In the last desperate weeks before he was crushed and humiliated, Stephen Harper, must have thought it was a brilliant move.
One that would ensure his insane policies of Total Oily Domination would continue even if he was defeated.
He would stack the board of directors of the National Energy Board with patronage appointments, and make sure they could not be replaced until after the next election.
And since he knew that NEB directors can only be removed after a vote in the Commons and the Con Senate, he must have thought that Justin Trudeau wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
But sadly for Harper he's wrong.
For as Penny Collenette suggests, if you can't blow up those patronage appointments, then blow up the National Energy Board.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government should disband the National Energy Board rather that live with a board of directors stacked into the future by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government, says a former top government official.
Penny Collenette, former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s first head of appointments, says that is what she would recommend if she were advising the current government. “I would probably advise disbanding the NEB,” Collenette said in an interview with iPolitics.
And I like that idea a lot, not just because it can be done. But also because one good turn deserves another.
“This was a very deliberate attempt on the part of the former government. They did not know if they were going to be re-elected in 2017, 2018, 2019. Frankly, the appointments are undemocratic… and I would disband it. PCO (privy council office) can do this. This has been done before – not often – but (it has been done).”
Stephen Harper tried to play dirty. He tried to screw the Liberal government as only a political pervert could...
In the case of the National Energy Board, which regulates the construction of pipelines and the import of oil and natural gas, the move means the Trudeau government won’t be able to appoint anyone to the board for years.
So Trudeau should return the favour. And teach the Cons a lesson they'll never forget.
Terminate every one of those patronage appointments. Disband the National Energy Board which is nothing but a tool of Big Oil. Purge every Con from every position of influence. Hold a public inquiry into the nefarious activities of the Harper mob during the so-called Decade of Darkness.
And step up his efforts to bulldoze all traces of the Harper regime...
By whatever democratic means necessary.
And the harsher the better.
The Cons have declared war on his government.
And they must be shown no mercy...
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30 comments:
Well done
Let them keep their job titles, but change their job discriptions. For instance the NEB CEO, Peter Watson is now in charge of all piping directly related to the septic and sewage systems in Fort Mc Murray. Of course, we'll supply him with the necessary tools to get the job done right, like hip waders and a tooth brush.
Do the Toronto Port Authority as well.
And Kick out the felon Black
Go to "I politics" web page, and on the 4th page of their news blog, you can get a more indepth rundown of what the governments options are, regarding this piece of shit harper left behind...
Maybe a new board with oversite of all oil and gas matters and all new members would do. If Harpers oily oligarks need the money so badly let them collect their porkcheques and become figures of ridicule, stuck in a high place with no prestige or power.
By any means necessary is how I want this Harper patronage spree to be stopped. Trudeau will look like Decisive Leader to everyone but the Conservative base. Win, win!
Disbanding the Bosrd would be a good idea but I would suggest it be done in a democratic and lawful manner so it does not come back to bite progressives in the butt.
A new organization ought to be required to report to Parliament with a balanced oversight committee. This is an opportunity to demonstrate Canada is once again a democracy
There is a roll for every citizen and their views to be represented. No one group ought to have total control as the industry does now nor should it be shut out. We need people who can look towards the future, 50 to a 100 yrs down the road and leave room for future generations. It's not all about us right now
Trudeau dodges question about duty to consult outside of NEB pipeline process
http://canadians.org/blog/trudeau-dodges-question-about-duty-consult-outside-neb-pipeline-process
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/bc-city-loses-trans-mountain-court-battle-ordered-pay-companys-costs
VANCOUVER — The City of Burnaby's bylaw battle against the Trans Mountain pipeline has been shut down by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who has declared that the National Energy Board rules take precedence over the city's.
[snip]
gee, it took the city of Burnaby a law suit to find that out. Most lawyers ought to know federal law takes precedence over local law. Might want to pass the memo on to the provincial premier before she opens her mouth about something again.
Ah, and revenues are down in the province of B.C. so there goes all those LNG monies the Premier of B.C. "the photo op queen" promised us.
If the Board is toast then so are a lot of Christy Clark's pipe dreams. wonder how she is going to pay the bills of B.C. with no money coming in besides student tuition and medical premiums.
