Thursday, March 22, 2007

Unbelievable

This story blows my mind:
A right-wing, libertarian think-tank with a long record of opposing electoral reform has been awarded a contract by the federal Conservative government to probe public perceptions of . . . electoral reform.

Opposition politicians are livid that the Winnipeg-based Frontier Centre for Public Policy will write the consultation report, based on discussions with what is supposed to be a representative sample of Canadians.

The Frontier Centre's website includes links to stories such as: Why I'm a Recovering Electoral Reformer, The Unintended Consequences of Electoral Reform and Canada Should Keep `First Past the Post' Voting System.

But New Democrat MP Catherine Bell, who has been trying to get answers on the consultation for weeks, said Frontier's role is shocking.

"I'm quite angry," Bell said in an interview. "I find it quite surprising that a government that constantly preaches to be so accountable . . . would do something so underhanded and manipulative."

Liberal Stephen Owen called the consultation process "a charade."

The defense:
Peter Van Loan, the Conservative cabinet minister responsible for democratic reform, has defended awarding the contract to Frontier, stating in the Commons that "this was a wide open competitive process and I do not believe anybody should be barred from participating because of their views."

Van Loan is kidding, right? I understand the "wide-open" process, but applicants with overt bias shouldn't be allowed to bid. You hire a firm that is against electoral reform to study electoral reform. Why not hire the Klan to canvas discrimination? One word, unbelievable.

15 comments:

Karen said...

"I find it quite surprising that a government that constantly preaches to be so accountable . . . would do something so underhanded and manipulative."

Well, I find it quite surprising that she finds it surprising!

What the hell is it going to take for Canadians, politicians included, that this Government says one thing, does another, and defends themselves by restating their first stance?

It's beyond unbelievable that they are doing that, but how do we explain people buying it?

What's really disturbing to me, is that the arrogance they display is no longer a cloak that they don when necessary, it seems to have permeated their DNA. I keep thinking that when that happens to someone, they trip themselves up. There have been occasional slips, but so far this hasn't happened.

Steve V said...

"It's beyond unbelievable that they are doing that, but how do we explain people buying it?"

Apathy, they count on it. Having said that, these guys have completely failed to ingratiate themselves, despite a relatively enviable circumstance.

Idealistic Pragmatist said...

You know, what shocks ME most about this post is the fact that the Toronto Star, who passionately loathe the very idea of electoral reform, wrote such a fair analysis of this situation. Good on them!

susansmith said...

What's most unsettling but not surprising is the process is not going to be public, therefore lacking any accountability to the outcome. Transparency is not what the cons want here.

Greg Fingas said...

IP: While it would be nice if the Star deserved such credit, note that it's actually a Canadian Press article. (Though as you point out in your post, at least one prominent national columnist is willing to point out the virtues of one of the PR options).

Steve V said...

"therefore lacking any accountability to the outcome. Transparency is not what the cons want here."

The two key words, accountability and transparency. Isn't that amazing given the rhetoric, ringing hollow by the day.

Monkey Loves to Fight said...

This seems like a bad choice. Sure I believe in open competition, but choose someone without a bias. Off course when has the government chosen anything that isn't politically bias. What is disgusting about this government is that they apply partisan politics to everything, even in areas where it shouldn't be. I would rather all parties worked together for the interest of all Canadians, but Harper seems to determined to play the conquer and divide strategy.

Anonymous said...

Not to mention the prominence of a global warming denial video on the left side of the homepage of their website.

Steve V said...

"I'm sure your mind blew up when the Liberals were doing this. Selective outrage at its best."

Leave it to the apologist to try the dodge and weave. And what were you doing when the Liberals "did this"? Thought so. Myself, I was voting for another party.


