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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 -- Keeping us in the dark does not indicate we have a responsive government attuned to our needs


Why do the goblins hired by political parties assume we are so tied to ideology, that we will send them money under any, and every, circumstance?

No party fared well in the 2019 federal election campaign. The Conservatives, Liberals, NDP and Greens under-performed, didn’t meet their own expectations, and left a discouraged and disgusted post election population.

In the 30 days since the election, no party has tried to connect with the electorate -- that is disgusting.

Our parliament will convene December 5th & 6th to elect a Speaker ... stand down for the weekend, and reconvene from the 9th through the 13th to deliver a speech from the throne.  They will get some preliminary response from the opposition, and then skulk off the stage until January 27th.

The House does not usually sit until the last week in January, presumably to give the government time to work on the budget, usually presented in mid-March.

However, the House usually sits for an average of just under 20 and a half days during November and December -- this includes 7 days each in 2015 and 2019. Keeping us in the dark does not indicate we have a responsive government attuned to our needs.


The normal parliamentary cycle allows for about 135 sitting days in a calendar year.

We are told that parliament must introduce omnibus bills due to lack of time and that a budget review must be curtailed due to lack of time. The cycle needs to be adjusted to provide for 200 sitting days per year. Surely MPs can sit in Parliament for the same duration as grade school children.

There has been little to write about since the election. Pompous posturing by political party leaders is not worthy of commentary. The government has not laid out plans for its priorities. Opposition parties have been silent on what their priorities are. The Prime Minister has been meeting with the leaders of opposition parties, but news of the outcomes is scarce.

It appears that the parties and their leaders are gearing up to continue the 2019 election campaign with accusations, haranguing and insults hurled across the isles instead of reasoned debate of issues and policies. It will not do. We did not elect gladiators to combat in parliament. That is repulsive.

Sooner or later, these loons are going to discover that they are required to dialogue, with the great unwashed, if they want our donations and votes. They are in Ottawa to represent us, not to bicker and brawl among themselves.

Until our needs are addressed and met, they are useless to us and not worthy of our support ... the days of a government deciding what our priorities are must end.


John Feldsted
Political Commentator, Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg, Manitoba

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