Funny that a little bit of imagination and brains can get around the silly bully tactics.
Love this blog BTW.
I love this blog also. I am from BC and I know BC politics well. Its not as grim as you make it Anon. As for brains, I think your missing a few yourself anon.
Irene
If you want an independent (as opposed to a corporate/MSM) source for news regarding BC politics, see:
http://thetyee.ca/Topic/BC-Politics/
hi anon....thank you I'm glad you like the post. I'm quite pleased with Justin's new bulldozer...;)
hi GreazedLitenen....yes that's a good idea. Although one wonders whether even with the right equipment, those patronage Cons could get anything done. And of course I must insist that Michelle Rempel do penance for annoying us so much, by serving a six-month sentence as a barmaid in the rowdiest bar in Fort McMurray... ;)
hi Steve....yes you don't have to tell me about the Toronto Port Authority, because I live practically across the street from its headquarters. I do remember when Lisa Raitt was running the place, and I've heard enough rumours of scandal, so it definitely should be investigated, and if necessary disbanded....
hi Steve...well I don't know about that. I loathe everything he stands for, but I'm not big on kicking out Canadians, even those who surrender their citizenship to walk around as a Lordy Lord in Britain. He is quite a character and like Rex Murphy I'm afraid we're stuck with him...
hi Jolly Roger...I'm not sure what story you are talking about, but yes the Cons have left the country in quite a mess. And I did read an interesting i-politics story that reported how so many top civil servants collaborated happily with the Harper regime, even as they made life miserable for most of the others. And yes they should all be fired too....
hi rumleyfips...yes that might work. As long as it represents more than the oil pimps, and is open to new ideas in the energy field, that prepare us for a greener future. Because it is coming and we need to get ahead of the curve instead of stumbling around in an obsolete past...
hi Omar...I feel the same way. Especially since this patronage spree isn't just aimed at rewarding their friends with porky appointments, it's actually designed to cripple the Trudeau government, and prevent it from carrying out the mandate they were elected to carry out by the voters. Which is anti-democratic and simply outrageous...
hi e.a.f... I don't see any reason why it can't be carried out in a legal manner. It should simply be declared to be obsolete at a time when we need new ideas for a greener future. And replaced with some kind of body that is more representative, and can do a better job...
hi David...yes I saw that, but Trudeau has only been in office for just over two weeks, so he has to measure his words, And the Liberals are exploring ways to undo Harper's patronage spree, so I'm prepared to give them some time to decide which is the best way to proceed.
But they definitely must do something, and that is another reason to disband the NEB and start again from scratch...
hi anon...thank you, I'm glad you like this little blog. And yes, isn't it great how a little imagination can get around the obstacles the Cons have placed in our path, or bulldoze them beyond recognition....
hi Marie... thank you for liking this blog, but I'll think I'll let you BCers fight it out since politics in your province are a bit complicated for a damn easterner like myself. And I'll never forget how the time when I first visited beautiful BC, and was told that the Liberals were actually the conservatives. Whether it's true or not, I don't think I've ever recovered... ;)
hi anon...yes, I have a lot of respect for the Tyee, and enjoy reading it. And during the election campaign it published the most extensive list of Harper's crimes against Canada. So I too can recommend it highly, along with another great BC publication the National Observer. We need to support independent sources like those and teach the Con or corporate media a lesson...
If you want to see how Christy and her cabal spend money and what is not coming in, check out Norm Farrell's blog, In Sight.
B.C. the province with the highest rate of child poverty in Canada, 14 years running and no poverty reduction plan. Worst government in Canada, now that Harper and his herd are gone.
Harper's poisoned gift puts Trudeau government in a bind
http://www.nationalobserver.com/2015/11/26/news/harpers-poisoned-gift-puts-trudeau-government-bind
Stephen Harper, the man known as the “patronage king,” had one final dirty trick up his sleeve before he left office.
Petition calls on Trudeau to cancel Harper’s ‘future appointments’
http://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/26/petition-calls-on-trudeau-to-cancel-harpers-future-appointments/
http://jeanchretien.libertyca.net/html/0057.html
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