It's easy enough to dismiss these two stories.
Helena Guergis obviously was a thorn in Stephen Harper's side and he was delighted to be rid of her.
As for the ridiculous antics of Conservatives trying to seize a ballot box in Guelph, well, that was hardly planned by the PMO.
But ...
It is odd that Harper cannot bring himself to say Helena Guergis' name -- calling her this "individual" (not even his more common use "citizen"). It's suggestive of a deeper anger than otherwise makes sense.
And remember the Conservative Centre did try to have the student votes at Guelph annulled. That most assuredly was a decision of Stephen Harper.
There's a pattern of controlling behaviour and anger when it fails. And controlling behaviour says that the person trying to exert control doesn't believe the person controlled can do things for themselves, that they can not think for themselves, that they are incapable.
I met Stephen Harper in his Prime Minister's office once. I was part of a larger (non-political) delegation. Everyone - me included - got a photograph taken. Everyone - me excluded - got a glossy photo (suitable for framing) with Stephen Harper. Mine apparently got lost. A very minor point - hardly a great loss to me - but it is suggestive.
Fit within the plan and you're accepted by Stephen Harper -- fall outside the plan and, well, you're Helena Guergis:
"I don't have to tell you all about the nightmare that my family endured over the past year, as a result of the treatment from those that I served so loyally to for years. The damage is real," Guergis said, her voice faltering.
"It is deep, and it is permanent. Imagine waking up every day for months seeing headlines and stories that have no basis in reality, attacking your credibility and everything that you have worked so hard for, and having to face the public under this type of unfair scrutiny and pressure."
13 comments:
Thank you for your honesty and speaking up regarding Helena Guergis and the students. I can only hope that the voters of Canada will open their eyes to see the true colours of the P.M. and the P.M.O.
Everyone - me excluded - got a glossy photo (suitable for framing) with Stephen Harper. Mine apparently got lost.
That's just childish. The individuals who would do something that petty, really believe they deserve to be Canada's government?
So as a lawyer you are ok with gross violations of the Elections Act such as unapproved impromptu polls for people who won't be living in the riding on election day, without scrutineers and with campaign material at the poll?
That's interesting since the Liberals shut down a poll at the University of Toronto in 2006 and got a ruling against such polls. That's a poll that didn't involve the issue of residency. The University of Guelph Student's rep had the gall to say it was a poll for students before they go HOME.
They should be voting at HOME on May 2nd. Elections Canada has shut down all further special polls on Campuses and this one should never have happened.
I don't think the voters should be disenfranchised but it's clear this poll was in violation of the elections act and the Conservatives were right to file the complaint.
It also went on 4 hours longer than it was supposed to and should have been shut down during that time.
Paul, that's what I was going to say; childish behaviour, and coming from a Prime Minister makes it that much more astounding!
Mr. Morton, could you please respond to the anonymous poster at 7:31. I would very much appreciate your thoughts on this from a legal point of view.
Instead of worrying about Conservative candidates or ex MP's, maybe Liberals should be a little more concerned with their own like the judge who thinks digital penetration isn't rape. And the white supremist candidate. And maybe Ignatieff should watch who he is granting interviews to. But of course Liberals don't have to worry about that because the majority of the media isn't concerned about Liberal wrongdoings . . . just Conservative misdeeds. I know, this sound like sour grapes but look at the headlines in most of the papers today. Any of the above mentioned Liberal candidates didn't even make the front page when they were outed. And if it did, it was a small mention and then disappeared for ever.
It will be absolutely amazing to me if the Conservatives increase their seat total with battling the majority of the media along with all other political parties.
Liberals are being disingenuous .
If Harper had let her back in, the Liberals would have been all over him about Jaffer using her office for lobbying purposes.
Did you build a bridge because the trolls have arrived
Gene,
What these "trolls" are saying is both relevant and true.
A reader asked my thoughts legally about the poll. As I understand matters this was not an advance poll, which requires special prearrangements, but rather a special poll which does not. There is not question that the local RO should have gotten formal direction from Elections Canada to hold a significant special poll -- that irregularity, however, does not go to the substance of the poll and like most irregularities is merely to be cured as Elections Canada did. What should the CC have don if they felt strongly the poll was improper? They should have made a formal complaint with Elections Canada and followed the legal process to challenge -- in fairness they did do that. What they absolutely ought not to have done is have a staffer attend take photos and apparently attempt to seize the ballot box. Leaving aside the deadful optics that screams out contempt for the process. It's like people who don't follow the court process and resort to "self-help" as in, well, I'm entitled to be in the matrimonial home so I'll just break in instead of getting a judge to rule. As for what would have happened if there were older voters in a special poll - my view is no one would have done a thing either formally or in the bizarre "self-help" method.
James,
If you do not support electoral fraud, which I assume you don't; then should the votes be sealed?
Three years ago, Dion and the lame-stream media were demanding she step down. Now she's innocent and a victim of unjust persecution.
.. and the media wonders why no one listens anymore.
Good thoughts, James. I live in the Oshawa riding. I too have noted Mr. Harper's behaviour toward Guergis and seriously his dismissing of the Minister for the Status of Women without substantial cause. I've written an article which also includes a video by Rick Mercer:
Ken Symes' article: Helena Guergis deserves better, Mr. Harper
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