2006-12-18

Tremors

CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT DELIVERS ON TEN PIECES OF LEGISLATION IN TWO WEEKS
December 14, 2006
[...]
The Government has delivered on its promise to establish additional measures to battle crime and terrorism. Bill C-25 amends Canada's Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act, which significantly strengthens Canada's ability to monitor and act on money laundering whether it's for terrorist activities or other illegal activities in Canada.
"Canada's New Government will continue to be relentless in its battle against money laundering and terrorism financing," said Prime Minister Harper. "One of the best ways of putting these criminals out of business is to starve them of the funds they need to finance their activities. Our amendments will improve our ability to act decisively."
If ever the day comes when an extremist organization takes control of Canadian government, these are great tools to prevent us from trying to re-establish the traditional "Canadian" way of life as I we/I know it.
[...]
The Federal Accountability Act was one of the Government's top five priorities since taking office. The Act, which makes substantive changes to 45 statutes and amends over 100 others, delivers on the Government's promise to put in place a five year lobbying ban, to eliminate corporate and union donations, and to protect whistleblowers, among other reforms.
One of the things that provides social and economic stability in this country is the system that allows/fosters/encourages individuals and organizations with a strong vested interest in preserving said stability a strong say in how this country is run. Eliminating Making corporate and union donations illegal will (a) shift the governing focus from corporate/economic stability to social stability, transferring power to religious, ethnic, cultural special interest groups, and (b) drive these monies underground, reducing lobbying transparency and precluding any requirement to make use of the famed new accountability act; we can hold them accountable for things we don't know they're doing, can we?
In the end, I'm concerned that this government, enthused with southern sales pitches, is making subtle yet dangerous seismic shifts in the name of peace, order and good government; giving Canadians a good warm and fuzzy while critically undermining the foundations of the socio-economic stability that made our quality of life one of the best in the world. Even the sponsorship scandal, though morally repulsive as it was, pales in comparison to the long-term damage that may occur from the Conservatives "fixing" what really ain't broke.

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