Harper's insidious contempt of democracy

Harper's insidious contempt of democracy

Over at blogging a dead horse Stephen Harper's insidious contempt of democracy is laid out plain as day. It's very rare you see a government try to pull these kinds of shenanigans so openly. Just how low can they go? Check it out.

"Friday’s post about Stephen Harper’s plan to appoint undemocratic “official liaisons to the federal government” as a way to supplant democratically elected NDP MPs has gotten loads of blog attention, but very little in the mainstream press outside of northern BC, where NDP MP Nathan Cullen has been targeted." - Attack of the Conservative Pod People, Part II

Now if there is an example for others as to how to be a good MP, Nathan Cullen would be on most people's list. The Harper Conservative Government has set a new low water mark with this.

Quoted in the Terrace Daily, Conservative MP Dick Harris says...

"I and other BC Conservative MPs will work closely with Sharon Smith as she represents constituents of her riding to the government members. It will be a bonus for people of Skeena-Bulkley Valley to have direct representation to the government on so many issues,” continued Harris..."

Sharon Smith is a Conservative candidate in the next election. running against you guessed it, Nathan Cullen.

Check out Attack of the Conservative Pod People, Part II and Barbara Yaffe's column in today's Vancouver Sun

stealth attack

stealth attack

Queer Thoughts will soon be posting information primarily on the Harper government appointments. Several key anti gay, anti social net conservatives have recently been appointed to the highest levels of government. These people are from within the evangelical community and have long histories of opposing gay rights, refugees, child care, equal pay for equal work, progressive tax law, and are supportive of the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and defend Israel in every action against their neighbours.

You already know of some of these people but may have forgotten about them as they work very quietly generally. Part of a stealth attack on The Charter of Rights and Freedoms much like their infamous and oft successful campaigns to get on school boards and municipal councils.

Some names you may know are -- Darrel Reid, the former head of Focus on the Family Canada -- Douglas Cryer, the former director of public policy for The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada -- Paul Wilson the former executive director of Trinity Western University's Laurentian Leadership Centre in Ottawa.

There are many more. If you have a name or information about any of the Harper Government appointments, send me an email in confidence. Let's take the wrapping off the Harper Government's "Middle of the Road" scam.

Daily Shame #3

Daily Shame #3

The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister- Senate appointments

Harper has stated he wants to change the Senate. Harper wants to elect Senators and to place an eight year term limit. Harper stated he would introduce two bills to effect the change in the House of Commons. The bills then would have to be passed by the Senate.

Its really a hypothetical exercise as Harper will never get his bills passed in the House of Commons let alone the Liberal dominated Senate.

Harper went on to say he would start appointing Senators to ensure that the elected will of the House of Commons and the people of Canada is reflected in the Senate. Right now that is all talk. He wont get a reform bill on the senate through the house in the first place.

Alberta Senator Bert Brown, a Conservative, who was selected by Harper for appointment to the Senate after he was elected in a provincial election, has raised doubts about the legality of the proposed changes without the approval of the provinces. "... the Constitution calls for these types of measures to meet the approval of at least seven provinces with half the population of Canada." Quebec and Ontario are likely not going agree to such a change.

I'm no big fan of the Senate, lets get rid of it. Harper is just looking for an excuse to appoint Conservatives to the 16 vacancies. And he will do that. Harper went onto say...

"I do not believe it is justified that the Senate would continue to [be] dominated by a party that did not win two consecutive elections."

Harper has been elected twice, to what looks like very short terms. He was elected to minorities. This ought to imply that he does not have an over-whelming mandate.

One other Canadian Prime Minister used extraordinary powers to appoint eight additional Senators so as to pass the GST in the Senate. Brian Mulroney had no problem and Harper will have even less problem doing it. Harper could in fact appoint as many as 24 Senators. Imagine that Canada.

The Conservatives are attempting to paint themselves as the anointed ones by the Canadian voters. They received fewer votes than the last election and some 65% of Canadians voted for people other than Harper's Conservatives. That's hardly a mandate to do as you wish.

The last Parliament allowed Harper to do pretty much what he wanted it to do. The Liberals played ball with the Conservatives, either by not showing up for a vote or showing up and voting in favour of a bill, this they did 43 times. I wonder if they have learned their lesson.

CPP fails people living with HIV

Today thousands of survivors of HIV/AIDS on medical benefits/income support are doing much better. They would like to return to employment. They want to become full contributing citizens again, finding employment, performing a job or returning to a profession.

They are in this position largely due to huge advances in medical treatment, that has slowed the ravages of HIV, in many cases brought them back from the brink. Their immune systems are strong, viral loads are small or undetectable.

Many of these people on private insurance can return work. They have not needed to collect Canada Pension plan payments due to the good insurance they held. Those others, the vast majority have had to rely on welfare - income support programs to put a roof over their heads and to buy life's necessities like food, clothing, transportation, and over the counter medications not covered by provincial phama plans.

The provincial plans differ from province to province and in some cases city to city. Generally the value of these programs provide $300 to 5oo for housing, 200 to 300 for food, 100 for other things, like telephone, transportation, heat, lights etc. and maybe a nutritional allowance of 40 to 200 dollars. HIV meds and other medications are covered in full generally with the requirement for co-pay.

Once on this provincial plan you are required to apply for Canada Pension benefits. Anything received from CPP is then deducted from the provincial plan payment. Generally CPP payments come close to the total amount received on the provincial plan.

So after years of being on HIV meds, battling back to good health, you want to return to work, easy right? Its what we would like people to do if they can right?

The answer is right of course. So why are many apparently healthy HIV/AIDS folks remaining on the dole? Its the rules around CPP. If you collect it for a disability, and you return to work, you can't come back to it if your health makes it impossible to continue working. These people are in a catch 22. Once CPP is given up, its darn near impossible to get back.

What's the answer? It would seem all we need to do is change the rules around CPP. We could do that if you want to amend the constitution! That's not likely so we need a new plan. Many people in the HIV/AIDS support agencies are trying to find a solution to this problem, perhaps a new federal program? CPP isn't working for people with HIV/AIDS and its likely its not working for other people as well. We need a solution and a federal government willing to help make it happen.

more to come...