Stephen Harper's Bush Ambition

[marmar]

Tories bar ministerial staff from testifying
NDP committee member to table motion to summon PM's spokesman

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 | 4:22 PM ET
CBC News


The Conservative government has presented a new cabinet policy directing that only cabinet ministers and not their political staff can appear as witnesses before parliamentary committees.

The controversial new policy could trigger a fresh showdown between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the opposition parties over the powers of Parliament, just weeks after a similar dispute over MPs' access to uncensored documents pertaining to Afghan detainee transfers was resolved.

In a statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday morning, government House leader Jay Hill blamed the "tyranny of the opposition majority" for turning its attention to government staffers "who did not sign up … to be humiliated and intimidated by members of Parliament."

He said the new policy ensures "there is no substitute for ministerial responsibility."

"It is ministers who decide policy and ministers who must defend it before the House and ultimately before the people of Canada," Hill told the House. "Public servants and staff support ministers' authority; they do not supplant it." .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/05/25/ministers-staff-muzzled.html

[tuvor]

1. Related: The Harper Attack on Canadian Democracy Documented

From Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament. Lengthy and lots of MSM links:

http://drivingtheporcelainbus.blogspot.com/2010/01/harper-attack-on-canadian-democracy.html