Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, February 08, 2013

Senator Patrick Brazeau kicked out of Conservative caucus

After weeks of being one of the most high profile Conservative Party critics of the Idle No More movement, Senator Patrick Brazeau has been kicked out of the party's caucus.

The Canadian Press is reporting that a member of Brazeau's staff was informed of this decision earlier today by the office of Senator Marjory LeBreton. There are also reports that Brazeau was taken into police custody following a call about domestic violence in Gatineau.

Yesterday, media reports alleged that Brazeau had for years used his father-in-law's address in a First Nations community in order to claim a tax exemption.

Since the beginning of the surge in activism for Indigenous sovereignty and rights began late last year, Brazeau has been one of the most consistent and vocal critics of the Idle No More movement and defenders of the Conservative government's record with respect to Indigenous people.

Earlier this week, rabble.ca published an open letter by novelist Eden Robinson to Prime Minister Harper. The letter opened with this:

"This is awkward, Stephen. But I think we both need to stop tiptoeing around the issue and just bring it up. When you pass legislation that basically assumes that all the band councils and chiefs in Canada are corrupt, entitled freeloaders, your most visible indigenous spokesperson about the pressing need for legal reform should probably not be Senator Patrick Brazeau. Points for irony, though."

From the beginning of his term in the Senate, Brazeau has faced criticism and numerous allegations of corruption. In 2009, the Toronto Star reported, "The Prime Minister's Office has steadfastly deflected criticism of Brazeau and the Senate vetting process that led to his appointment."

Original Article
Source: rabble.ca
Author: rabble staff

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