Monday, February 06, 2006

Unbelievable

Harper said...

...his first act as Prime Minister would be the introduction of the federal accountability act

He said he would elect the Senate.

He said he would end cronyism.

What did Harper do?

He appointed his leadership race co-chair, and 2006 campaign co-chair, Micheal Fortier, to the senate and as the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

Wow.

One of the biggest Tory Bagmen is now in charge of all $13 billion in government purchases.

Harper's first act was to appoint his campaign co-chair to the Senate.

As a taxpayer I'm aghast - that takes a special level of cynicism.

As a blogger, I'm laughing.

I have a stack of blank ATIP forms and a crisp new roll of five dollar bills. Bring it on baby, bring it on....

UPDATE: "...don't want to overstate things, but this business of Emerson and Fortier has all the makings of a public relations fiasco for the Tories -- on their first day, and on their issue: ethics and accountability."

- Andrew Coyne on the appointments of Emerson and Fortier.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

BTW: The fact that Harper is already rewarding his friends with Senate appointments doesn't say much about how long he thinks they will be around. I mean don't you normally wait until you on your way out to pull this kind of stunt....?

2 comments:

Mark said...

So under Harper's accountability rules, a former government employee would have to wait five full years of cooling off until he could effectively deal with government again.

However, a tory lobbyist hack can literally walk in unelected and run the biggest procurement department in all of government without even having to answer to the house for, oh maybe a couple of years?

Anonymous said...

And once Stevie Harp-ocrite is finished stuffing every available patronage orifice with his buddies and flaks, he'll introduce a bill to force open and accountable process to 'Halt the abuse of Power'. What a comic! This Harper guy really is Mulroney's finger puppet.