Through Catherine’s Eyes
I have added a new article called, Elections are More than Games! Election Power!
As a result of that Op-ed a campaign to write to the Governor General was created. Regardless of whether you feel this government represents you, please take a look at the information in the Op-ed as well as the letters linked below -this is our time Canadians -we can use the tools that we have to begin to make our nation more democratic! Anything is possible if we try...
This is the email campaign which began Saturday evening... it’s not too late to express your opinion. Fax is probably the best way to write to the Governor General, but also you might want to write to other leaders etc.
I recommend sending by fax or calling,
the numbers are as follows fax : (613) 998-8760
The GG's phone number is (613) 993-8200
Why Would we Want to Stop this Election?
Second Letter to the Governor General
Her Excellency
the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General of Canada
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A1 Transmitted via fax : (613) 998-8760
September 5, 2008
Your Excellency
In the matter previously discussed in my letter to you, dated September 4, 2008 requesting that you ask the other members of parliament whether they can form the government I recognize a flaw in this suggestion. It is premature! Further to the matter of Mr. Harper asking you to dissolve parliament; I have now been given an expanded understanding of this process under the new law which he himself pushed through parliament less than 2 years ago.
As in fact there has not been a motion of non-confidence, therefore there is no justification for this election call now! Each and every member of Parliament is accountable to their constituents, not to the party first. It is our voice they must express, as we are in fact the government. Let these members reflect on the issues put before them and decide if the government has the confidence at any given moment. It is time for ‘good governance’ rather than strategic elections for the benefit of the party, rather than the people of this nation!
Canadians are tired of being held captive to the processes of legislation being passed without our full knowledge and consent. We are no longer prepared to be spectators in this life altering process. We are the key to a full, true and fair democratic process and as the Queens representative in Canada, we implore you to NOT accept such a request to dissolve parliament under these conditions.
By this letter I ask you to respect the wishes of the people of Canada.
Refuse Mr. Harper's request to call an election, until you have been provided with clear evidence that the House no longer has confidence in his party’s ability to govern! I trust that you will consider the gravity of this situation and act in the best interest of the people.
Yours Respectfully
Catherine Whelan Costen
Additional information for the Canadian electorate:
A quote from Democracy Watch website: (this was the explanation of fixed elections)
“What we have is a situation where the prime minister is able to choose the date of the election, not based necessarily on the best interests of the country but on the best interests of his or her political party. I believe Bill C-16 would address those concerns. . . . This Prime Minister will live by the law and spirit of this particular piece of legislation. He and this government are driving this democratic reform. ” Hon. Rob Nicholson (then-Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), in the House of Commons, September 18, 2006
this explaining today's situation -
“Prime Minister Harper’s behind-closed-door meetings with opposition party leaders (all of whom should have insisted on meeting in public) about the Conservatives’ supposed fall legislative agenda do not prove in any way whether the House of Commons has confidence in the Conservative government, nor does the Prime Minister’s completely false claim that Parliament is currently “dysfunctional”.
The simple reality is that federal election dates can only be fixed by making fundamental changes to the Canadian constitution, and that the ruling party’s power during a majority government to choose the next election date is shared with opposition parties during a minority government (whether Prime Minister Harper likes it or not).
“The Conservatives’ claim that their law fixed federal election dates is as false as their claim that the Accountability Act cleaned up the federal government,” said Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Democracy Watch. “Instead of fixing the date of the next election, the Conservatives are trying to fix the results of the next election.” http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsSep0508.html
As per this quote below:
Yes: in Canada, the head of state can, in exceptional circumstances, protect Parliament and the people against a Prime Minister and Ministers who may forget that “minister” means “servant,” and may try to make themselves masters. For example, the head of state could refuse to let a Cabinet dissolve a newly elected House of Commons before it could even meet, or could refuse to let Ministers bludgeon the people into submission by a continuous series of general elections. The American head of state cannot restrain the American head of government because they are the same person.”
and these are the previous two letters, which are also important
Urgent! Write to the Governor General
The earth was here before I came, and it will remain long after I’m gone, but in the meantime, I will care for her and she will care for me...let our touch be gentle
Friday, September 5, 2008
Elections Are Not Games!
