[bootlegga]

Quote:

The federal Liberals are urging Governor General David Johnston to block the Harper government's bill to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board.

In a letter delivered to Rideau Hall on Monday, the Liberals have asked the Queen's 'representative' to withhold Royal Assent to Bill C18 in light of last week's Federal Court decision which said the existing rules required the government to consult with farmers before eliminating the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly.

According to an article in the Globe and Mail, however, a Governor General not giving Royal Assent to a law passed in Parliament is unprecedented in Canadian history.

"In 1849, the colonial government of Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin introduced legislation that would compensate French Canadians for losses suffered during the 1837 rebellion. Lord Elgin, the Governor-General of the day, hated the bill. But he was the first governor-general who believed that the fledgling administration of the Province of Canada should be allowed to legislate on its own, without being dictated to or vetoed by the Queen's representative," notes the article.

"Despite calls from opposition leaders for him to refuse royal assent, Lord Elgin signed the bill....

"Passage of the Rebellion Losses Bill signalled that responsible government had come to Canada East and Canada West, as Quebec and Ontario were then called. From then till now, the people, through their Parliament, have decided the direction of the country."

Liberal Party spokesman Daniel Lauzon agrees that his party is in uncharted constitutional waters but insists they're doing the right thing by asking the Governor General to intervene.

"To the best of our knowledge there is no precedent for a Federal Court decision affecting a Bill currently before Parliament," he noted in an email exchange with Yahoo! Canada News.

"The problem here is not what checks and balances are in place, but rather what are you supposed to do when the government of the day ignores them? That's what we're asking the GG to act on.

"The Conservatives have shown disrespect for the judiciary before... C-10 (mandatory minimums) runs roughshod over judges, they've tried to compel judges to appear before committee... The list goes on."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-p ... 36800.html

[DanSC]

At least the Monarchy is being used.

[Lemmy]

While I disagree with the dismantling of the Wheat Board, I find running to the GG to block legislation much, much more disconcerting. Harper has an elected majority government and it's not for the GG to interfere in the operations of our legislature. It's time for another round of Constitutional reforms. Let's, once and for all, completely remove the British monarchy from our system of government. You can still love the monarchs. You can still watch the weddings. You can still buy the shitty china tea sets and commemorative collector plates. They just don't have a place in a 21st century democracy.

[DrCaleb]

Lemmy wrote:

While I disagree with the dismantling of the Wheat Board, I find running to the GG to block legislation much, much more disconcerting. Harper has an elected majority government and it's not for the GG to interfere in the operations of our legislature. It's time for another round of Constitutional reforms. Let's, once and for all, completely remove the British monarchy from our system of government. You can still love the monarchs. You can still watch the weddings. You can still buy the shitty china tea sets and commemorative collector plates. They just don't have a place in a 21st century democracy.

Actually, it think that is exactly what the GG is for. He is the last line of defence against one party controlling the house and the senate, and ramming through legislation that is contrary to the laws of Canada.

And a Judge has already said the legislation violates the rule of law.

[Lemmy]

DrCaleb wrote:

Actually, it think that is exactly what the GG is for. He is the last line of defence against one party controlling the house and the senate, and ramming through legislation that is contrary to the laws of Canada.

And a Judge has already said the legislation violates the rule of law.

I disagree. The Supreme Court can rule on the law's legality/constitutionality. The GG isn't needed for that purpose. He has no particular expertise in such manners.

[bootlegga]

DrCaleb wrote:

Lemmy wrote:

While I disagree with the dismantling of the Wheat Board, I find running to the GG to block legislation much, much more disconcerting. Harper has an elected majority government and it's not for the GG to interfere in the operations of our legislature. It's time for another round of Constitutional reforms. Let's, once and for all, completely remove the British monarchy from our system of government. You can still love the monarchs. You can still watch the weddings. You can still buy the shitty china tea sets and commemorative collector plates. They just don't have a place in a 21st century democracy.

Actually, it think that is exactly what the GG is for. He is the last line of defence against one party controlling the house and the senate, and ramming through legislation that is contrary to the laws of Canada.

And a Judge has already said the legislation violates the rule of law.

I agree, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that Johnson will do exactly what Jean did when the Opposition came a calling in 2008 - nothing - especially since he was appointed by Harper.