It’s beginning to look like it.
First, what is fascism? Here are three takes:
(1) “Originally, ‘fascism’ referred to a political movement that was linked with corporatism and existed in (Italy) from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini.” –Wikipedia
(2) “The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence is fascism—ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling power.” –Franklin Delano Roosevelt, April 29, 1938.
(3) “According to most scholars of fascism, there are both left and right influences on fascism as a social movement, and fascism, especially once in power, has historically attacked communism, conservatism and parliamentary liberalism, attracting support from the ‘far right’ or ‘extreme right.’” –Wikipedia
A political movement linked with corporatism: Stephen Harper’s (Reform) Conservatives and Big Oil?
Ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling power: perennial contempt of Parliament by Stephen Harper’s (Reform) Conservatives.
Fascism, especially once in power, has historically attacked. . . parliamentary liberalism, attracting support from the far right or extreme right: Stephen Harper’s 24/7 attack-mode (Reform) Conservatives in a nutshell.
If that were not enough, now comes a report that a (Reform) Conservative MP, Mark Adler, is set to table a private member’s bill, which if enacted into law would require public servants to undergo a background check, thereby raising the spectre of McCarthyite investigations into political loyalty: “Have you ever been a member of ?” (See Lawrence Martin, “Harper’s Legislated Loyalty Threat,” The Tyee Friday January 17, 2014 http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2014/01/17/Harpers-Legislated-Loyalty-Threat/).
Every year on November 11th, Remembrance Day, we honour many hundreds of thousands of Canadians who sacrificed their lives within living memory liberating Europe and the free world from the tyranny of fascism.
Are we now on a path to embracing fascism, homegrown here in Canada?
……………………………..
PJ Robertson, Morrisburg
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We’re already there PJ. Just today our dear leader announced to the world that anyone critical of Israel is a Jew hater! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, but it was pretty clear. Harper’s born-again fundamentalism is shining through for all to see.
Gotta go. There’s a bunch of police cars rolling into my driveway!
PJ … exceptionally funny, you forgot some of the key components like ultranationalism and militarism with a protectionist economic stance but, all in all, perhaps the most idiosyncratic comments I have read in some time.
PJ…the part about public sector employees having to succumb to private sector standard hiring practices… off the chart hilarious !
There is already a security clearance program for contractors and public servants, but what is wrong with knowing more about the people put into high ranking position? Un-elected people making decisions with our money!
Bill C520 –
This enactment establishes a requirement for every person who applies for a position in the office of an agent of Parliament to make a declaration stating whether, in the 10 years before applying for that position, they occupied specified politically partisan positions. The enactment also requires the persons who work in the office of an agent of Parliament and these agents to make a declaration.
Last year the Federal NDP rammed a bill forcing these Agents of Parliament to be bilingual, I would like to know if we are getting separatists etc in these ranking positions.
So, Eric, you think the hiring should be based on political leanings?
“Have you ever been a member or supporter of the (fill in the blank) party?”
Well PJ your LTE has only reinforced your political affiliation rather then any true address of the subject matter.
We have already experienced Fascism /Regional Nationalism for well over 50+ years in Quebec and now its playing out with Bill 60.
“Ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling power:”
We have collective groups that canvass government entities sponsored by government funding(Billions) to sponsor only ONE cultural entity and promote it through legislation across the land -This is simply undemocratic,and defiles those democratic principles of representation by population.
“Fascism, especially once in power, has historically attacked. . . parliamentary liberalism, attracting support from the far right or extreme right:”
As I recall most Fascist governments tend to run left of the spectrum.Increasingly a regional Nationalism/Fascism has strongly been encouraged through a sense of cultural superiority and supported like no other cultural group .Like the child who been told that their special over and over again only to believe they are.
“Are we now on a path to embracing fascism, homegrown here in Canada?”
We remain going down this path and increasingly so over 50+ years in one particular region and its manifesting itself through the political and legislative action whereby a Majority is imposing restrictive rights on the minority-Did we not learn from the recent past of 1930’s Germany ?
PJ if you really are concerned of these actions by fascists my suggestion is you read the present proposals in the Quebec legislature (National assembly) particularly of Bill 60 and watch the proceedings and direct your views and actions at the appropriate Government .
Fascism/Nationalism really exists in Canada , but your political affiliation has clouded your judgement and you would be much better to put your energy and enthusiasm with fighting Fascism /Nationalism in the right direction as when rights are eroded as in Quebec; Fascism /Nationalism only grows when the population allows those minority rights to erode.
Furtz, I doubt the hiring manager would see the form, but anyway, would you want a devout communist / separatist / KKK supporter working for Justin Trudeau…….trick question?LOL?
@ Eric. As long as the job is carried out professionally and without prejudice, that’s all that matters.
Why would this information be required if not for screening purposes?
BTW, lumping communist / separatist / KKK supporter together is a bit rich, but not surprising.
Furtz CSIS already asks questions like that when interviewing for security clearances. Perhaps we should be getting this info on MP’s staff or the lobbyist’s staff.
There is at least one MP’s chief of staff who is on the executive board of a tax payer funded association. Not saying there is any funny business or using the position, just human nature is what it is.
@ David Oldham: “exceptionally funny” “idiosyncratic comments” “off the charts hilarious” Do you know the meaning of idiosyncratic? Mind you don’t laugh yourself silly before the men in white coats reach you.
@ Eric: Fair comment, except depends who’s doing the checking and what their motives are, don’t you think? The Harper crowd have a well-recorded visceral hatred of Liberals and a poor track record in outing them. Example: Linda Keen was fired from her post as nuclear safety watchdog on grounds of being a Liberal; whereas in fact she has never been a Liberal.
@ Highlander: “Well PJ your LTE has only reinforced your political affiliation rather then (sic) any true address of the subject.” How patronizing of you! And what precisely is “any true address”?
“If you are really concerned. . . read the present proposals in the Quebec legislature.” My letter is about the present government of Canada and where it is taking Canada, and I am really concerned. You should be too.
“[Y]our political affiliation has clouded your judgment.” My political affiliation is your red herring. As a Canadian citizen, I am concerned to present facts and evidence and question their implications with respect to the decisions, actions, and leanings of the government of Canada. How about your making an honest attempt to debate these, instead of resorting to red herrings and patronizing assertions?
Not too many years ago, federal civil servants were screened for their sexual orientation. Now they are being screened for their political orientation. Having been an active card-carrying member of the NDP many years ago, I’m sure my application would be tossed into the round file if I was to submit one.
@ Eric. You said “Last year the Federal NDP rammed a bill forcing these Agents of Parliament to be bilingual…”
What does “rammed a bill” mean? What was the bill number? I’m a political junkie, but this one I missed.
Well stated Highlander.