Summer is usually quiet in Canadian politics but not this year as the Conservatives and their policies generated much controversy. The mix of issues stirred up and a key cabinet appointment seem to signal that we’re in for another turbulent session in Parliament this fall.

The oddest kerfuffle was generated by Industry Minister Tony Clement’s move to do away with the mandatory long-form census. The changes were clearly something the Conservatives thought they could slip through as they were uncovered in the Orders in Council for June 26th, a Saturday, in the midst of the G20 Summit. Orders in Council are directives from the cabinet that don’t pass through Parliament. They must be published in the Canada Gazette and diligent reporters watch the Gazette for just such things and thus the census story broke.

Clement explained that he had dropped the idea of making the detailed census questionnaire mandatory in 2011 because it was too intrusive. This was an interesting concern coming from a minister of a government that had recently thought it was just fine to strip search peaceful protestors and innocent bystanders during the G20 Summit in Toronto.

The should-have-been-quiet days of July were filled with loud howls of protests from municipalities, provincial governments, churches and groups such as nurses, doctors, and librarians. A save the long-form census song was posted to YouTube; Facebook and Twitter hummed with consternation. The Industry Committee met in a special July session to deal with the issue. Opponents of the government policy believe that the detailed census data required for planning will not be as accurate or representative if the process is voluntary.

Clement claimed he had acted on the advice of Statistics Canada. Chief Statistician Munir Sheikh, a 38-year government employee, felt compelled to resign July 21st in reaction to that assertion. Clement’s pants were definitely on fire by then but he held firm to his script with dead-pan composure.
The Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities of Canada filed a constitutional challenge claiming the census changes violated the Official Languages Act. This made Clement blink and thus August 11th he announced a change to the mandatory short-form census to include two questions on language. The Federal Court will start hearing the constitutional challenge case on September 27th. In the meantime work is progressing to prepare for the rapidly approaching May 2011 census utilizing a separate voluntary national household survey.

At the end of July the RCMP dropped their investigation of former cabinet minister Helene Guergis. She responded to this news by conducting a media blitz to explain how much she wants to be back in the Conservative caucus and requesting a meeting with Stephen Harper. The PMO nixed any hope of a kiss and make up session by stating that Guergis is not going to be asked to return and that the now pregnant MP should instead “concentrate on her family.” What is behind such nastiness toward a former friend and colleague?

In August, retired Colonel Pat Stogran, Canada’s first Veterans’ Ombudsman, went public after the news broke that he was not going to be reappointed this fall. August 17th Stogran held a press conference, flanked by veterans with unresolved claims, wherein he vowed to make a lot of noise about the treatment of veterans for the remainder of his term.

Stogran complained that he had been expected to "behave as a complaints manager" accountable to the Veterans Affairs Department, not as an advocate for veterans. About his termination he said: "Let there be no doubt that replacing the veterans' ombudsman at this point in time will clearly set the office back many, many months." Harper disputed Stogran’s claims and tried to dismiss the whole thing as sour grapes. The appointment was always intended to be limited: "There are no positions for life," Harper said. "That's the way we do things."

Policemen were the next to call a press conference. Following a vote at a their AGM August 23rd, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police announced that they would be launching a public relations and lobbying campaign to stop the Conservatives from scrapping the long-gun registry.

Manitoba Conservative MP Candice Hoeppner’s Bill C-391 tabled last June calls for the end of the long-gun registry. A Public Safety Committee recommendation to stop her bill and keep the registry is due to be debated September 22nd. This attempt to get rid of the controversial registry is not only politicizing police organizations but is also dividing Canadians along urban/rural lines. The bill made it to committee through the support of some Liberal and NDP MPs but the September vote is going to be much closer as Michael Ignatieff has ordered his caucus to vote to keep the registry. The question, as usual, remains whether the Liberal caucus will listen to their leader. NDP caucus practice is to allow free votes on private members bills. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are continuing their media and mailing campaign in rural opposition MPs’ ridings trying to force support for C-391. This campaign is typical of how Harper maintains his minority mandate by constantly trying to divide and conquer his opponents.

All these issues and the appointment of Ottawa MP John Baird to the government house leader’s job would indicate we’re in for a rowdy session when Parliament resumes September 20th. Baird is a close friend of the Harpers who sometimes pinch hits for Stephen as Laureen’s escort to Ottawa functions. Baird is known as one of the most fiercely partisan Conservatives. Since his 2006 election he has performed as a front bench spin master who loves rhetoric. How well he will work with the other house leaders to keep Parliament functioning is a key question.

Jane E. Burton is a freelance writer who operates her company Memorable Lines from her home in Fanny Bay. For more information on the services offered please visit her website at www.memorablelines.com