Here’s one take on that Newt paper at Newt.org: Ultimately, however, the most frightening thing about Gingrich’s proposal isn’t its direct conflict with the Constitution, but the implications of such a violation of the Constitution for a fair and impartial judiciary. The framers protected judges from exactly this kind of
Continue readingTag: Rule of Law
Impolitical: Wheat Board update
The latest on the Wheat Board issue: “The Canadian Wheat Board and its supporters said on Friday they may seek an injunction to stop the federal government’s move to end the board’s monopoly on sales of Western Canadian wheat and barley.” It’s like an economic action plan for lawyers, of
Continue readingImpolitical: High times in Canadian politics
This quote from a Liberal Senator goes to a key question with this government: Liberal Senator Robert Peterson said he thinks the closure motion was brought in because the Tories feared an extended debate over the court ruling. But he saw no practical way to derail the bill. “If they’re
Continue readingImpolitical: Judge says Ritz breached Wheat Board Act
Marking the moment here with a bit of the media coverage and some highlights from the judgment. “Judge says Ritz breached wheat board act.” “Government broke the law when dismantling Wheat Board: Federal Court.“ You can read the decision of the Federal Court judge here. The order states: The Minister
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Lock up Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper’s Conservatives like to present themselves as tough on crime, committed to accountable government and respectful of the rule of law. Given their record, we have to ask ourselves, when will we march them off to the nearest penitentiary to begin serving the mandatory minimum sentences they so richly
Continue readingImpolitical: CBC takes the high road
Today the CBC turned over documents to the Commons ethics committee “under protest”: In a speech before the National Press Club Foundation, CBC President Hubert Lacroix confirmed what NDP House Leader Joe Comartin had already revealed to the House of C…
Continue readingImpolitical: The Conservatives’ strained relationship with the rule of law continues
The parliamentary law clerk has written a strong opinion on the legality of the Conservative push at the ethics committee to compel CBC to provide documents to the committee while the CBC is in the midst of a court dispute over those documents with the…
Continue readingImpolitical: Dean Del Mastro: Judge, jury and information commissioner
What is going on at the ethics committee under Dean Del Mastro’s leadership deserves plenty of sunlight. From a Liberal release this afternoon: Liberal Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics critic Scott Andrews made the following statement today on…
Continue readingImpolitical: Ritz protests too much
“Tories slams Canadian Wheat Board legal challenge.” Methinks Ritz’s language is quite animated, not conveying the confidence of a majority government. Maybe they’re worried about the legal challenge. Or the public blow back that might be on its way. G…
Continue readingHarper Valley: The Mohawk Manifesto
MNN_188_Mohawk_Manifesto_sep_9_05 The legal framework that proves by Rule of Law that First Nations are indeed sovereign. This is because Canada is in fraud and treason unto itself as it has never obeyed Queen Anne’s Royal Order which says all indigenous peoples must be dealt with on a nation to nation
Continue readingImpolitical: The Conservatives make a witness list
Interesting list here, to put it mildly: “Peladeau, Von Finckenstein, Sun Media journos to testify before committee on CBC.” It’s bad enough that multiple representatives who abhor public funding for the CBC will be given a platform. Why 3 of them? I c…
Continue readingImpolitical: RCMP brought into middle of PEI election
“Ottawa calls for probe of PEI immigration program.” The timing of all of this is suspect: The federal government is calling in the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency to investigate allegations of fraud and bribery in a PEI immigration program …
Continue readingImpolitical: Sunday drive-by blogging
1. Here’s your what-kind-of-democracy-is-this-we’re-living-in item of the day: “Barring the media bad move by PC candidate.” The Tory candidate in Lambton-Kent Middlesex, Monte McNaughton, barred the media from a town hall meeting the other night. Wher…
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Private security is a moral hazard when there is no rule of law
The rise of private security personal and war contractors – embodied by the since rebranded Blackwater – is a moral hazard that has, predictably, led to significant consequences. The profit motivation provides incentive distinct from minimizing human s…
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