Things have been fairly quiet on the political scene up in Canada. Parliament is currently on a Summer recess and MPs (Members of Parliament) are for the most part working quietly back in their constituencies while the party leaders travel the summer BBQ circuit in hopes of boosting their electoral chances whenever the next general election may be called.
Most importantly, without a Summer session in Ottawa's Parliament buildings there is no daily Question Period, a time when opposition members of the House hold the ruling party to the fire, putting every decision, policy and proposed legislation to scrutiny.
The political dog days of Summer. Perfect conditions for a tenuous minority Conservative government to possibly slip a little 'interference' right by the Canadian public and media since few are paying close attention.
Thankfully progressive Canadian bloggers were paying attention and have hopefully nipped a quite subversive, anti-democratic plan in the bud. Because representative democracy is, like, sooooo yesterday.
It's a semi-sordid tale of Conservative dirty tricks, put upon elected MPs, an iconoclastic Liberal MP/bloggers, a Canadian blogswarm, and a 'Nekkid Mayor'.
Follow me over the fold for more
It all begins simply and innocently enough on Saturday morning, August 25th. I receive an e-mail from fellow Kossack fiddlingnero (aka prole at A Creative Revolution).
The e-mail has a link to a post from the ever delightfully snarkalicious Canadian Cynic.
Very short and ambiguous post:
Apparently, actual democracy is inefficient.
Shorter Conservative Party of Canada: "All your elections are belong to us."
The link is to Canadian blog, Blogging A Dead Horse.
Conservatives begin replacing opposition MPs with the Pod People
BADH links to a small media release item a small obscure newspaper in Terrace, British Columbia. The media release is from Conservative BC Caucus Chair and MP, Dick Harris. Harris has an announcement for remote federal riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley.
Dick Harris MP for Cariboo-Prince George has named Houston Mayor and Conservative candidate Sharon Smith as the person that residents of Skeena-Bulkley Valley can contact when they have concerns or issues with the federal government.
Harris said, "As Chairman of the BC Caucus of Conservative MPs, I am pleased that Sharon has accepted this role, and I know the constituents of Skeena-Bulkley Valley will derive a huge benefit from having direct contact with government, something that they have not had since 2004.
I and other BC Conservative MPs will work closely with Sharon Smith as she represents constituents of her riding to the government members. It will be a bonus for people of Skeena-Bulkley Valley to have direct representation to the government on so many issues," continued Harris
Harris concluded, "Having an MP from the fourth party in the House just doesn’t cut it when it comes to actually getting things done for the folks in Skeena-Bulkley Valley . Sharon Smith with her direct government contact will ensure that things DO get done. The Terrace water infrastructure, Smithers Airport expansion, and Houston event center’s new "green" system are just a few examples of what can be accomplished when you have a direct link to government".
Got that? One problem though. The constituents of Skeena-Bulkley Valley already have 'direct representation to the federal government'. That would be their duly elected representative, NDP Member of Parliament, Nathan Cullen.
The words in Mr; Harris' media release could not be any clearer. 'Your MP belongs to the 'wrong' party. We will not listen to him. If you wish to speak to us, speak to Sharon Smith'. Sharon Smith is also the Conservative Party candidate in Skeena-Bulkley Valley.
Yep. They decided to unilaterally 'replace' an elected MP with an unelected and public ally unaccountable future candidate.
Seems I missed something in Canadian Civics 101. Did I sleep through class the day they taught that. Well, no. That's not how representative democracy works. Unless you're a Conservative.
The Conservatives intention were made even clearer in this radio interview with CBC Radio's Daybreak North in Prince George, BC. (Requires Real Player). MP Cullen replies on the same program.
The implications are bone chilling. Elections don't matter. If 'we' don't like the result, we'll just appoint someone to by-pass you, silly voters.
So, I wrote a blog post that same Saturday morning.
Things went viral very quickly. Other Canadian prog bloggers picked up on it and ran with it through the weekend. Dr. Dawg has the archival round-up right here.
And because all this happens in a remote, obscure Canadian riding on a weekend, the MSM are nowhere on this potential bombshell.
Much posting and commenting ensues throughout the Canadian progressive bloggerdome. Folks get on with drafting letters to their MPs and the media. I e-mail iconoclastic Liberal MP and blogger Garth Turner. Mr. Turner is shocked and appalled at such cavalier disregard for our parliamentary system. and promises to post something very shortly. Turner e-mails again shortly after with a short message, "Sharon Smith is 'the naked mayor'?" .
