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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FELDSTED -- Weak laws preventing influence of elected representatives, the Lobbying Act, and a powerful PMO acting as an autocracy rather than a representative government has seriously eroded our democracy


Butts is back. Now the question is whether he can renew Trudeau, too
Campbell Clark ~~ Globe & Mail ~~ July 21, 2019

There can be no surprise in the fact that Prime Minister Trudeau’s best friend and former aide is returning as some kind of campaign adviser. It would have been a big surprise if Gerald Butts stayed away ...

... he was ever-present, a gut check alter ego for the PM – and so full of the Trudeau Liberal political project that it would be hard to imagine he could sit on the sidelines. Or that Mr. Trudeau wouldn’t be calling him.

... the fact that Mr. Butts is back on Team Trudeau after the SNC-Lavalin affair is a symbol of the big question the Liberals face: can Mr. Trudeau get past the sense of disillusionment and disappointment that many voters who once supported him seem to feel. Can Gerry Butts help Justin Trudeau get his mojo back?

CLICK HERE to read the full story


The only surprise is that anyone would think that Gerald Butts ever left the PMO. Butts (aka enforcer #1) resigned as Trudeau’s principle secretary in a tactical move during the height of the SNC-Lavalin controversy. Butts denied any impropriety and claimed he was leaving for the good of the government. His presence was drawing unwarranted criticism. It does not pass a smell test.

You can rest assured that retired Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick (aka enforcer #2) is not far away. He has too much knowledge of where the skeletons are buried not to be kept on a short leash. The players have switched public roles, but the Trudeau PMO team has remained intact.

The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) of Justin Trudeau operates outside the constitution and parliament, not within the confines of our constitutional monarchy. The Liberal party has always ignored our governance framework, but so have all the other political parties. It is political party officials and their fundraisers who make deals with private enterprise and have created the web of corporate influence that most of us find repulsive.

Since we have no legislation to prohibit political party or corporate influence on the government of the day, its ministers or members of the opposition, the convoluted disaster that passes for parliament today is inevitable.

The Lobbying Act, passed in 1985 by the Mulroney government, is in conflict with the Parliament of Canada Act insofar as prohibitions against efforts to influence elected representatives are concerned.

It paved the way for the Airbus scandal and should have warned us against the dangers of this legislation. It has never worked in the interests of Canada and provided legal cover for SNC-Lavalin to engage in heavy lobbying of our government to avoid prosecution for bribery.

A combination of weak laws preventing influence of elected representatives, the Lobbying Act, and a powerful PMO acting as an autocracy rather than a representative government has seriously eroded our democracy. The shifts have been incremental, over three decades, and thus went unnoticed.

The chickens are now coming home to roost and we are not happy with the poop on the floor.

Butts needs a PMO devoid of accountability, compassion and ethics to accomplish his goals. We need to replace the PM, Butts, Tedford and Wernick with people who have integrity and take their responsibilities to the people seriously.

Governance from the Prime Ministers Office must end.

John Feldsted
Political Commentator, Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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