BTW, great commentary from Rex Murphy tonight on the CBC, which was particularly SCATHING. The thesis, the Tories have become exactly what they railed against for all those years. The man who built a career on hatred for all things Liberal, now embraces all the tenets he so despised. A great question- how would Stephen Harper have reacted if the Liberals so overtly tried to buy votes in Quebec? Just imagine the indignation, just imagine.

These guys better call an election SOON, because the pattern is starting to gel.

Steve V said...

"What is disgusting about this government is that they apply partisan politics to everything, even in areas where it shouldn't be."

Bingo! And, I think the budget ultimately fails because the politicism is so overt that it can't be denied.

Karen said...

ferret: I'm sure your mind blew up when the Liberals were doing this. Selective outrage at its best.

Provide a link or something substantial, so we can debate it. Just because you want to believe it and therefore you say it, does not make it fact. Your "Leader" uses this tack and it's not working out so well it seems. Facts work, avoiding them makes you look foolish.

Steve, I happened to see Rex tonight too. Shocked would be an understatement as to how I felt when I heard him.

Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe reasonable Conservatives, real Conservatives, will save the day, who knows?

I'd like to know where the hell they have been all this time though?

Steve V said...

knb

Coyne was pretty rough on his boy too.

Pay no attention to ferrethouse and his hypocrisy. When I started my blog, he was the first person that ever commented (which is why I remember). Anyways, I believe he was complimenting me, on a post where I criticized the Liberals, something about being fair and non-partisan. Apparently he lacks this trait NOW, when it's his party. SELECTIVE OUTRAGE INDEED.

Karen said...

I've only read some excerpts by Coyne recently, but yes it does seem that some sense is surfacing. I haven't read any Don Martin lately, but Wells is not amused.

So, conservative minds are ticking again, though the BT's and their ilk will depend on the extreme right talk shows and such I suppose, to bolster their point.

I punished myself again and watched part of Mike Duffy Live. The guy is officially a joke. I'm glad he came through surgery and all of that, but retire or own up to being a conservative shill.

You see, it's those guy's, the Duffy's, who certainly have experience and exposure on the Hill, but are not that bright, who are listened to. That is incredibly frustrating. How did so many become so dumb?

Anonymous said...

Ahh got one whiff of that stinker and ahh figgered it fer one o them Harperr's accounta-cuz-i-can, see-threw acts what was all the rage some while back. All i can say is, one whiff'n you never ferget.
That Harperr's as mean as wolverine shite, and twice as smelly.
P-ewwww!

Scotian said...

"I'm quite angry," Bell said in an interview. "I find it quite surprising that a government that constantly preaches to be so accountable . . . would do something so underhanded and manipulative."

If this is true, if this NDP MP is being honest here, that reveals a level of shocking unawareness of what the Harper CPC is like and has operated like since they came to power (and before really) that to see from any NDP MP is really quite frightening. If true this underscores my comments and thinking that the NDP truly does not appreciate the threat to all progressives by this Harper led CPC, that they still see the Liberals as the biggest threat to the progressive agenda despite all the evidence to the contrary that it is Harper that is by far and away the biggest threat to the progressive movement. That the Libs are a political threat to the NDP is fair, but to equate what is the worst threat to the NDP politically is automatically the worst threat to a progressive Canada is arrogant hubris and a major league blind spot.

The NDP is far more interested these days in placing its own electoral prospects first instead of their principles first, otherwise they would make their primary target the greatest threat to their principles and agenda instead of the party that competes most with them for votes. However, just as with the Cons these aren't your parents NDP anymore thanks to Jack Layton. As most here already know Layton's actions doing so have made the NDP impossible for me to support, even when my local MP is NDP and someone I have great respect for personally and professionally. What I have wondered is whether the NDP MPS/caucus agrees with Layton on this approach or simply fail to recognize the real threat the CPC poses and that it is not Liberal Tory same old story anymore, and this MP's comments indicate she doesn't realize this, which is why any progressive that considers Harper's CPC to be the greatest threat to all of us should not be supporting the NDP next time out IMHO.