As in Sunshine List and not the absence of Sun …though that too is missing most days.
Former Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber, had his Bill to disclose the salaries of highly paid bureaucrats gutted recently by his then conservative colleagues on orders from on high (a.k.a the PMO).
His ‘Bill’ would have required the Fed’s to publish an Annual Sunshine List similar to the one in effect in the Province of Ontario. All those earning $188,000 would be centred out but due to the intervention of the pantywaists from the PMO this already too high ceiling was upped even further to nearly $450k.
Let the light shine in…
Rathgeber did what I consider to be the honourable thing and that was to resign from the Tory Caucus.
In so doing he had this to say:
“I joined the Reform / conservative movements because I thought we were somehow different, a band of Ottawa outsiders riding into town to clean the place up, promoting open government and accountability. I barely recognize ourselves, and worse, I fear that we have morphed into what we once mocked”.
Strong words and yet, for me, so true.
Like Rathgaber, I too joined the Reform Party in the hope that it would return honour, integrity and civility to government. That unlike the other parties, Reform would stand for the wishes of the grass roots. In previous Blogs I have recounted how this Hope was soon dashed. The top reformers came down with the Ottawa sickness quicker than one could say transparency and open government.
Rathgaber’s resignation was not a one event reaction though: it came about after the disclosure of numerous petty scandals and a concerted effort to control the Tory Backbench.
Commentators speak of Harper using this summer to “reset the dial” and point to a likely cabinet shuffle to see that happen.
Although a shuffle is most likely to happen – it will not reset any dials.
The only reset button that exists can be found in Stephen Harper’s mind.
Unless he resets himself – nothing is going to change in the lead-up to the next election.
He and he alone needs to return to those heady days when the Reform Party was first formed – the excitement that existed that for once their supporters and via them, the voter himself would finally be listened to.
Will he do it Galagher?
Can a leopard change its spots?
I personally think he can indeed do it and for the sake of our country I am hoping and praying that he does. I would not be prepared to bet the family farm on it though.
That is not to say that the Harper Government has been a total failure like the one in Ontario – it has accomplished a number of important things – especially in the area of foreign affairs – for the first time since the War our country stands for honour and integrity which is all the more noticeable when compared to the embarrassment of the little guy in the White House.
At home, for the first time in decades, we Canadians are taking pride in learning and hearing about our history – a history which pound for pound is as interesting and as dynamic as our neighbour’s to the south.
So let’s collectively hold our breath and hope when Parliament resumes in the Fall, it will be a renewed and committed Prime Minister at the helm.
Thanks to Alberta M.P. Brent Rathgeber it has a much better chance of happening.
As I see it …
‘K.D. Galagher’
