Stephen Harper's federal government continues to take partisan politics to new heights, using a playbook even hard-core U.S. Republicans would envy.
The most recent example is the flyers distributed to areas with large Jewish populations. Paid for with tax dollars, the pamphlets depict Liberal MPs as anti-Semitic. They point to Liberal attendance at a controversial South African conference, but fail to point out a Grit MP was later thanked by Israel for attending.
Pronouncing the tactic a "new low," Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has asked Commons Speaker Peter Milliken for new limits on tax-funded flyers. If Milliken responds, it will be his third ruling in a matter of months that Conservative pamphlets violate the rules.
Other examples of blatant partisanship include the parade of stimulus cheques containing the Tory logo. Incredibly, in one riding, a failed Conservative candidate was repeatedly trotted out for photo ops instead of the local MP.
Recently, a Conservative MP ignored a school board's policy banning the promotion of political parties by offering children water bottles featuring the party logo.
And there's more.
Applicants to a federal training program for economists suddenly have to produce an essay on the last federal budget. Given Harper's past statements that the civil service is too Liberal, how many hopefuls are likely to be critical of the budget?
This is not to say other parties are innocent when it comes to taking shots at rivals, but Harper's Conservatives have moved partisan politics to a new level in this country.
Sadly, it would be useless for the media to send a message to tone it down to Harper, who bragged to a Toronto business audience that he prefers U.S. news to the Canadian networks, and whose disdain for the Ottawa press corps is well known.
But partisan use of tax dollars is unacceptable. Milliken needs to respond to Ignatieff's request and help stop the abuse.
Today's Weather 
-7°C
-7°C
Most Recent Stories
Atom Flames draw even in series with Meaford
PENETANGUISHENE – The Penetanguishene Midas Auto Service atom Flames finished 10 points behind Meaford No. 2 in the standings during the regular... [more]
PENETANGUISHENE – The Penetanguishene Midas Auto Service atom Flames finished 10 points behind Meaford No. 2 in the standings during the regular... [more]
Privacy
Policy - Copyright © 2010 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
SIMCOE.COM is an online publication serving
the communities of Barrie, Alliston, Collingwood/Wasaga Beach,
Wasaga, Stayner and Orillia in central Ontario, Canada. All rights reserved.
Reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission or republication of
any material from simcoe.com
is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from Metroland Media Group Ltd.
