Democratic Reform

THE LIE
“Canada's New Government has an ambitious and extensive legislative plan to strengthen accountability in government through democratic reform.

• First, we are eliminating the influence of big money in the political process by regulating the financing of political parties.
• Second, we've introduced legislation to modernize the Senate to make it more democratic, more accountable, and more effective.
• Third, we are enhancing our electoral system to make it more responsive, fair and effective.

While we have accomplished a lot to date, we will continue to move forward with our plan to strengthen accountability through democratic reform.”
Technically, not a Harper quote. Cited from the Ministry of Democratic Reform website

THE TRUTH
We’ve covered some of this already, but to recap:

• Harper threatened to remove the Government grant to political parties in December 2008, an action viewed by some as the precipitant to the threat of a coalition between the Liberals and NDP.
• Harper crammed the Senate with his appointees in December 2008.
• Harper broke his own law and called an early election.

On the threat to the grant
On the Senate
On the early election call

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, far right, watches as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty delivers the
government's fiscal update in the House of Commons on Nov. 27. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)