Open Letter To: Monsieur Stephen Harper

To: The Right Honorable Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen J. Harper;

Re: To cease and desist with regards to the unlawful excercise of appointing Conservative Party "governmental liaisons" in ridings with, or without, duly elected MPs;

Dear Mr. Prime Minister Harper;

As a Canadian who holds our Constitution to the highest respect, as well as a law-abiding and tax-paying citizen, it was with dismay and outrage that I received news that you appointed Sharon Smith, currently Mayor of Houston B.C. and CPC candidate-to-be in the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding, as said riding's liaison with your government - despite the fact that this same riding already has a duly elected MP, Nathan Cullen (NDP).

Perhaps have you forgotten, Mr. Prime Minister, that the very, basic job definition of a riding's MP is to bring to the House of Commons - and therefore to the government - concerns or issues that constituents of said riding have with the federal government?

Apprently you have, considering that the appointment of Sharon Smith does not constitute an isolated instance. Indeed, we are now hearing news that you have similarly appointed "liaisons" in the Western Arctic and the Vancouver Island North ridings, despite the fact that these ridings already have duly elected MPs - albeit not of the CPC.

Consequently, Sir, there is a clear pattern at work on your part, here.

Need I remind you, Mr. Prime Minister, of the blatant unconstitutionality in the exercise of appointing such liaisons? That such appointments represent outright attempts at subverting our democratic process of parliamentary representation and governance?

It would seem that there is need to, and thus I have.

Consequently, I hereby respectfully, but adamantly, demand that you cease and desist such a practice of appointing liaisons, which obviously stand in direct violation of our Constitution.

Furthermore, and regardless of whether the initiation of such an unlawful practice resulted from a misguided political CPC electoral strategy, whether such a course of action was enacted with the full knowledge and awareness of its unconstitutional nature, or all of the above, I hereby demand of you, Mr. Prime Minister, that you do the honorable thing and resign from your office.

After all, I have no doubt whatsoever that you would be among the first to demand the same of any other Prime Minister who has so blatantly failed to protect, preserve, defend and respect our constitutional laws as well as our democratic process - as you have evidently done here.

All things considered, and as you would surely say: this is not just a matter of Law, but furthermore a matter of principles, ethics and moral values.

Best regards;


Pierre H. Vachon
Sherbrooke
August 29, 2007

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(This is a letter that I have sent to Monsieur Harper. If you wish to do the same, please feel free to copy/paste it and send as is. In any case, I encourage you to keep a respectful and civil tone.)

Snail mail:
Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen J. Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2

Fax: 613-941-6900

E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca


(Cross-posted at A Creative Revolution)