Friday, June 11, 2010

GET SOME BALLS LPC!!! DO RIGHT THING!!! Bloc & NDP: Monday = end of opposition patience on document deal

Monday will signal end of opposition patience on document deal: Bloc
Détenus afghans: toujours pas d'entente sur l'accès aux documents
The French article makes it clear that the Cons, Libs & NDP all seem to be collaborating against enforcing Parliament's will. Is the Bloc the last, the only party willing to fight for the most basic, fundamental principles of Canadian democracy? I've said before, in a way, separatists are the most patriotic Canadians, as they're the ones who take Canada most seriously, and are very traditional Canadian in their thinking, psychology, rhetoric and project (1774, 1867, etc.). It's partly what drives them so crazy themselves, consciously or unconsciously - they are the Canadians they rail against. But I will not support any party that does not respect and defend Canadian democracy. And many won't. Many. The LPC & NDP better get it together, or the Greens and even Bloc could be getting some help, and the NDP & Libs will join the Cons as enemies of democracy.

PS. The Canadian Press - Battle nearly lost, opposition gears up for war on detainee documents
By: Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press
11/06/2010 4:06 PM | Comments: 0
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OTTAWA - The opposition parties could hold up the millions in federal cash needed to pay for the G8 and G20 summits and a whack of other programs if the Conservative government does not bend on the release of classified documents about the Afghan mission.
The NDP and Bloc Quebecois said Friday they are losing hope that the four federal parties will come to an agreement on releasing records related to the transfer of Afghan detainees by the Canadian Forces.
Without a deal, those two parties are prepared to forge ahead Monday or Tuesday with a process that could tie up the House of Commons and all its work until it rises for the summer. It is unclear how far the Liberals are willing to go.
"All three of the opposition parties are quite frustrated with the government. For the last two weeks at least we don't see that there's been any significant change," NDP justice critic Joe Comartin said in an interview.
Last month, the House Speaker Peter Milliken ruled that Parliament has a right to see the classified documents, but told the parties to work together to find a compromise that would satisfy the government's national-security concerns.
The documents relate to allegations that prisoners were tortured after they were turned over to Afghan authorities by the Canadian military.
But several meetings later, the parties have still not struck a deal despite an agreement in principle. The Conservatives did not attend a meeting Friday, complaining that the Liberals did not arrive with the proper documents, according to the Bloc and NDP.
Conservative whip Gordon O'Connor said he did not know what happened Friday. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson's office declined to answer questions.
Comartin said there are two possible avenues if no deal is reached.
The first and most likely is that the opposition would forge ahead with a motion supporting the agreement in principle on the release of documents.
The problem for the government is that once such a motion is in play, nothing other than question period can take place in the Commons. Debate on the motion can go on indefinitely, with no possibility of limiting the time.
That could hold up an important vote on government's main estimates, money that goes toward paying important budgetary items including the G8 and G20, said Comartin.
"I'm still somewhat optimistic that confronted with this reality they will in fact reach an agreement with us," said Comartin.
Once that motion goes through, a special committee would be struck — and likely sit through the summer — to examine documents.
If the opposition is still dissatisfied, they could return to the Commons in the fall with a report that signals they believe the government is in contempt, turning yet another session of Parliament into a tense showdown.
And there's still another "if."
If the government refuses to obey the will of the House on release the documents to a special committee over the summer, a contempt of Parliament process could be set into motion.
Such a motion would also have to be referred to a Commons committee, to judge what type of action should be taken against the Conservative government. That process would not fully unfold until the fall.
Bloc House Leader Pierre Paquette blamed the slow pace of negotiations on a lack of decision-making power in the party of Conservative ministers at the table.
"My impression is that ministers that are before us don't have a large enough mandate to be able to negotiate with the opposition," Paquette said.
"They have to constantly consult with the Prime Minister's Office and because the prime minister is often travelling, I think that's what it is."
O'Connor said he was hopeful an agreement would be struck.
"Everybody expects that we're progressing. We move step by step by step," O'Connor said.
"It's a very complicated thing. You know the government's position that we want to collaborate with the other parties, but we also want to protect national security and national defence interests."
Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale was not available for comment, but a spokesman said the negotiations were continuing in "good faith."

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