**Off Topic**
This is what happens when I express an opinion on the funnymentals of JDSU. LOL.
I said that government of Canada is a five year dictatorship, but I do not recall likening it to that of Nazi Germany.
The bottom line of this parliamentary system is that all of the MPs of one party must vote along party lines or risk their future in the party. The government that is in power with a large majority will be able to enact any kind of legislation it so chooses - and is therefore, a de facto elected dictatorship. If the voters don't like it, they have to wait out the five years to elect a new government, which then does the same. There are no failsafes like the U.S. Congress/Senate/President triangle. The only reality check is the next election.
That is a fact.
david-kilgour.com
studyparliament.ca
Teresa
And even in the so-called opposition, it's a never ending party line thing:
Solberg to lose post for remarks on Day
Alliance leader turns to rookie MPs
to fill shadow cabinet roles left by rebels
DANIEL LEBLANC
With a report from Canadian Press
Monday, June 18, 2001
OTTAWA -- Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day will promote a number of rookie MPs today to plug the holes left in his shadow cabinet by the ouster of high-profile and experienced dissidents such as MP Monte Solberg.
There are six major positions to fill, and Alliance officials said many will go to members first elected in November.
"The class of 2000 was a real good crop of people," caucus chairman Randy White said.
"Obviously, you have to give them important roles as time goes by.
"They had a year to learn."
The three rookies, Brian Pallister of Manitoba and Joe Peschisolido and James Moore, both from British Columbia, are scheduled for appointments, sources said.
B.C.'s John Duncan, who was first elected in 1993 but does not currently hold a chief critic's job, is expected to get international trade.
Another B.C. MP, Keith Martin, has been offered the defence portfolio.
Sources said that Mr. Solberg will officially be dropped as foreign affairs critic because he called for Mr. Day's immediate resignation as leader last week.
Mr. Solberg said he also expects to be expelled from the Alliance caucus.
Diane Ablonczy, another veteran MP who has been critical of the leadership, had a shaky grip on her position as health critic until yesterday afternoon, when she once again gave the party assurances that she will hold off on her public attacks against Mr. Day.
The high-profile resignations or departures of MPs such as Deborah Grey, Chuck Strahl, Val Meredith, Gary Lunn, Jay Hill and Art Hanger last month created vacancies across the party's top echelons.
At the time, Mr. Day immediately filled the positions of deputy leader and House Leader with two experienced loyalists, Grant Hill and John Reynolds.
Mr. Day is now looking for loyal rookies to fill out his shadow cabinet. As critics, it will be their responsibility to become experts in their fields and ask questions on specific topics in the commons.
Alliance Whip Dick Harris said the new positions will be announced at a press conference this afternoon. The following portfolios will be handed out: defence, international trade, foreign affairs, transport, labour and Human Resources Development Canada.
Mr. Pallister is expected to get foreign affairs or human resources, while Mr. Moore or Mr. Peschisolido will inherit transport, sources said.
There will probably be a new heritage critic as well. The position belonged to Cheryl Gallant, but she is said to be too busy after being named deputy House Leader and placed on the unity committee in charge of merger talks with the Progressive Conservative Party.
Another promising rookie, Ontario's Scott Reid, is expected to keep his position as intergovernmental affairs critic, but he could receive additional responsibilities.
The shuffle will also see MP Rahim Jaffer "reintegrate the family," as one source said, when he is named critic for African and Latin-American affairs. Mr. Jaffer was stripped of his responsibilities earlier this year after one of his aides impersonated him on a radio show, and Mr. Jaffer lied about it.
Like everything Mr. Day has done in recent months, today's nominations are expected to be greeted with controversy.
"We certainly don't need to lose people like Monte Solberg. We need to be building, not tearing apart," said MP Bob Mills, who will keep his environment portfolio.
Mr. Solberg said it is strange that the MPs who have the closest links with the federal Conservatives are the ones being forced out. "It's pretty clear that the Tories are quite willing to work with us even though they've already rejected the leader's entreaties," he said. |
