While I’ve written on the topic before, comments made by Government House Leader Bardish Chagger on her tabled “discussion paper” on trying to make the House of Commons more “efficient” really rankled over the weekend. In particular, Chagger said the proposals were trying to find the balance between the government’s “duty to pass legislation and the opposition’s right to be heard.”

No. Just no. And here’s Philippe Lagassé to explain why.

https://twitter.com/pmlagasse/status/843115014227746816

The whole point of Parliament is not to ensure that government passes legislation. The point is to hold it to account, and that often means slowing it down and ensuring that it doesn’t overstep its bounds, which it is wont to do. Already it’s a problem that government backbenchers don’t do their duty and due diligence when it comes to keeping a check on the government – most are happy to toe the line in order to be considered for a cabinet post, which is a problem in and of itself, and we’ve seen this attitude of being “team players” amplify in the last number of years, particularly after the minority government years, when message discipline became paramount above all else, which is why I worry about how the backbenches will react to this proposition by the government. Will they willingly surrender their responsibilities of accountability because they want to be seen as being onside with Cabinet (particularly after the recent defeats of cabinet on those private members’ bills and Senate public bills?) Maybe.

What worries me more is the way that Chagger phrased the opposition’s “right to be heard.” We’re seeing increasingly that with this government and their insistence on constant broad consultations, they will listen, then go ahead with their original plans. I worry that this is how they are starting to feel about parliament – that they’ll hear the concerns of the opposition or the Senate, and then bully through regardless. Parliament is not a focus group to “consult” with, and I’m not sure that they’re quite getting that, particularly given Chagger’s statement. Accountability is not just politely listening, and the opposition is not there to just deliver an opposing viewpoint. There needs to be a tension and counter-balance, and right now I’m not sure that this government quite gets the need for that tension, particularly when they keep mouthing platitudes about working together collaboratively and whatnot. Then again, I’m not sure that the opposition necessarily gets the extent of their responsibilities either, which is depressing. Regardless, Chagger’s case for these reforms is built on a foundation of sand. Most should be fully opposed and defeated soundly for the sake of the very existential nature of our parliament.

Good reads:

• Senator Vern White, a former police chief, says that Senator Meredith “groomed” that young woman for sex, and aims to see him expelled.
• After lifting the visa restrictions on Mexico, the government has had to detain more Mexican migrants in the first two months of this year than all of last year.
• Shared Services Canada wants to move more things to the Cloud. Based on conversations I’ve had with cybersecurity experts, the answer should always be no.
• Here’s a look at how Justin Trudeau is trying to get more Commonwealth countries to decriminalise homosexuality.
• There are concerns about the rules around diplomatic passports, that too many retired officials are retaining them.
• Here’s a look at carbon taxes and revenue neutrality, and lessons that can and should be taken.
• Martine Ouellet is now the leader of the Bloc after running uncontested.
• Maxime Bernier’s camp is now accusing an O’Leary organizer of offering to buy memberships for people in the Sikh community.
• Neil Macdonald profiles Rick Peterson and talks about his many ideas.

Odds and ends:

Jason Kenney has now won the PC leadership in Alberta and has a real task ahead of him with trying to create a new party with the Wildrose.

The Royal Canadian Navy couldn’t even give two of its aging ships away because of the PCBs onboard that would cost millions to remove.