Modeling Journey

This past week, last night on television, and this morning in front of Rideau Hall, PM Harper made it very clear that his view of our democracy consists of two classes of members of parliament.

The one class, which in his eyes enjoys moral and political legitimacy, are all those MPs who have voted for parties other than the Bloc.

The second class consists of all the MPs voted into power by voters in Quebec, who represent the Bloc. It seems that in Harper’s eyes, these MPs do not have the same legitimacy as the other MPs. In fact, at least one of the Tory MPs has accused the Liberals and NDP of ‘treason’ for entering into an agreement with the Bloc regarding the LPC-NDP coalition.

We should understand how serious the Prime Minister’s statements are. They are tantamount to denying the right of millions of voters in Quebec to decide which political party to vote for. On his own, this prime minister has decided that he has the right to decide which political parties are legitimate, and not to let our Canadian constitution determine this.

Who gives this man the right to preach the disenfranchisement of millions of Quebeckers?

I do not support the separatist agenda of the Bloc, and will oppose any attempts to reduce the power of the federal government in a significant way, or to destroy Canada.

But I am proud to be Canadian, and proud of the Constitution we have. That makes me proud to stand by Quebec and fight off this pernicious, inflammatory, mean-spirited and dangerous attack by this prime minister on their democratic rights under our Constitution.