Two posts in one morning, nice. Actually, this one is (relatively) fresh, and I just couldn’t pass it up. Via Blogging a Dead Horse and Terrace Daily: it seems “Canada’s New Government” is finding this whole “democracy” thing to be a bit of a pain in the rear, so the federal government that promised us action is taking action!
By appointing Houston, British Columbia mayor and future federal representative candidate Sharon Smith as Skeena-Bulkley Valley’s “special liaison” to the government. Finally, the residents of Skeena-Bulkley Valley have someone to come to when they have concerns with the federal government – one might even say a voice for their region in Ottawa. Wait, there’s something… it’s scratching at the back of my head… something about grade 10 civics class…
Oh, that’s right, Skeena-Bulkley Valley already has a go-between for residents to raise their concerns with the feds. He’s called a Member of Parliament. He was elected first in 2004, and re-elected in 2006, to go to Ottawa and represent the voters of Skeena-Bulkley in the House of Commons, and his name is Nathan Cullen. Only problem is, as Mr. Cullen’s website clearly shows, those dolts from Skeena-Bulkley elected a New Democrat. Seeing that this injustice cannot stand, MP Dick Harris (Cariboo-Prince George) swung into action, stating, “Having an MP from the fourth party in the House just doesn’t cut it when it comes to actually getting things done for the folks in Skeena-Bulkley Valley. Sharon Smith with her direct government contact will ensure that things DO get done.” So the concerns of Skeena-Bulkley Valley are important to the government, they just won’t listen to them if they come from a member of another party. But don’t look at it as party politics and election gamesmanship trumping regular people’s lives and communities, look at it as just another example of the New Government bringing democracy back to the “folks”.
Another cute statement from Harris underscores the primacy of partisanship over real issues: “…I know the constituents of Skeena-Bulkley Valley will derive a huge benefit from having direct contact with government, something that they have not had since 2004.” Prior to the ‘04 election, Skeena-Bulkley Valley was a Conservative seat, and the Conservatives were not even in government, so by “direct contact with government” Harris can only mean “direct contact with the Conservative Party”. Thankfully, after being left out in the rain for 3 years, Harris and Smith have brought Skeena-Bulkley Valley under the Conservative Party’s umbrella once again. And they didn’t even need an election to do it.
