PMO won't say how many staff earn $150K, citing privacy

[alcina]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pmo-won-t-say-how-many-staff-earn-150k-citing-privacy-1.2563891

The hypocritical double standard is appalling ... as is most anything associated with the Harper government. Apparently government "transparency" is a lot more opaque than transparency requirements for other groups.

On the one hand, the PMO won't divulge the salaries of individuals directly paid and supposedly accountable to taxpayers; yet on the other hand, they're requiring First Nations to publish online, accessible to anyone, financial information that is not related to public, taxpayer dollars.

While some First Nations said they have no problem sharing some financial information publicly, they don't believe they should have to make that information available to the general public.

"The monies that we're talking about are not public funds, they're not taxpayers' dollars," said Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus, who was in Saskatoon for the hearings. "This is why we're adamant that this relationship is between the federal government, ourselves and our own citizens."

"The real story starts with asking why the Harper government felt it needed to create and unilaterally push a transparency law on indigenous communities who are already encumbered by the most punitive and stringent reporting requirements and standards of accountability under Canadian fiscal policy," Grand Chief Derek Nepinak said in an email.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/first-nations-risk-losing-funding-if-they-fail-to-file-financial-info-by-midnight-1.3207867

[Saviolo]

1. Harper -campaigned- on transparency

Steven Harper has perpetrated the biggest political fraud in Canada's history.

I can't even understand how he still has even one supporter.

[alcina]

5. How does he have supporters, you wonder?

Selfish, stupid people.

I left the US a little over a year ago, and the more Harper supporters I run into, the more I'm reminded of the right-wing crazies south of the border. After 10 years there, I concluded that conservative voters fall into two main categories: those who benefit financially (either directly or indirectly) from the corrupt and oppressive policies; and those whose worldview is dominated by bigotry, fear, and willful ignorance. Sometimes the two groups overlap.

[laundry_queen]

10. Excellent overview

Sure describes the Harper supporters in my family.

[Spazito]

2. This government is beyond disgusting...

Their racism when it comes to the way in which they deal with First Nations is not even subtle, it is blatant, imo.

I want to see the Harper government go from majority to maybe 5 seats at best, just like the Cons in Alberta.

[Saviolo]

3. Just like the post-Mulroney PC party

in the 1993 election.

Blame was laid at Kim Campbell's feet, but let's face it, it was Canada's complete fatigue with Mulroney's chokehold on Canadian politics.

Harper is making the same mistakes as Mulroney did with the Quebec question and free trade agreements (now it's just called the TPP).

I hope his fall is as catastrophic.

[Spazito]

4. Exactly!

The only way they won't be completely routed is if we split the vote like we did in the last election. I am voting for the party that has the best chance of becoming the government, either Liberal or NDP and it looks like my vote will go NDP in my riding.

[Saviolo]

6. I feel like news of the recession

Actually hitting the newspaper may be the Harpercons' death knell.

Harper's been in power too long and he is believing his own press releases. I feel like he think he's sitting pretty and is more or less invulnerable. He should be seeing red flags in the loss of Alberta to the NDP in the provincial election, the NDP ahead of the LPC, and the recession showing up in the news. The problem when you look at things through rose-coloured glasses is that the red flags just look like flags! (to steal from BoJack Horseman)

[Spazito]

7. The election of the NDP in Alberta caused a sea change in Canadians' thinking, imo...

has made the NDP a party many will not consider as being a viable governing party which was not the case previously, imo. The perception among too many was the NDP didn't have the 'chops' economically and that perception is disappearing now, it is encouraging.

[Saviolo]

8. It didn't help

That there were some bad NDP provincial leaders in BC and Ontario (esp. Bob Rae). But I'll be honest, I was too young to really be aware of what was going on when Rae was in power in Ontario. I started becoming aware during the reign of Mike the Knife.

If Jack Layton hadn't passed, I feel like this election would barely be a contest. I do like Mulcair, though, and I think he does have the campaign ability to do it.

[Spazito]

9. I lived in BC during the Glen Clark era and it was bad...

I voted NDP for it's first term but no way did I vote for him and his terrible crew the second time, I voted Green as a protest vote. This is another example of a party going from a majority to holding only two seats, it was well deserved.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

11. I will be voting my conscience

In minor part, because in my riding an NDP or Liberal will have about equal chances of beating the milquetoast conservative incumbent. But more importantly, I'll be voting for the NDP because they are closer to my values, and I don't really don't trust the Libs as an element of change.

I know that historically the Libs (who think they are our 'natural governing party') are adept at scaring people into voting for them so as to prevent the dreaded Con. We'll this time things are different, the NDP have undeniable cred and support and despite the all out fear mongering assault that'll take place in the last 2 weeks of the election, I think the time has finally arrived for the NDP.

[Saviolo]

12. A agree

There's still a lot of election left, but as it stands now, I'm suspecting (not predicting! I'm not that brave!) that we might see an NDP minority. I'd love to see the Liberals as the off.opp., but I think it might be the CPC.

I think the interesting thing to watch in this election will be the Liberals and NDP battle over ridings where the CPC does not have a chance. My riding in Toronto and the riding just to the south will be interesting battles. I'm in University-Rosedale, which has traditionally been most of Olivia's Chow's riding of Trinity Spadina, but we have all new candidates this time around. Chow is running against Adam Vaughan in the riding just to the south, Spadina-Fort York. That is going to be a messy fight.