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Conservative backbenchers warned not to dredge up controversial bills or issues in majority government
Government backbenchers have been warned to avoid dredging up 'pet projects' in Private Members’ bills or motions that could stir controversy and disrupt the steady course Prime Minister Stephen Harper is planning for his four-year majority term.
PARLIAMENT HILL—Government backbenchers have been warned to avoid dredging up “pet projects” in Private Members’ bills or motions that could stir controversy and disrupt the steady course Prime Minister Stephen Harper is planning for his four-year majority term.
Top levels of the government gave MPs a briefing this week on what is expected of them for the 41st Parliament, as Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) keeps an eye on a second majority government in 2015 while avoiding hot-button issues that could flame up in his own ranks.
A Conservative source said the central theme of the pitch to backbenchers was a warning that Parliament was not a “venue for personal campaigns” on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Conservative MP James Lunney (Nanaimo-Alberni, B.C.) told The Hill Times he had not seen any advice to Conservative MPs on the topic, but indicated that, as long as backbench legislative proposals conform to party policy, it is up to MPs to determine what they want to bring forward.
“I haven’t seen any indication of such an idea,” Mr. Lunney said. “Private members’ business is for Members to determine, our measures, of course, want to be consistent with party policy.”
He added: “And Members, you know, we thrash it out at our policy convention, we’re well advised to stick within that, but that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.”
Private Members’ bills are the chief avenue for MPs outside the ranks of Cabinet to make a name for themselves on Parliament Hill, or to espouse ideas they believe will be popular with constituents, and have popped up as irritants during the past Conservative and Liberal minority governments, perhaps even more so during the majority government days of Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien.
A look at the 80 policy resolutions electoral district associations have submitted to the Conservative party in advance of its national convention in Ottawa, beginning next Thursday June 9, include a sprinkling of resolutions that could spark unwanted hints of conservative positions Mr. Harper has successfully kept out of the spotlight through his past two minority governments and three federal elections.
One calls on the party to recognize Parliament should determine the definition of marriage through a free vote, not the courts, and to support legislation defining marriage “as the union of one man and one woman.”
Another seeks so-called “right to work” law in areas of federal jurisdiction, where employees could not be compelled into joining workplace unions. Another calls for a Conservative government to designated free votes in Parliament for all motions and bills other than budget and spending measures, and another calls on the party to refuse support for any legislation legalizing assisted suicide.
The most controversial resolution to surface so far calls on the party to adopt a position stating that any Canadian citizen, by birth or by a claim of landed immigrant or refugee status, who commits treason by “taking up arms” against Canadian or allied armed forces should be stripped of citizenship and tried in Canada for high treason.
A government procedural and legal manual already gives Cabinet ministers responsibility for managing Private Member’s bills and other items that are covered by their cabinet portfolios, and instructs them to rally support for the government if it opposes a Private Member’s bill.
“Members who are responsible for the policy should ensure that Members of Parliament, including caucus members, are informed about the government’s position, and should seek the support of caucus members for the government’s position,” the manual states.
Liberal MP David McGuinty (Ottawa South, Ont.) said he is not surprised Conservative MPs were given the impression Mr. Harper wants smooth sailing over the next four years because he intends to seek a second majority.
“That’s as obvious as night following day,” Mr. McGuinty said.
“He is definitely setting out on an eight-year roll out here, everything he has done since he’s arrived has been about trying to consummate his relationship with the Canadian people in this sense,” he added. “He’s desperately been trying to re-invent himself as the leader of the united Conservative party. He has had to take the rough edges off, he’s had to deny his background, he’s had to deny a lot of what he has said and written over the last decade, he got away with it.”
Andrew MacDougall, Mr. Harper’s press secretary, said Mr. Harper has already made the government’s position clear on perhaps the biggest potential controversy—abortion.
“Our MPs were elected on a clear platform—our government will move forward to implement that platform,” Mr. MacDougall said in an email.
“As you note, the Prime Minister has made it crystal clear that the government will not introduce or support any legislation that seeks to reopen the abortion debate.”
