canada writes: No surprise that the Tories are as bad as the Liberals and the NDP would do the same thing if they ever got a chance. The one thing that gets to me is the hypocrisy of the Tory supporters who get themselves worked up into a tizzy over Liberal appointments and then attempt to differentiate the exact same thing when their party's in power. It's just plain nauseating.
    • Posted 09/12/07 at 12:00 PM EDT |