POWER GRAB or MISUSE OF POWER:WHICH SHOULD BE THE MEDIA FOCUS?

Transport minister Colenette and Minister of Defence Eggelton

POWER GRAB or MISUSE OF POWER:
WHICH SHOULD BE THE MEDIA FOCUS?

Niagara Falls, Ontario - Thursday, May 9, 2002 - by: Joe Hueglin

cabinet
Cabinet responsibility to Parliament is the foundation of our system of government.

power
misused
Auditor General Sheila Fraser's finding it necessary to request the RCMP be called in to investigate and her reporting

"There was so little documentation in the files that I cannot confirm or deny what the minister knew or did not know,"

is indisputably an abdication of responsibility. Whether or not criminality or corruption are involved, power was misused.

interim
orders
Fraser's report has overshadowed media attention to the continuing efforts of the Cabinet to obtain powers beyond Parliament's control. The power of Minister's to issue "interim orders" at their sole discretion. Interim orders can be declared

"if the minister believes that immediate action is required to deal with a significant risk, direct or indirect, to health or safety."

Ministers overseeing health, transport, fisheries and oceans or the environment will no longer be bound by the relevant laws passed by Parliament.

parliament
no veto
The orders would have to be tabled in Parliament after fifteen sitting days, though if Parliament weren't sitting, there would be no requirement that it do so. Even if Parliament debated the orders it would have no power under the bill to veto them. And the orders would not have to be submitted for approval to the full cabinet for forty-five days.

abuse
of
power
With misuse of existing powers under investigation, with inadequate documentation being available extending a Cabinet Minister's discretionary powers to the extent that existing laws can be set aside without the let or stay of Parliament must be seriously questioned.

Reference:

Where the antiterrorism bill still falls down Globe and Mail editorial Wednesday, May 1, 2002 — Page A14

New Public Safety Act threatens civil rights Toronto Star Editorial
May 1, 2002, page A30 http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0501StarEd.html

Freedom Will Keep Us Safe The revised Public Security Act is still too undemocratic Ottawa Citizen editorial, May 1, 2002, page A16. http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0501OttCitEd.html

Latest terror bill still excessive Editorial The Daily News (Halifax) Wednesday, May 1, 2002
http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0501DailyNewsEd.html

Liberals dilute flawed legislation, James Travers Toronto Star, April 30, 2002, page A23 http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0430TraversColumn.html

For a broader consideration of Bill C-55 see http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/index.html

Department of Defence have this interesting summary of the new proposed legislation.


	Transport minister Colenette and Minister of Defence Eggelton
POWER GRAB or MISUSE OF POWER: WHICH SHOULD BE THE MEDIA FOCUS?

Niagara Falls, Ontario - Thursday, May 9, 2002 - by: Joe Hueglin

cabinet	Cabinet responsibility to Parliament is the foundation of our system of government.

power misused	Auditor General Sheila Fraser's finding it necessary to request the RCMP be called in to investigate and her reporting
	"There was so little documentation in the files that I cannot confirm or deny what the minister knew or did not know,"
	is indisputably an abdication of responsibility. Whether or not criminality or corruption are involved, power was misused.

interim orders	Fraser's report has overshadowed media attention to the continuing efforts of the Cabinet to obtain powers beyond Parliament's control. The power of Minister's to issue "interim orders" at their sole discretion. Interim orders can be declared
	"if the minister believes that immediate action is required to deal with a significant risk, direct or indirect, to health or safety."
	Ministers overseeing health, transport, fisheries and oceans or the environment will no longer be bound by the relevant laws passed by Parliament.

parliament no veto	The orders would have to be tabled in Parliament after fifteen sitting days, though if Parliament weren't sitting, there would be no requirement that it do so. Even if Parliament debated the orders it would have no power under the bill to veto them. And the orders would not have to be submitted for approval to the full cabinet for forty-five days.

abuse of power	With misuse of existing powers under investigation, with inadequate documentation being available extending a Cabinet Minister's discretionary powers to the extent that existing laws can be set aside without the let or stay of Parliament must be seriously questioned.

*Reference:*
	Where the antiterrorism bill still falls down *Globe and Mail* editorial Wednesday, May 1, 2002 — Page A14

	New Public Safety Act threatens civil rights *Toronto Star* Editorial May 1, 2002, page A30 http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0501StarEd.html

	Freedom Will Keep Us Safe The revised Public Security Act is still too undemocratic *Ottawa Citizen* editorial, May 1, 2002, page A16. http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0501OttCitEd.html

	Latest terror bill still excessive Editorial *The Daily News (Halifax)* Wednesday, May 1, 2002 http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0501DailyNewsEd.html

	Liberals dilute flawed legislation, James Travers *Toronto Star*, April 30, 2002, page A23 http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/media/0430TraversColumn.html

	For a broader consideration of Bill C-55 see http://www.savedemocracy.ca/en/index.html

	Department of Defence have this interesting summary of the new proposed legislation.