Wooo, boy howdy, I had forgotten about that one. Yes sir, turns out Sharon Smith, the Conservative Party candidate and new 'go-to person' in Skeena-Bulkley Valley has a little ole skeleton in her closet
Yes, the Conservative candidate had 4 years earlier shown questionable judgment and complete disrespect for her office. I have no issue with the 'nekkidness' or 'candid photography' (nudge nudge wink wink. Say no more), but I do have issue with the use of the ceremonial Mayor's chain and the use of the public's property (i.e City Hall) for this little indiscretion.
As that news gets around the blogswarm swells.
MP Turner posts on his blog around noon-ish Sunday, the 26th and sets off what I can only describe as a 'shitstorm'. Have a look.
Bloggers continue to communicate with each and further plans are hatched while the blogswarm continues. I have local media contacts in Vancouver and forward the Terrace Daily item to them. With further suggestion in hand I send out an e-mail blast to about 20 Canadian journalists and political commentators on the morning of Monday the 27th. One replies immediately asking for my 'patience', she has something coming out mid-week.
Meanwhile, the question remains. Where is the media? This flagrant dirty trick should be front page news across the country. Then word starts to circulate that there may be other such 'appointments'. Again, I'll refer you to Dr. Dawg for the round-up.
Monday comes and goes. Tuesday comes and goes. Still no media coverage. None. Bupkis. But the bloggers are writing, and talking to each other.
As the sun rises this morning (Wednesday, August 29th) I decide to do another Google news search, and.... and.... WooHoo! There it is, from one of my local dailies The Vancouver Sun. Yes, the journalist who responded.
An aggressive Conservative plan has bestowed a group of British Columbians with a representative from the governing party before they've voted one in.
Houston Mayor Sharon Smith has been appointed "government go-to person" for the NDP-held riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley by the federal Conservative caucus chair for B.C., Dick Harris.
The MP for Cariboo-Prince George justifies his action with some pretty blunt opinions about how government really works in this country.
He says that, realistically, it's not possible for Nathan Cullen, the elected New Democrat representing Skeena, to access government services on behalf of his constituents in the manner that an MP of Conservative stripe would be able to.
Throwing in the waste bin the principles that make representative government in Canada function, Harris explained on a local radio show the other week: "To have access to the ministers, realistically, you have to be part of the government. You want to contact the Prime Minister's Office or even the prime minister when you need to, it helps immensely to be part of the government."
What gall and arrogance. What a crock of pure unadulterated Bravo Sierra.
There's the reality. Conservatives hate representative democracy. They prefer 'one party, one rule'. It couldn't be any clearer. As the CBC interviewer on Daybreak North asked Mr, Harris, "Why hold elections?"
It got better this afternoon, way better. The Canadian newswire service, Canadian Press, picked up on the story and it was soon picked up in turn by print and radio media outlets with the headline, 'Tory says: Forget your MP, talk to our Conservative candidate instead'.
So, what's the response from the Conservative Party? Ha, 'dancing madly backwards'.
Forget your duly elected local MP! If you want government services in your riding, you'd be better off going to the local Conservative candidate for the next election instead.
That's the message the Tories have been peddling in a British Columbia riding they don't hold -- and now they're vigorously backpedalling.
snip..
Government officials have distanced themselves from Harri s's unofficial appointment of Smith as the riding representative in Ottawa.
"He just kind of did that himself,'' government spokesman Ryan Sparrow said of Harri s's move.
"(Smith) is the Conservative candidate in the next election. That's her only official capacity.''
Sparrow was unequivocal when asked whom local residents should contact for federal help: "They should contact their local member of Parliament ... Ms. Smith is working hard to be that person after the next election, but for now the riding is held by a New Democrat."
Nice spin, Mr. Sparrow. Prime Minister Harper keeps his MPs on a very short leash, and muzzled. If you want to 'freelance' you won't be a Conservative MP for very long. Trust me, Mr Dick Harris is in no danger of losing his party affiliation. He's actually fairly high-ranking in their hierarchy. This was no accident, no 'doing stuff by himself'. They got caught with their hands in the cookie-jar, and make no mistake - Bloggers made this happen. It took four days from the first blog post, a full week from Mr. Harris' media release, for the big media to make any mention of this attempted circumvention of the people's electoral choice.
The story has some traction now and I would expect even the big media giants in Toronto to pay some attention to it tomorrow.
This was a team effort all the way and I am truly proud of how my fellow Canadian bloggers responded and went into action. Hope I have not forgotten anyone here but extra special thanks go out to:
Blogging A Dead Horse, for the first post.
Canadian Cynic, for the second post.
JJ, the Unrepentant Old Hippie.
Dave at The Galloping Beaver.
The folks at POGGE.
Alison at Creekside.
Garth Turner, MP (Liberal-Halton)
Dr. Dawg for the archival roundup.
And my colleagues at A Creative Revolution.
You guys all made a difference. And You All ROCK!!!