Our dear Leader & the Judiciary

For some reason, despite the silence of the media on the subject, I haven't managed to forget the horror of Il Duce's claming through his peach-fuzzed parliamentary secretary, Pierre Poilievre that,

"Any decision to ask for Mr. Khadr's return to Canada is a decision for the democratically elected government of Canada and not for the courts."

 and

"In Ottawa, government lawyers told the nine high court justices that Canada has done enough to protect Khadr's rights and the courts could not meddle in issues of foreign affairs."

 Apart from the disgraceful fact that American soldiers were killing foreign citizens in a country they were not
at war with, I see no reason why Omar Khadr - if indeed he did throw a grenade at a soldier, which is highly questionable - should not have been within his rights to defend himself in such a situation. That in itself keeps me awake at nights gnashing my teeth. (Of course, since I'm already a night owl, it isn't surprising that I'm awake at all hours - but enough about Moi!)

What raises my blood pressure to the boiling point is Harpoons' continuing evisceration of the Parliamentary system of Government, the disdain for parliamentary tradition, the refusal to honour the spirit of the law.... Anything else? 

Yes, as a matter of fact, the ignorance, sometimes the wilful ignorance of Canadians - especially right wing Canadians - to hold the Government's feet to the fire, rather than ignoring or worshiping everything the Neo-cons do - brings froth to my lips.

It's time for all good people to refresh their memories, assuming they ever knew, the lessons on the Canadian Parliamentary System of Government written by the acknowledged and unsurpassed expert on the subject, the late Professor Eugene Forsey. Fortunately, his document "How Canadians Govern Themselves" is available online at no cost.

A few words from Forsey should raise the ire of every believer in responsible government:

 "The independence of the judiciary is even more important in Canada than in Britain, because in Canada the Supreme Court interprets the written constitution, and so defines the limits of federal and provincial powers."

~ Eugene Forsey ~

Why have the media not gone to town on this fact? Presumably, they have arrogated to themselves the privilege of informing Canadians of the issues we need to consider. Let's put this question to as many of them as we can!!