On this day, when David Johnston becomes the new Governor-General, Canadians can thank recent prime ministers for their outstanding appointments to that office.
No slight is intended to previous occupants of the post or to prime ministers who appointed them in signalling for special merit Jean Chrétien’s selection of Adrienne Clarkson, Paul Martin’s choice of Michaëlle Jean and, now, Stephen Harper’s pick of Mr. Johnston.Read more at the Globe and Mail.
Political parties are entitled to agree with each other from time to time, without being accused of having formed a coalition. For several weeks, the federal Conservatives have been claiming that the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois are in a coalition. A particular convergence of opposition parties on this or that issue is no sign of any such alliance.Read more at the Globe and Mail.
“So let me put this question to ... any member of the Liberal, Bloc or NDP coalition partners: If someone in your riding does not want to complete the 40 pages of personal, private questions about their ancestry or parts of their belief system ... or about state of repairs of their homes, is it the appropriate government response to harass them until they relent and comply?”This is a typical example of the recent Conservative partisan attacks at the wrong time. In the middle of talking about the economy, Jim Flaherty used the same kind of coalition attack. This really needs to stop so that we can have a rational debate instead of yelling our heads off. This starts with the government stopping to use time designated for information for partisan attacks.