The Hill Times
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Conservative backbenchers warned not to dredge up controversial bills or issues in majority government
Government backbenchers have been warned to avoid dredging up 'pet projects' in Private Members’ bills or motions that could stir controversy and disrupt the steady course Prime Minister Stephen Harper is planning for his four-year majority term.
PARLIAMENT HILL—Government backbenchers have been warned to avoid dredging up “pet projects” in Private Members’ bills or motions that could stir controversy and disrupt the steady course Prime Minister Stephen Harper is planning for his four-year majority term.
Top levels of the government gave MPs a briefing this week on what is expected of them for the 41st Parliament, as Mr. Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) keeps an eye on a second majority government in 2015 while avoiding hot-button issues that could flame up in his own ranks.
A Conservative source said the central theme of the pitch to backbenchers was a warning that Parliament was not a “venue for personal campaigns” on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Conservative MP James Lunney (Nanaimo-Alberni, B.C.) told The Hill Times he had not seen any advice to Conservative MPs on the topic, but indicated that, as long as backbench legislative proposals conform to party policy, it is up to MPs to determine what they want to bring forward.
“I haven’t seen any indication of such an idea,” Mr. Lunney said. “Private members’ business is for Members to determine, our measures, of course, want to be consistent with party policy.”
He added: “And Members, you know, we thrash it out at our policy convention, we’re well advised to stick within that, but that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.”
Private Members’ bills are the chief avenue for MPs outside the ranks of Cabinet to make a name for themselves on Parliament Hill, or to espouse ideas they believe will be popular with constituents, and have popped up as irritants during the past Conservative and Liberal minority governments, perhaps even more so during the majority government days of Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien.
A look at the 80 policy resolutions electoral district associations have submitted to the Conservative party in advance of its national convention in Ottawa, beginning next Thursday June 9, include a sprinkling of resolutions that could spark unwanted hints of conservative positions Mr. Harper has successfully kept out of the spotlight through his past two minority governments and three federal elections.
One calls on the party to recognize Parliament should determine the definition of marriage through a free vote, not the courts, and to support legislation defining marriage “as the union of one man and one woman.”
Another seeks so-called “right to work” law in areas of federal jurisdiction, where employees could not be compelled into joining workplace unions. Another calls for a Conservative government to designated free votes in Parliament for all motions and bills other than budget and spending measures, and another calls on the party to refuse support for any legislation legalizing assisted suicide.
The most controversial resolution to surface so far calls on the party to adopt a position stating that any Canadian citizen, by birth or by a claim of landed immigrant or refugee status, who commits treason by “taking up arms” against Canadian or allied armed forces should be stripped of citizenship and tried in Canada for high treason.
A government procedural and legal manual already gives Cabinet ministers responsibility for managing Private Member’s bills and other items that are covered by their cabinet portfolios, and instructs them to rally support for the government if it opposes a Private Member’s bill.
“Members who are responsible for the policy should ensure that Members of Parliament, including caucus members, are informed about the government’s position, and should seek the support of caucus members for the government’s position,” the manual states.
Liberal MP David McGuinty (Ottawa South, Ont.) said he is not surprised Conservative MPs were given the impression Mr. Harper wants smooth sailing over the next four years because he intends to seek a second majority.
“That’s as obvious as night following day,” Mr. McGuinty said.
“He is definitely setting out on an eight-year roll out here, everything he has done since he’s arrived has been about trying to consummate his relationship with the Canadian people in this sense,” he added. “He’s desperately been trying to re-invent himself as the leader of the united Conservative party. He has had to take the rough edges off, he’s had to deny his background, he’s had to deny a lot of what he has said and written over the last decade, he got away with it.”
Andrew MacDougall, Mr. Harper’s press secretary, said Mr. Harper has already made the government’s position clear on perhaps the biggest potential controversy—abortion.
“Our MPs were elected on a clear platform—our government will move forward to implement that platform,” Mr. MacDougall said in an email.
“As you note, the Prime Minister has made it crystal clear that the government will not introduce or support any legislation that seeks to reopen the abortion debate.”
The Hill Times
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