Dismantling Canada's Institutions

I probably will miss some but I'll start the list. Almost one year after being elected this is the picture we have of Harper's vision of the country - NOTHING - dismantle it (but leave him in charge). In his pathetic little piece-meal way, he has used his limited minority powers and his desire not to have to talk to anyone but himself, to craft attacks on some of Canada's defining institutions. The most recent - the Senate - where does everyone get the idea Canadians want to abolish the Senate - thank God for sober second thought when we have the likes of Day and Flaherty running the country! Does he communicate his long-term vision for the Senate and how he intends to get there? No, he picks away at it - some elected, some appointed, some short-term, some long-term - what is that going to achieve - dysfunction and then ... is that his long-term goal, does he have one? Abolition?

Then there's the Wheat Board. Fire the President, change the rules - result? - people pissed off -goal? Make someone in the US happy?

The Charter of rights and the legal profession - cut funding for cases where the Charter might over-ride government decisions. The goal of this one is a bit more clear - render the Charter inocuous and reduce the role of the legal system in its protection of democratic rights and freedoms - all the while using the word "democratic" as much as possible as a smoke screen.

Status of women - remove the word "equal" from its mandate and cut funding for systemic change. The goal of this one is also pretty transparent, especially combined with the destruction of a national quality daycare plan. Keep women in the home and promote right wing family ideology - re-legitimize gender oppression.

Supreme court - turn the selection process for Supreme Court judges into a media circus and put a cop on the selection committee. Clearly one goal is to reduce the status and respect the country holds for Supreme Court judges - for what reason? - again reduce the role of the legal system in protecting our rights and freedoms.

See a pattern emerging? Either he just likes to tinker away for the fun of it or he's using his limited powers to initiate the so-called "hidden agenda". It's not hidden - it's right in front of our faces!!!