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, June 07, 2013

Backbenchers support Rathgeber’s bill

OTTAWA – At least two Conservative backbenchers say they would have supported Brent Rathgeber’s private member’s bill to expose the salaries of senior federal civil servants in its original form.

And Conservative MP Brad Trost says the Prime Minister’s Office went too far in its treatment of Rathgeber, his good friend.

“They shouldn’t have criticized him as he went. Brent’s been a good member,” said Trost.

“To tell him that basically now he should resign and go in a byelection, is not a respectful way to handle this.”

Both Trost and Conservative Stephen Woodworth said they would have supported Rathgeber’s bill, before it was watered down by fellow Conservatives. The move served as the impetus for Rathgeber’s decision to quit caucus Wednesday night.

“I would have been happy to support his bill in its original form if I had been allowed a free vote to do so,” said Woodworth.

Said Trost: “I think it was good legislation. I think PMO should have handled this much differently.”

Rathgeber’s bill  would have raised the transparency bar for salary disclosure to $188,000. But the committee reviewing the legislation instead decided to raise the threshold to more than $400,000.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation condemned the government’s treatment of Rathgeber’s sunshine bill.

“It’s absolutely disgusting that the government would gut a piece of accountability legislation in order to keep taxpayers from finding out what senior government employees do and make,” said spokesman Gregory Thomas.

“What are they trying to hide?”

When asked by Global News about Rathgeber’s departure, most Conservative MPs said he was a good member and they were sorry to see him go, but they disagreed for the most part about his criticisms of PMO control.

“I don’t agree with him at all. Quite frankly I think he’s dead wrong on that. I think he has his personal viewpoints, and he’s welcome to them. But you can still share the elements of where we need to go, with having a difference of opinion” said Ontario Conservative Daryl Kramp.

“Sometimes there’s strength in diversity of opinion.”

Original Article
Source: globalnews.ca
Author: Laura Stone

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