Thursday, March 11, 2010

Stephen Harper: Not a historian

Stephen Harper in question period yesterday, responding to a question from the NDP asking for a public inquiry into the Afghanistan detainee affair following the "revelation" that diplomats also warned the previous Liberal government of the possibility of torture in Afghan prisons:


"In this country PMs aren't in the business of calling public inquiries on their predecessors."

Sigh. Really, Steve? How quickly some people forget history. And one of the major events that helped lead to them holding the office they hold today. This is why we need to invest in the education system, people.

*For the record, the Liberals have long been calling for an inquiry that would also cover their term in office and conduct in government on the detainee issue. So bring it on.

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7 comments:

Bailey said...

Harper hired Daniel Paille, current, the Ex-PQ minister and now Bloc member to investigate the polling practices of the Liberal government.

ridenrain said...

I must be missing something here...

"The Commission was called by then Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in February 2004"

wilson said...

Harper's predecessor is Paul Martin.

Martin called an inquiry on Chretien, his predecessor.

Jeff said...

Harper said that in Canada, PMs don't call inquiries on their predecessors. Not him specifically, but PMs in general. But the Gomery Inquiry is a recent history example that proves that statement false. And it's more amusing because sponsorship was (one of a number of) big reason(s) why he got into government, so it's funny he'd ignore/forget it.

ridenrain said...

The Sponsorship scandal was instrumental in the Paul Martin government losing the confidence of the people so I can't any alternative to an investigation.
Perhaps a better example would have been one of the many witch hunts against Mulroney instead.

ridenrain said...

The Sponsorship scandal was instrumental in the Paul Martin government losing the confidence of the people so I can't any alternative to an investigation.
Perhaps a better example would have been one of the many witch hunts against Mulroney instead.

archivist said...

Um...Stephen Harper; Mulroney/Airbus?