Tory Handbook on Dysfunctional Government by Design
The Harper government is being accused of a machiavellian plot to wreak parliamentary havoc after a secret Tory handbook on obstructing and manipulating Commons committees was leaked to the press.
Opposition parties pounced on news reports Friday about the 200-page handbook as proof that the Conservatives are to blame for the toxic atmosphere that has paralyzed Parliament this week.
. . .
The handbook reportedly advises chairs on how to promote the government's agenda, select witnesses friendly to the Conservative party and coach them to give favourable testimony. It also reportedly instructs them on how to filibuster and otherwise disrupt committee proceedings and, if all else fails, how to shut committees down entirely.
. . .
Both Davies and Goodale agreed that the recent dysfunction may be part of a long term Tory strategy to persuade voters that minority Parliaments don't work, that they need to elect a majority next time.
And what a wonderful strategy it is. Deliberately muck up your own government's proceedings if things don't go totally your way and then blame it on the opposition and the fact that Canadians have a hard time trusting you with a majority as an argument for why you need that majority.
And I love the part where all the committee chairs are being asked to return their copies in an attempt to track down the leak, because the leaker probably just gave away their own copy instead of thinking to xerox it, right?
Anyway, the last point in the article did make me wonder:
Goodale predicted the ploy won't work because Canadians will realize that the Tories are the "authors of this stalemate."
Goodale said the manual also demonstrates that the government is in the grip of an "obsessive, manipulative mania," run by a prime minister who has "a kind of control fetish" in which there can't be "one comma or one sentence or one word uttered without his personal approval."
Do you really think so? I hate to say it, but even I'm having a hard time getting really worked up about parliamentary committees, particularly on a long weekend. I'm pretty sure the only way this gets brought up at work on Tuesday is if I mention it, and even then I'm betting I'll have a hard time explaining why its important.
On the other hand, it seems to me that the leaks are starting to multiply. Apparently being under the jackboots of Herr Harper is starting to grate on folks. I wonder if he can put together enough support for a majority government before his party implodes beneath him.
