Friday, April 18, 2008

Revenge of the bureaucrats

I have a column in today's National Post examining the reasons behind that Elections Canada "raid" on Tory Party headquarters.

And if you missed me talking about this on Mike Duffy Live yesterday, you can watch the interview here.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like your new website, Gerry.

Johnathon said...

Great column about those jackass people at elections Canada.

Why does it seem that most of our institutions are infested with leftists?

Anonymous said...

Gerry - the difference now is that we have bloggers willing to expose the truth. It has been working as none of these "pseudo scandals" seem to be working as the truth eventually comes out.

How can we all help call these jackasses out???? Perhaps you could do a column about somethings that bloggers and ordinary Canadians can do to ensure that those that work in the Federal government are not working against our government (no matter who is in power)

Anonymous said...

Excellent column.

I think one of the greatest problems here is that out of control bureaucrats can use taxpayers money to wear down anyone they want to. Ultimately, you either give up or go broke trying to defend yourself.

This is a most effective way to shut down all dissent, as ultimately anyone criticizing an agency of the government can be subject to endless harassment by public officials, who essentially have bottomless pockets.

The only possible safeguard for citizens is to make those public officials personally liable in any counter-suit.

Anonymous said...

what new website? Is there a link from your blog?

Gerry Nicholls said...

Anon # 3

I have just added my new website to my "links" section.

Monkey Loves to Fight said...

I say what nonsense. As far as I am concerned it appears the Tories broke the law and just because you don't like the law doesn't mean you ignore it. I don't like the low speed limits on the 401, but I wouldn't call the OPP jackasses if I got a ticket for going too fast. Elections Canada is simply charged with enforcing the rules not making them. If you don't like the rules, convince the politicians to change them. I don't agree with the gag law, but the blame should be put on the politicians not Elections Canada. I should note the chief electoral officer Marc Maynard was appointed by Harper himself. In fact I believe Elections Canada plays a valuable role in ensuring elections are free and fair. I would much rather have an independent agency than the government themselves running elections. If the government runs it themselves, they will do whatever possible to tilt it in their favour. In Canada, our ridings are drawn up in a non-partisan way much like they are in Britain which also has a similiar agency. In the United States, by contrast, they have gerrymandering which essentially ensures the party in power in a given state will draw the boundaries in a way to ensure they win the most seats or in some cases such as California, you have bi-partisan gerrymandering where every district is gerrymandered to be a safe Republican or safe Democrat one meaning defeating any congressman is quite difficult. This is not the type of system, I or most Canadians want. By all means make the appointments more transparent, but don't scrap the organization. I also believe this was a case of the Tories breaking the law, not Elections Canada trying to settle an old score, especially considering the chief electoral officer was appointed by Harper himself.

Anonymous said...

Now, if we could only figure out why Health Canada did nothing to take responsibility for the Vioxx deaths in Canada after 1999...

The US FDA has come clean on this issue.... Why not Health Canada?

Is Canada's public service doing its job anymore or just acting in a partisan manner ?

Anonymous said...

You're way out in "left" field as usual Miles. Enjoy it there in the wilderness because Gerry's right on on this one!

There's nothing the voting public hates more than the arrogance of bureaucrats. This story has that in spades and if Harper plays his cards right...this too shall unfold to his advantage.

Monkey Loves to Fight said...

Anonymous - I think the public trusts Elections Canada more than Harper. And besides, do you suggest we get rid of them and let the politicians manage elections and draw up boundaries. That is what you have in countries with more corruption. I noted that Marc Maynard was appointed by Harper himself not the Liberals. In addition, like all bureaucracies, they enforce the laws, not make them. The government makes the laws, so if you don't like them, complain to the government.

Anonymous said...

Gerry,

You gotta get gerrynicholls.com registered since the Duffenator sent them there. lol